New financial outlook...just me.

[jIM_Ohio]

You may want to save the money at PenFed- it's a credit union and you would need to qualify. They have the lowest mortgage rates I have ever seen.

My acceptance came in mail today. I plan to pay off my 2nd then refinance with them.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Definitely you could find a new relationship sooner than you think.

[ScrimpAndSave]

I really don't want to find a new relationship. I want to focus on getting established 100% on my own...then if something happens in the romance department - great. If not, fine.

[m3racer]

I really don't want to find a new relationship. I want to focus on getting established 100% on my own...then if something happens in the romance department - great. If not, fine.

That's the smartest thing I heard you say. BTW, what's wrong with just renting?

[ScrimpAndSave]

I am renting from my dad now...it's just that we live together. It helps him pay his property taxes and we get along well...and we update the home together. It works for us really well.

[m3racer]

I wouldn't preoccupy yourself so much about home ownership. Why do you want the responsibility of home ownership? There so many headaches that you have to deal with. It sound like you're still young (20's). I would enjoy life and save as much as possible for the distant future. Good luck.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Thanks...I'm 28. I do want to have my own home...I don't really get out that much and I don't really want to...it isn't my lifestyle. I have always been a homebody.

[DebbieL]

One thought I have is that if you don't plan to ever have kids (which you have said repeatedly), and are currently single, why do you need this size of a house? Why not (when you are in a position to buy) look at nice 2 bedroom houses, that I assume would be cheaper? It still gives you a guest bedroom/office, etc. There are 3 in my household (me, DH and DD16) and we live in a 2 bedroom condo just fine (about 1000sf). If/when the prices of houses here ever come back down to reality (they are currently about 7-8 times average annual household incomes) we will be looking at 2 bedroom houses probably no more than about 1200sf. IMO, more room is more to clean, more to clutter, more furniture to buy, more to heat, etc.

[ScrimpAndSave]

I guess it is a big house. The advantage is the fact that it is in an established neighborhood and comes completely furnished.

I'm not making any moves or decisions now. Just trying to figure out what my goals are.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Nice point. Or a condo if you don't want to do maintenance. The problem is you aren't sure at 28 where you will end up.

By the way, I have coworkers who at 28 were adamant they weren't having kids. In fact adamant until she hit 40. Then whammo she wanted one. She had one no trouble concieving, but her and her husband weren't into kids. They were married like 15 years to boot and suddenly she said she changed.

I didn't ask her, she brought it up when someone mentioned not having kids. She said she had been in that category, and most assumed that she had been trying but couldn't. NOPE. She had been "preventing" because they were fertile like rabbits and then at 40 had no problems going on vacation to bora bora and coming back preggers.

Moral of the story? 10 years can change things. I found it quite funny. I had no idea that someone would change, normally I believe them when they say they don't want kids. But unless you do the radical and have a vasectomy or hysterectomy, I know 2 people in their 20s (one guy and one girl) who've had it done by 28 it's possible to have an accident or change your mind.

The people I know with permenent no kids? Both already had 2 and were "done".

[ScrimpAndSave]

Livingalmostlarge,

I totally hear you...and I may change my mind someday. My choice may be because I am a teacher in an urban school and I have 700 music students that basically...drive me nuts. Coming home to a child-free zone is simply HEAVEN.

If I do buy this house...I would have it at the age of 30. I wouldn't have to move unless I get a job elsewhere (and I stated in previous posts that I have an AWESOME contract with my school district and I am tenured there). I'm not looking at the home as an investment, because I know that is always a bad move. I simply like the idea that I won't ever have to move "up"... and for the size of the house, gas and electric bills are pretty economical.

I don't know. I guess I feel like...for the next two years I can focus on saving $70,000. At that time I will also be making a little over $70,000 and then I can buy the house. I will be 30 at this time.

When I buy the house, my priorities will be:

1. Max out ROTH
2. Accelerate mortgage payments
3. Retire early (I can retire as early as 55 if I stay within my school district and get my pension and benefits)

Those are very longterm goals...until then, I have to save enough to get the house under my belt.

[jIM_Ohio]

On the same note as LAL-

kids are AWESOME.

I come home from work everyday both before and after having kids.
The wife sometimes might alknowledge me when I walk into house.
My twin boys light up their faces when they see daddy.
My wife looks relieved she has help.

The kids want to see me more than my wife...
sometimes kids can be a good thing. LOL.

[DebbieL]

Well, Jim, they become teenagers someday (and most pull away before then). My daughter is 16, and believe me it's been years since her face lit up when she saw me (unless she happens to want something, lol - even then it doesn't really). Yes, kids are easy when little, but they don't stay that way. I'm lucky to get a grunt in greeting.

I think that at 28 you probably have a fairly good idea that you aren't mommy material (and that's totally okay by the way, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise). Some of the happiest couples I've known have been childless by choice. Having a child takes away a LOT of your freedom for many years.

I love my daughter to pieces, but if someone tried to give her to me the way she is now (without me having those memories of the "cute" age) I wouldn't thank them for her. I always feel sorry for my husband (who I met when she was already a teen). He missed all the adorable phases and went straight into hell.

[ScrimpAndSave]

Yea...I do like kids but I love the idea of owning my own time and money.

[jIM_Ohio]

Well, Jim, they become teenagers someday (and most pull away before then). My daughter is 16, and believe me it's been years since her face lit up when she saw me (unless she happens to want something, lol - even then it doesn't really). Yes, kids are easy when little, but they don't stay that way. I'm lucky to get a grunt in greeting.

I think that at 28 you probably have a fairly good idea that you aren't mommy material (and that's totally okay by the way, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise). Some of the happiest couples I've known have been childless by choice. Having a child takes away a LOT of your freedom for many years.

I love my daughter to pieces, but if someone tried to give her to me the way she is now (without me having those memories of the "cute" age) I wouldn't thank them for her. I always feel sorry for my husband (who I met when she was already a teen). He missed all the adorable phases and went straight into hell.

If it were up to me, my twins would brew beer with me, get season tix to the sports teams of choice, and similar.

My wife won't let the boys help me make beer until they are of age (we'll see how long she wins that one), and there needs to be more to life than sports.

Really?

Besides girls are MUCH worse than boys.

My boyus could NEVER be that bad. LOL.