Newness
Steve and I have been having serious debates about if we want to go through with this. For the past week Steve and I have been oscillating about whether we should or not. A realtor, a friend of Steve's step-mom, has been helping us look for an actual peice of property, a house or condo. Well, we looked at five places two nights ago and one last night. Steve and I narrowed it down to two condos. They both have their perks.
Quincy Condo Perks:(11)
*bigger than current apartment-more company
*one and ½ baths
*two bedrooms
*nice and new carpet, appliances, tiling, and paint
*all big appliances included (yes a dishwasher), except washer and dryer there is a hook up
*close to buses that run on Sundays, especially the one that runs to SLC (we use it to go eat dinner with Steve's folks on random Sundays)
*central air
*would own it
*investment
*more closet space
*lower HOA fee than Harrison
Quincy Condo Anti-perks:(11)
*Currently the building management is renovating the building, NOW it looks unsecure, grungy, and gang infested. But they plan to put in a security gate at the entrance, locking entrance doors, new paint and carpet in the hallways. We don't know when it will be finished.
*The neighborhood isn't the greatest, but it's the same one we are in now
*narrow building hallways
*1st floor
*maybe no pets
*grocery store not convenient
*buses to school or Steve's work aren't very convenient
*have to purchase washer and dryer
*can't open windows
*poor building lighting
*poor management communication, speak spanish
Harrison Condo Perks:(13)
*outside is amazing, very open
*fireplace
*2nd floor
*bigger bedroom and kitchen
*convenient grocery store (though more expensive than Wal*Mart)
*convenient buses to school and Steve's work
*pets allowed
*investment
*would own it
*good neighborhood
*good building lighting
*better and english speaking management
*better cat litter box location (than Qunicy)
Harrison Condo Anti-perks:(8)
*not near any buses that run on Sunday
*buses getting to the mall or Wal*Mart or movie theater would require 2 bus transfers
*smaller overall
*coin operated public washer and dryer
*NO DISHWASHER
*ugly carpet, tiling, fireplace framing
*one bath
*fewer closets
Staying Perks:(9)
*wouldn't have to change wards now that we've finally got ourselves established in this one
*dishwasher
*close to ALL buses need/use to get anywhere
*big (with porch) & spacious
*wouldn't have to move, change address, etc
*woodwork
*pets allowed
*open on the outside
*3rd floor
Staying Anti-perks:(6)
*coin operated public washer and dryer
*crummy neighborhood
*radiators always on
*A/C sucks
*most windows don't have screens
*flushing monthly rent down the drain (ie no investment)
Steve and I are both for buying a place, we're just both having problems deciding on the right one. Steve's for the Harrison. I'm inclined to wait until it fits my qualifications: all major appliances (doesn't have to include washer and dryer, but a hook up atleast, and yes a dishwasher), as big or bigger than our current place, A/C, pets permitted, good location bus wise, and rentable in the future (since we plan to maintain ownership after we leave Ogden). Steve's worried that if we don't snatch up Harrison right now that our best opportunity will have slipped through our fingers and we won't find a place we like until our lease expires and that we'll have to sign another year long lease. The Harrison condo is acceptable by both parties but not the ideal.
If we did purchase anything right now, all the paperwork would be finalized around the beginning of December, so that's when we could move in. We wouldn't be able to start packing or moving though till finals are past, 15th December.
I don't know what we're going to do. Steve's fear is rational but I don't know if it's the best idea to jump at the first acceptable thing. But we may not get something else by the end of the year in our price range that fits our qualifications. What to do? Buy right now or wait?
Quincy Condo Perks:(11)
*bigger than current apartment-more company
*one and ½ baths
*two bedrooms
*nice and new carpet, appliances, tiling, and paint
*all big appliances included (yes a dishwasher), except washer and dryer there is a hook up
*close to buses that run on Sundays, especially the one that runs to SLC (we use it to go eat dinner with Steve's folks on random Sundays)
*central air
*would own it
*investment
*more closet space
*lower HOA fee than Harrison
Quincy Condo Anti-perks:(11)
*Currently the building management is renovating the building, NOW it looks unsecure, grungy, and gang infested. But they plan to put in a security gate at the entrance, locking entrance doors, new paint and carpet in the hallways. We don't know when it will be finished.
*The neighborhood isn't the greatest, but it's the same one we are in now
*narrow building hallways
*1st floor
*maybe no pets
*grocery store not convenient
*buses to school or Steve's work aren't very convenient
*have to purchase washer and dryer
*can't open windows
*poor building lighting
*poor management communication, speak spanish
Harrison Condo Perks:(13)
*outside is amazing, very open
*fireplace
*2nd floor
*bigger bedroom and kitchen
*convenient grocery store (though more expensive than Wal*Mart)
*convenient buses to school and Steve's work
*pets allowed
*investment
*would own it
*good neighborhood
*good building lighting
*better and english speaking management
*better cat litter box location (than Qunicy)
Harrison Condo Anti-perks:(8)
*not near any buses that run on Sunday
*buses getting to the mall or Wal*Mart or movie theater would require 2 bus transfers
*smaller overall
*coin operated public washer and dryer
*NO DISHWASHER
*ugly carpet, tiling, fireplace framing
*one bath
*fewer closets
Staying Perks:(9)
*wouldn't have to change wards now that we've finally got ourselves established in this one
*dishwasher
*close to ALL buses need/use to get anywhere
*big (with porch) & spacious
*wouldn't have to move, change address, etc
*woodwork
*pets allowed
*open on the outside
*3rd floor
Staying Anti-perks:(6)
*coin operated public washer and dryer
*crummy neighborhood
*radiators always on
*A/C sucks
*most windows don't have screens
*flushing monthly rent down the drain (ie no investment)
Steve and I are both for buying a place, we're just both having problems deciding on the right one. Steve's for the Harrison. I'm inclined to wait until it fits my qualifications: all major appliances (doesn't have to include washer and dryer, but a hook up atleast, and yes a dishwasher), as big or bigger than our current place, A/C, pets permitted, good location bus wise, and rentable in the future (since we plan to maintain ownership after we leave Ogden). Steve's worried that if we don't snatch up Harrison right now that our best opportunity will have slipped through our fingers and we won't find a place we like until our lease expires and that we'll have to sign another year long lease. The Harrison condo is acceptable by both parties but not the ideal.
If we did purchase anything right now, all the paperwork would be finalized around the beginning of December, so that's when we could move in. We wouldn't be able to start packing or moving though till finals are past, 15th December.
I don't know what we're going to do. Steve's fear is rational but I don't know if it's the best idea to jump at the first acceptable thing. But we may not get something else by the end of the year in our price range that fits our qualifications. What to do? Buy right now or wait?