House Hunting

So, DH and I have been looking at houses and I'm starting to get a little depressed. Anything that is in our price range (in the good neighborhoods) has been destroyed inside and out. What's the point in getting something in our price range if we have to spend another $40 or $50k fixing it up?

Sooo frustrating.

why has it been destroyed inside and out?

Sorry to hear your having a tough time
what areas are you looking?

The only houses that are in our price range are foreclosures. So, most people destroy them before they leave. Which I personally find disgusting.

We've been looking in Holbrook, Holtsville, Selden, Centereach, Port Jeff Station, Coram, Farmingville, Lake Ronkonkoma, Middle Island, Ridge.

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Posted by squeekietoy

The only houses that are in our price range are foreclosures. So, most people destroy them before they leave. Which I personally find disgusting.

We've been looking in Holbrook, Holtsville, Selden, Centereach, Port Jeff Station, Coram, Farmingville, Lake Ronkonkoma, Middle Island, Ridge.

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that is horrible and disgusting, like its your fault or anybody who buys it next that they bought something that was out of their price range and couldn't make the payments.

Like i was reading this one article recently, they do these features on msnbc.com that shows people living off of $32k, 60k, and other amounts. At first i thought i'd feel bad about the couple bc its about dealing with the economy now. This couple made $60k combined and had 3 kids. They bought a home and their salaries would be enough for mortage, utilities, food and that sort of stuff. They were already basically living paycheck to paycheck but then needed a new car, they refinanced their home just to get a car, and the car they bought was $600 a month, now to me that is just careless and stupid. If you have to refinance your home just to buy a car why would you buy an expensive car there is no need. Then of course their mortgage went up by $400 a month and on top of that they had a $600 a month car now. Of course they were going to have trouble. Now the home is in foreclosure and the lady was so upset and said that gov't should bail them out and help them that its not fair. WHYYYYY should anyone bail them out for their mistakes, im so sick of this. Nobody told them to get a $600 a month car and who refinances their home just to get a car. You made your mistakes now deal with them. It got me so annoyed reading this.

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Posted by squeekietoy

I would NEVER buy anything out of my price range. People like you just described make me sick. That's why there are so many foreclosures out here. We saw a house yesterday where everything inside was destroyed. The ceilings were ripped out, the sheetrock was crumbled, some of the copper plumbing was even missing. WHY? It just got me so mad thinking that these people were angry that they were being kicked out of their home because they couldn't afford their bills. It's something everyone should think about before they make a major purchase.

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i know it annoys me so much too, and now we all have to suffer bc of it. I don't get it either and another reason i dont even use cc's. This couple also had $30k in CC debt.

Sorry you are having trouble with this, hopefully something great will come along soon.

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Posted by Espo22

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Posted by squeekietoy

The only houses that are in our price range are foreclosures. So, most people destroy them before they leave. Which I personally find disgusting.

We've been looking in Holbrook, Holtsville, Selden, Centereach, Port Jeff Station, Coram, Farmingville, Lake Ronkonkoma, Middle Island, Ridge.

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that is horrible and disgusting, like its your fault or anybody who buys it next that they bought something that was out of their price range and couldn't make the payments.

Like i was reading this one article recently, they do these features on msnbc.com that shows people living off of $32k, 60k, and other amounts. At first i thought i'd feel bad about the couple bc its about dealing with the economy now. This couple made $60k combined and had 3 kids. They bought a home and their salaries would be enough for mortage, utilities, food and that sort of stuff. They were already basically living paycheck to paycheck but then needed a new car, they refinanced their home just to get a car, and the car they bought was $600 a month, now to me that is just careless and stupid. If you have to refinance your home just to buy a car why would you buy an expensive car there is no need. Then of course their mortgage went up by $400 a month and on top of that they had a $600 a month car now. Of course they were going to have trouble. Now the home is in foreclosure and the lady was so upset and said that gov't should bail them out and help them that its not fair. WHYYYYY should anyone bail them out for their mistakes, im so sick of this. Nobody told them to get a $600 a month car and who refinances their home just to get a car. You made your mistakes now deal with them. It got me so annoyed reading this.

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ITA! I understand that the deregulation of lending had alot to do with the economy right now. But what i dont understand is why people arent accountable for themselves and their financing and expect to be bailed out! Im sorry, but if you knowingly bit off more than you can chew, why should the gov't come to your rescue?! Its like if i went out and charged up all my credit cards and then just didnt pay them and expected someone to help me and bail me out. Maybe its cause im a mortgage broker and we got such a bad rap through all this, but i honestly think people need to take more responsibility for their own actions. As an adult, we know what we can afford and what we cant. People need to live within their means and not jump on the bailout bandwagon. JMO

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Posted by squeekietoy

So, DH and I have been looking at houses and I'm starting to get a little depressed. Anything that is in our price range (in the good neighborhoods) has been destroyed inside and out. What's the point in getting something in our price range if we have to spend another $40 or $50k fixing it up?

Sooo frustrating.

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Im sorry your frustrated. Its very hard with foreclosed properties. Number one, they are usually in bad condition. Also, its very hard to get financing on these properties if they arent in decent condition. ALot of the banks require you get a rehab ( construction) loan on the property depending on what kind of repairs you need to do. Best thing to do is have a reliable realtor to give you direction. Im sure it will work out and you will find something great for you.

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Posted by squeekietoy

The only houses that are in our price range are foreclosures. So, most people destroy them before they leave. Which I personally find disgusting.

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Yes..it is pretty disguisting. My in laws went into forclosure and lost their house..and they left it a mess. They didnt leave it a mess on purpose tho...its just how they lived....

I just don't understand why people feel that they NEED to destroy their house before they get kicked out. Foreclosures now aren't what they used to be. My parents bought their house in 1980 and it was a foreclosure The people that had owner it previously had left it in pristine condition. I think people nowadays are just incredibly spiteful.

We had looked at this great house in Port Jeff Station. Nothing wrong with it cosmetically. I was shocked. Then the realtor told us that it was unmortgageable. That we would have to get a rehab loan to bring it up to code before we could get a mortgage on it. Scary.

It is so hard to find something! You should try to look on MLSLI.com, they have all of the MLS listed homes for you to look at. You can put in your price range and see what is available.

On the up side of things, it is quite easy to paint, spackle, and even do some other home repairs to spruce up a place that is a little on the beat up side. My FH and I bought a home in so so condition in Port Jeff Station, off of Woodhull, and we were suprised what we did in the first year.

It may take a while, but you will find something. And remember that it is a buyers market, and the sellers negotiate big time. When we bought, we got the house for $40K less (about 10.5% less) than what it was listed for, and my future brother in law just got a house for $38K less (about 11 %) than what the house was listed for. Don't be afraid to low ball them, but also, don't get attached until after the contract is signed, that way you don't hesitate to walk away if you have to.

Good luck!

This is why I don't miss house hunting at all!!!!!! I know exactly what you mean. I know how you feel! but trust in knowing..that whatever is meant to be will be. good luck! Also try MLSLI.com. They always have a big selection of houses! we found ours on there!!!

I totally know what you are going through! IT is sooo frusterating. We have looked at so many houses! We are just about to go into contract and the sellers havent called us in 3 days. So we are planning for the worst. We put in 2 other offers on houses one we were outbid past the asking price and the other needed a TON of work. We have been through 3 engineer reports. Every other house was a short sale...and we didnt want to deal with those.

SOOOO Im praying we get this house! I love it. Its so worth it in the end after all the frusteration.

We were originally looking at houses at the very low end of our scale. than we realized they all needed work so we bumped our price another 70K...since it took so long for us to find a house...we were able tos ave alot more too.

It is definitely stressful, but you will find something!

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Posted by squeekietoy

The only houses that are in our price range are foreclosures. So, most people destroy them before they leave. Which I personally find disgusting.

We've been looking in Holbrook, Holtsville, Selden, Centereach, Port Jeff Station, Coram, Farmingville, Lake Ronkonkoma, Middle Island, Ridge.

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This is exactly what Ive been saying the past few weeks!! We're in the same boat but we actually have found some decent deals.

People who cant affort to pay their mortgage cant afford to maintain their homes. Its sad how many foreclosures are out there and what we're left to purchase. On top of that buying a foreclosure your responsible for all closing costs and taxes that the seller is usually responsible for

if possible, you should look into buying in the town of babylon... they are doing this special thing for first time homebuyers where they will give you likt $15k towards your downpayment or something like that... i dont know all the details, but im sure you can do some googling!!

it def does SUCK house hunting!

DH and i closed on our house almost a year ago... i can tell you that the bay shore/west islip border is BEAUTIFUL and has fairly cheap houses b/c people dont realize that even though its a bay shore PO box, its west islip school district