What's new

Sigh, Texas house hunting

Kat

Kat

Seeking wine/shopping/teeth brushing support group
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
1,876
I flew to Texas this past week on Wed. night and stayed til yesterday morning. I am pretty sure I crimped my husband's style.

To make matters worse, the trip was nearly a total waste. Scott called the realtor 3 times Thursday and Friday to set up appointments to view our top two houses (from this thread). She FINALLY texted him back on Friday afternoon to say both houses sold and she was with another client and couldn't call. I thought that was a bit tacky. She couldn't meet with us but by the time she told us that, we couldn't find another agent to work with.

We ended up going around to some open houses and the best thing that came out of it was that Scott and I found a layout that we both loved at a new home builder. They have ONE home with that layout already being built and its 60 days from being ready. IF we could get it (and I am not at all hopeful)... then we'd get to choose all the colors, flooring, counters, etc. It MAY be just out of our price range. The one they are building has the theater room (umm hello, :flirty:beat)... and it will likely sell quicker than we can get it together. They do have at least a lot of open lots and some great floor plans to choose from. Scott and I agreed we want a newly built house.

This is the virtual tour of this particular floor plan. It's really nice. I guess the good news is that even the one we'd like is sold, we can always build another one. lol...:giggle http://youtu.be/xGxxjUEDkvc
 
So cool!

That stinks that the realtor did that to you guys though. :( Ugh.

I hope this new opportunity works out for you!!!!!
 
Well, that's a major bummer about the realtor. Doesn't sound like someone I'd want to give my business. :b New houses sure are pretty to look at! I hope you find one you love that fits all your needs. :)

When do you have to move?
 
I go down to start working on Easter weekend. But we haven't put a notice in at our townhouse and technically our lease isn't up til August. We'd like to be out by June-ish though.

I just heard back from the builder's agent and the house is priced at 238,000, which seems like a steal to me... it's worth 265+. I've been trying to learn how to guestimate a mortgage payment and I'm getting all sorts of range on it. I'd say yes in a heartbeat if the payment price works out in our budget... I hate all this financial stuff though. It makes my head spin!!
 
Yeah, trying to figure all that financial stuff out is no fun. New houses also have extra expenses. Things like window treatments and landscaping and refrigerators often aren't included, so that's something to keep in mind as you're figuring. We had sheets on our windows and nothing but weeds in the backyard for the first couple of years in our house. Actually, our backyard has pretty much gone back to just weeds again (we're not "yard" people) and the guest room still has a sheet for a curtain... 17 years later. :giggle
 
KimJ said:
Yeah, trying to figure all that financial stuff out is no fun. New houses also have extra expenses. Things like window treatments and landscaping and refrigerators often aren't included, so that's something to keep in mind as you're figuring. We had sheets on our windows and nothing but weeds in the backyard for the first couple of years in our house. Actually, our backyard has pretty much gone back to just weeds again (we're not "yard" people) and the guest room still has a sheet for a curtain... 17 years later. :giggle
Click to expand...

Yeah, I am a weed person for sure, but I do want to have some trees and bushes and I'd really like a butterfly garden. It'd be so much smarter to wait for another lot with a cheaper house. I am SO impatient. LOL... It is possible we'd buy all our appliances too. I think they have an upgrade option for including them. There are also upgrades for hardwood floors. We do not want carpet at all if we can avoid it. I'd be happy with the basics... but I keep thinking of what Dave Ramsey says "you don't want to be house poor"...

You make a great point tho b/c I hadn't really thought about appliances yet... my brain is just TIRED...
 
Looks like a great house...but I agree, don't be a house poor if you can avoid it. And upgrades can really jack up the price
 
It helps me to talk it out...
They have some really great floor plans that are as good just a touch smaller but better priced. They even have another subdivision that is WAY cheaper. I like this one though, they have a waterpark, a fishing pond, a walking trail and an event room. That's just what I know of it. We could easily pick our favorite spot, and build a smaller house and have more yard space (we'd love that) and maybe even add a pool if we get under our goal price. Add the flooring we want and some of the perks to it which will help it sell when we are ready.

Heck, we have a two bedroom townhouse and I spend most of my time in 2 rooms, that's it... lol
 
Good luck Kat! Having just spent the last 6 months looking for a house, I know how stressful the entire process can be. We wanted to build but we had time constraints so we went with what worked for most of our needs and everything else we will just chip away at when we can.
 
Have you used Dave Ramsey's mortgage calculator for figuring a mortgage payment - love it and use it all the time! Bummer that the agent acted the way she did. You will love a newly built house, but I agree - don't make yourself house poor or paid any stupid tax for it! Not worth it!
 
We are going to live in McKinney... but we'll work in Plano... my husband works for Hewlett Packard and I got a job working the front desk at a doctor's office. I wanted something simple (I hope) so I can go to school and build up my photography business.
 
MandaKay said:
Have you used Dave Ramsey's mortgage calculator for figuring a mortgage payment - love it and use it all the time! Bummer that the agent acted the way she did. You will love a newly built house, but I agree - don't make yourself house poor or paid any stupid tax for it! Not worth it!
Click to expand...
I love Dave's tools... but it doesn't calculate the insurance and taxes in... they say that's what boosts the price up. Dave's calculator said we COULD afford this house... *smooch to Dave... lol...
We are going to finally get through our baby steps soon. We hope to be debt free but the house this time next year if not sooner!!
 
THANKS HEATHER... I need all the happy thoughts I can get. I like to keep it simple these days and this is sooo not simple.

I did just get another plan that I found out is available in may/early June... framework is up so still time to choose colors, cabinets, counters, etc... and it's only 191,000!!! Sooo much better pricewise and it has 3 bedrooms and a study and formal dining area in the front of the house. PERFECT for a photography office and small studio set up.
 
Good luck Kat - like everyone has said, don't put yourself in the house poor situation. Then if something sets you back you risk your house! Or just end up resenting it for preventing you from doing or buying what you want to...
 
Back
Top