Oh yeah, re: the hot water thing. It's annoying, but to actually fix it would be several thousands of dollars. Would involve opening up walls, etc. I'm just glad to have hot water. We're gonna see if it has any actual effect on our heating bill. If it does, each person in the building is gonna throw a few bucks a month our way. THE SOCIALIST WAY!
And we didn't catch it during the inspection. Maybe it somehow happened in-between the inspection and the time we moved in, like dude was futzing around with the water or something? Anyway, it was so annoying. He also managed to break the electricity in the back half of the house before we moved in, but he paid for fixing that.
As already mentioned in another thread, I have had too much coffee and am about to explode, but I really need to tell you about this:
Across the street from me is a house that used to be a complete dump. But the guy who renovated my house is also renovating this one across the street and I finally got to take a look inside yesterday and I got so excited about it that my heart rate went up for something like a solid hour as I drove to the beach afterwards. If I could have known this house would come along, I would have waited. I want to switch houses.
Here's what's so exciting about it: it's a lot like my house, but with the things my house is missing: a fireplace and a front room that feels like a good "hang out" room (at least compared to mine), a place for a dining table, and an upstairs room that is not just a weird finished attic space but a totally finished bedroom with bathroom and sky light and nice stairs leading up there. Like my house, it has a basement apartment with kitchen and bathroom. THREE BATHROOMS total in this house. 2 bedrooms on the main floor.
I'm guessing he will try to sell it for $385k+, which probably seems totally crazy to a lot of you I know who are looking for houses, but remember: you can rent that downstairs basement (which has 2 bedrooms and is bigger than my basement apartment) for over half your mortgage! When factoring in my basement rent, my house went from a $335k house to a $120k house in terms of mortgage payment. (!) If you bought this house for $400k and rented out the basement for $900/mo, the "real" cost would be about $185k.
Plus you would have such an incredible neighbor!
I went to another open house a block away from my house yesterday and the realtor was basically begging me to let her know if anyone in the area would be willing to sell their house to her, as the property value is supposedly going up so fast...
BUY IT! If you're interested, come on over and we'll go peek inside together.
I understand the tenant hesitation. I'm sure it could be a total disaster. So far, I've been really lucky and it feels nice. Sometimes she asks me to take care of her dog while she's away and I'm so happy to do that and just sort of happy that I live in a way that makes it easy for either of us to ask for help (I'm sure she'd watch my dog, too) while maintaining pretty separate spaces.
I really think you would love the Woodlawn neighborhood. Not sure why I think that, but I do.
Re: the scene being bonkers. Yes, it is. You will undoubtedly go through the same process that I'm sure every new home buyer goes through in this kind of market, which involves: 1) Thinking that the sane thing to do is to start looking at houses before you make any decisions, 2) realizing that there's no point in looking at houses until you actually get preapproved for a loan, 3) realizing that the preapproval process isn't as big of a deal as it sounds, 4) getting preapproved, 5) making an offer on a house and FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT SO MUCH, 6) getting rejected, 7) repeating steps 5 & 6 several times, at the least, and then 8) finally ending up in the house that's just right for you, at this stage in your life.
(Inisider tip that I've probably already mentioned: open houses happen on Sundays AND TUESDAYS. Tuesdays are "realtor" open houses, and aren't usually listed, but if you just show up to any newly listed house on a Tuesday, chances are it will be open to view).
I think I looked at this one earlier when I was checking out Redfin. That linoleum, geez. I also saw one close to my house that had a crazy lounge in the basement with poker themed linoleum!
Comments
And we didn't catch it during the inspection. Maybe it somehow happened in-between the inspection and the time we moved in, like dude was futzing around with the water or something? Anyway, it was so annoying. He also managed to break the electricity in the back half of the house before we moved in, but he paid for fixing that.
http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/9317-N-Macrum-Ave-97203/home/25825107/rmls-13023894
http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/655-SW-Sherman-St-97201/home/26296133
http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/7114-N-Jersey-St-97203/home/26524407
http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/4239-SE-32nd-Ave-97202/unit-4241/home/25892361
Across the street from me is a house that used to be a complete dump. But the guy who renovated my house is also renovating this one across the street and I finally got to take a look inside yesterday and I got so excited about it that my heart rate went up for something like a solid hour as I drove to the beach afterwards. If I could have known this house would come along, I would have waited. I want to switch houses.
Here's what's so exciting about it: it's a lot like my house, but with the things my house is missing: a fireplace and a front room that feels like a good "hang out" room (at least compared to mine), a place for a dining table, and an upstairs room that is not just a weird finished attic space but a totally finished bedroom with bathroom and sky light and nice stairs leading up there. Like my house, it has a basement apartment with kitchen and bathroom. THREE BATHROOMS total in this house. 2 bedrooms on the main floor.
I'm guessing he will try to sell it for $385k+, which probably seems totally crazy to a lot of you I know who are looking for houses, but remember: you can rent that downstairs basement (which has 2 bedrooms and is bigger than my basement apartment) for over half your mortgage! When factoring in my basement rent, my house went from a $335k house to a $120k house in terms of mortgage payment. (!) If you bought this house for $400k and rented out the basement for $900/mo, the "real" cost would be about $185k.
Plus you would have such an incredible neighbor!
I went to another open house a block away from my house yesterday and the realtor was basically begging me to let her know if anyone in the area would be willing to sell their house to her, as the property value is supposedly going up so fast...
BUY IT! If you're interested, come on over and we'll go peek inside together.
Anja says she can't do the tenant thing. Would be cool to see the house tho.
I would not mind being across the street from Alberta Park. I like that park.
I wonder if the guy who did my house also did this one - the kitchen looks almost identical.
Seems a bit pricey for 2 beds, but maybe prices are just going up...
Underpriced at 219k!
http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/6326-NE-7th-Ave-97211/home/26535983
I really think you would love the Woodlawn neighborhood. Not sure why I think that, but I do.
Re: the scene being bonkers. Yes, it is. You will undoubtedly go through the same process that I'm sure every new home buyer goes through in this kind of market, which involves: 1) Thinking that the sane thing to do is to start looking at houses before you make any decisions, 2) realizing that there's no point in looking at houses until you actually get preapproved for a loan, 3) realizing that the preapproval process isn't as big of a deal as it sounds, 4) getting preapproved, 5) making an offer on a house and FREAKING OUT ABOUT IT SO MUCH, 6) getting rejected, 7) repeating steps 5 & 6 several times, at the least, and then 8) finally ending up in the house that's just right for you, at this stage in your life.
(Inisider tip that I've probably already mentioned: open houses happen on Sundays AND TUESDAYS. Tuesdays are "realtor" open houses, and aren't usually listed, but if you just show up to any newly listed house on a Tuesday, chances are it will be open to view).
Linnton farmhouse.
BTW, that other (219k) house is already in the process of being purchased! :)
http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/1605-N-Webster-St-97217/home/26623139
It's got some funky updating and the ceilings look low, but I've always been enamored with houses made from little stones!
That 2nd one is decent, but I'm attracted to more craftsman-style houses and interested in staying more Northeast because of this crazy HAZARD MAP:
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/pbem/article/394641
254K
WTF am I doing?
http://www.redfin.com/OR/Portland/4345-NE-35th-Ave-97211/home/26429888