Buying a house...somewhere

As you may now know the house we live in is being sold by our landlords.

We have two options.

1. Buy this house
2. Move
a. rent again
b. buy another house


Reasons for buying instead of renting

1. Renting is catching up with the house prices. In a years time it will no longer be cheaper to rent.

2. It is becoming a nightmare to find a rental property. Not much supply and a huge demand. This is because of the lack of available land on which people can build new homes. I would have to do all the hunting. Now days when you show up to look at a rental there are at least 20 other renters there as well. If you show up with kids you go straight to the bottom of the list. If you had the choice to choose, would you choose a career couple or a family of five? Yes, that is what they choose too.

3. Housing prices are supposed to go up another 30-40% in the next 5-10 years. If we don't buy now will we ever be able to afford it?


Reasons for buying this house

1. We don't have to move again, again, again, and again.
2. It has character
3. Good location
a. within walking distance to three parks
b. within walking distance to two libraries
c. within walking distance to two shopping centres
d. two blocks from Princes Highway
e. two minutes from the Ring Road
f. 5 minute drive from church
g. 15 minute bike ride to train station

As we all know, location, location, location is the most important selling factor for a house.

4. Quiet suburb
5. In demand suburb, should be able to sell in a few years for a profit without doing any major repairs to house.
6. Happy to stay here for a very long time. We have room to add on if needed.
7. We can buy from landlords without using a realtor. Saves money.

Reasons for not buying this house
1. Could find a cheaper one but in a less desirable location
2. Needs a new garage
3. Dining room is very small and we are always having lots of people over for dinner.
4. Needs to be painted...but Brandon and I can do that


So we have decided to buy, hopefully this house. If not this one then somewhere else in Geelong.

Start the clock. When you gather a deposit you have to let it sit in the bank for 3-6 months (thank you US housing collapse) in order for most lenders to approve your loan. Our three months ends at the beginning of May.

We are on a saving spree. The last three weeks I tried to not buy anything, excluding food. Will be trying to continue this trend for the next few months. We have also cut our grocery budget by 30%. The fact that we can cut that much out means we were spending too much to begin with. Every dollar helps.

Back to regular life, work, moving?, soccer, and the garden.

We got home, although not without some "fun" on the way back. Probably the most stressful trip we have ever had.

Brandon went back to work on Monday (we got back Saturday afternoon).

Monday morning we found out that the house we are living in is going to be put up for sale.

Went back to soccer last night. Played for two hours while being sick. Not a good idea. Was very sick by the time I got back. Brandon has to stay home from work today.

The weather is great. We have already been to the beach.

My garden is still somewhat alive. I have harvested the potatoes and some Roma tomatoes. I think I got about 1.5 kilos in potatoes and a small bucket of toms. Yum.

I realized I didn't do very well in keeping a journal of our travels. I need to hire an assistant to write down my thoughts.

I have begun to read "Signature in the Cell." A book on intelligent design. The author Stephen C. Meyer is someone you might have heard of. He was mentioned in the documentary called "Expelled." I will let you know how it goes. Need to get back to bed, fading fast.