First Time Home Buyer!!!

cbl117
cbl117 Posts: 285
edited July 2007 in The Clubhouse
Hey Guys,

I'm really excited and wanted to share that I just put my first offer ever on a home. The offer goes in this morning and I have until friday to hear back from the seller. The house is in mount washington in LA. Its a 20's cottage. There are so many things happening at once and I don't even know how to fully pay for closing costs!:o
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Post edited by cbl117 on

Comments

  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited July 2007
    Congrats! We just bought our first home last year. See if you can get the seller to incur the closing costs. That's what we did.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited July 2007
    Congrats. Its quite an experience!
  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited July 2007
    Great news! We bought our first house last year as well, it was a process but I'm so glad that we did it. I (almost) can't wait to see what tax time brings this year!
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited July 2007
    I just bought my first house this year, too. Things will be tight the first few months... they still are for me. I still don't know how I managed to pay for closing and my first month's bills... perhaps that has something to do with why my CC's are all maxed out :). But, I'm working my way back, and it feels good to be putting money into something that's getting me more equity every payment I make. Plus, I can do whatever the hell I want with it.
    Ludicrous gibs!
  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,663
    edited July 2007
    Congrats and good luck
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited July 2007
    nadams wrote: »
    But, I'm working my way back, and it feels good to be putting money into something that's getting me more equity every payment I make.

    I think that was the biggest shock -- looking at the amortization schedule. Absolutely nothing has been going toward the principal. We've been paying an $850 mortgage for about a year and a half, and have only amassed about $500 in equity. C'est la vie blah blah sera.
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,683
    edited July 2007
    I think that was the biggest shock -- looking at the amortization schedule. Absolutely nothing has been going toward the principal. We've been paying an $850 mortgage for about a year and a half, and have only amassed about $500 in equity.
    There's an easy fix to that. Most mortgages allow you to pay extra at any time towards the principal. If you pay an extra $50 or 100 a month (or whatever you can afford) beyond your "payment due" amount, it goes towards the principal of the loan. You can knock years off the term of a loan doing this. We paid off a 15 year mortgage in about 1/2 that time by doing this.

    There are probably on-line calculators to let you do this sort of "what if" analysis. Since the math on interest is pretty straightforward, I wrote an Excel spreadsheet to do it (back, like, 15 years ago). I must still have an e-copy of it someplace...
  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited July 2007
    Thanks for the tip. I just figured paying extra would work in the same way as paying extra on car payments -- in that it was simply substracted from your next month's bill. At least, that's the way my first car's loan was set-up...
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited July 2007
    I pay $408 a month... about $40 goes towards the principal. I've got a 5.75% interest loan, taxes are included in that payment, and I'm paying mortgage insurance because I only put 3% down on the house.

    Once the PMI comes off and I can afford to start paying a little more on the principle alone, it should go quicker. Of course, my mortgage also only started at $42,100.
    Ludicrous gibs!
  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited July 2007
    And, zombie boy, mhardy is correct, most mortgages allow you to pay extra on the principle alone without penalties. I know mine does...
    Ludicrous gibs!
  • zombie boy 2000
    zombie boy 2000 Posts: 6,641
    edited July 2007
    Then that's the way I'll roll from here on out. Thanks nadams and mhardy and congrats CBL. Any possibility you were able to swing a dedicated audio room?
    I never had it like this where I grew up. But I send my kids here because the fact is you go to one of the best schools in the country: Rushmore. Now, for some of you it doesn't matter. You were born rich and you're going to stay rich. But here's my advice to the rest of you: Take dead aim on the rich boys. Get them in the crosshairs and take them down. Just remember, they can buy anything but they can't buy backbone. Don't let them forget it. Thank you.Herman Blume - Rushmore
  • strider
    strider Posts: 2,568
    edited July 2007
    mhardy6647 wrote: »
    There's an easy fix to that. Most mortgages allow you to pay extra at any time towards the principal. If you pay an extra $50 or 100 a month (or whatever you can afford) beyond your "payment due" amount, it goes towards the principal of the loan. You can knock years off the term of a loan doing this. We paid off a 15 year mortgage in about 1/2 that time by doing this.

    There are probably on-line calculators to let you do this sort of "what if" analysis. Since the math on interest is pretty straightforward, I wrote an Excel spreadsheet to do it (back, like, 15 years ago). I must still have an e-copy of it someplace...

    That is something to think about, thanks for the tip!
    Wristwatch--->Crisco
  • phuz
    phuz Posts: 2,372
    edited July 2007
    nadams wrote: »
    I pay $408 a month... about $40 goes towards the principal. I've got a 5.75% interest loan, taxes are included in that payment, and I'm paying mortgage insurance because I only put 3% down on the house.

    Once the PMI comes off and I can afford to start paying a little more on the principle alone, it should go quicker. Of course, my mortgage also only started at $42,100.

    Jeeez I want that kind of mortgage.

    My taxes alone are $600 a month in escrow, NO PMI.

    Congrats cbl117!
  • krabby5
    krabby5 Posts: 923
    edited July 2007
    cbl117 wrote: »
    Hey Guys,

    I'm really excited and wanted to share that I just put my first offer ever on a home. The offer goes in this morning and I have until friday to hear back from the seller. The house is in mount washington in LA. Its a 20's cottage. There are so many things happening at once and I don't even know how to fully pay for closing costs!:o

    good job!!

    now all your weekends will be busy..

    There's always something to do...whether you like it or not...lol
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  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited July 2007
    Congrats!! Good luck on the offer. When it's accepted is when the fun starts;)
  • Maurice
    Maurice Posts: 517
    edited July 2007
    Congrats. Mt. Washington is a nice little area. Lots of well kept homes and long time residents. Just for future reference, if your closing costs are a problem you can always increase your offer by the amount of your estimated closing costs, then ask the seller to pay your costs for you. It wont cost the seller anything and basically you just financed the cost. Although, most lenders will limit the amount of non-recurring costs the seller can pay, but in most cases you can fit all or most of the closing cost in. Again, congrats, you big balla you!:cool:
    Everytime I think I'm out, THEY PULL ME BACK IN!!!!!!

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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited July 2007
    UPDATE: My realtor spoke with the seller's realtor and it looks promising. 80/20 in our favor as he put it! :eek: I'll find out for sure tomorrow evening.
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
  • jflail2
    jflail2 Posts: 2,868
    edited July 2007
    Good luck/ congrats! I am hoping to join you in just a few months, so I'm starting to feel the bubble gut a little bit. Can't imagine how you're feeling right now :)
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited July 2007
    Congratulations:
    Beyond on my fourth home, may I offer a piece or two of advice that has served us well. Each year do one major improvement to the home. This will allow you to leave it in better shape than when you bought it. Don't neglect the yard, curb appeal is a big part of the home as an investment.
    Enjoy
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  • cbl117
    cbl117 Posts: 285
    edited July 2007
    The sellers accepted the offer!!! Escrow closes in 30 days!!!

    Some interesting info...After figuring out next years tax return with purchasing this home, it will only cost an extra $180 dollars a month to go from renting to owning a home. And thats conservative considering I'm still going to get half of my property taxes in tax returns.
    2 Channel

    Vandersteen 3a Sigs
    Music Reference RM-200
    Hovland HP-100
    VPI Scout w/ Benz Ace
    Rotel RCD-1072
    Cardas Golden Reference Speaker Cables
    Cardas Golden Reference Interconnects
    Cardas Golden Power Cords
    PS Audio UPC-200HB
    Black Diamond Racing Isolation
  • wallstreet
    wallstreet Posts: 1,405
    edited July 2007
    Good luck with homes in LA. I really don't know how you guys do it out there. Yea, the taxes are high in Texas, but the houses are cheap.
  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,873
    edited July 2007
    The statistic was something like this: Pay 1 extra payment a year (directly to principle) and you will cut 12 years off the life of a 30 year mortgage.
    Testing
    Testing
    Testing
  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited July 2007
    See if your mortgage company will allow you to make bi-weekly payments instead of a monthly payment. There is your one extra payment a year. It's a system that works well for folks that are PAID bi-weekly.

    I also believe if along with your first mortgage payment, you make an equivalent principal payment, it'll knock a 30 year mortgage down to about 23 years.
  • daboyz
    daboyz Posts: 5,207
    edited July 2007
    Owning is soooooo much better than renting. Congrats on the offer being accepted! Take a few days to let things calm down and then we'll talk about where to go from here.