Thread Number: 76104
/ Tag: Other Home Products or Autos
Beginning year 4 as a homeowner |
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Post# 999462 , Reply# 1   7/5/2018 at 21:10 (2,092 days old) by RP2813 (Sannazay)   |   | |
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Not all low flow toilets are created equal. We had an American Standard chair height "Clean Cadet" elongated model for several years at our old house. Even with a 1.28 GPF rating, it never clogged once. It got even better when the original Fluidmaster flapper developed blisters and started to leak. I couldn't find the FM replacement, so went with an adjustable Korky. Much better (aka longer) flushing action and no need to hold the lever down -- ever.
The new house had a couple of round bowl toilets that were fairly new, but weren't chair height. I replaced both with elongated AS Clean Cadets and bought Korky flappers for both. Same flush action as the one at the old place. They'll take anything you can drop into them and do it with a single flush -- no lever holding required.
I discovered the weird outlet issue here at the new place. The plumber needed to unplug the irrigation timer in order to use a power tool and he couldn't get the timer to plug back in when he was done. I gave it a quick try and had no luck. I came back to it later and found that if you come in at a steep angle with the twin prongs and then swing it downward, the third prong will go right in along with the other two. Still a dumb design, though. |
Post# 999497 , Reply# 3   7/6/2018 at 10:39 (2,092 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )   |   | |
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Post# 999500 , Reply# 4   7/6/2018 at 10:56 (2,092 days old) by washman (o)   |   | |
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because that is what the contractor installed when the house was constructecd |
Post# 999520 , Reply# 5   7/6/2018 at 14:02 (2,091 days old) by petek (Ontari ari ari O )   |   | |
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Post# 999543 , Reply# 6   7/6/2018 at 16:48 (2,091 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)   |   | |
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I have to say that the opening for this thread is very impressive. It would take me an entire day to type something that long and that's using 2 fingers and both thumbs.
Moving into your own home is very exciting when you're young (meaning not real old), and accelerating the payment schedule makes good sense for those that can afford to do it. But I will say this, that even when you are old like me and are able to pay cash for your next home it seems you never really "own" it...it continues to own you. I live in an area full of braggers that love to grand stand about their worth, their homes being the major share of their fortune. They don't seem to realize that unless they sell it or re-mortgage it (which is a loan that has to be repaid) their house is actually a liability. They're expensive things to keep. |
Post# 999552 , Reply# 7   7/6/2018 at 18:29 (2,091 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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I’m so happy to hear that you are paying extra on the principal every month. If we hadn’t the foresight to do this and pay our home off early, we wouldn’t even be able to live in our home county anymore. It would take the majority of our net income just for housing. You were very smart to buy when you did. This home will be your financial security when you are finally able to retire.
And I agree with Ralph about the Korky Flush valves, they are really very good. I replaced ours with these valves about 2 years ago. We have 1.6 gal Mansfiled toilets that the city water dept installed for free about 6 years ago, to replace the original 30 year old 3.5 gal toilets. They are excellent! Much better than the old 3.5 gal ones. They never clog, flush the first time, everytime, we are very pleased with them. One thing about owning your own home, there is always something that needs to be done, but at least your labor is for your own home. To me there is a alot of satisfaction in maintaining our own home. I’ve enjoyed doing all the DYI plumbing and electrical work. Over the 24 years here I’ve replaced all the sinks, faucets and light fixtures myself. We’ve done all the painting ourselves too. The only work we hired out was to replace the water heater about 8 years ago and the carpets, bathrooms and kitchen flooring 5 years ago. Eddie |
Post# 999923 , Reply# 13   7/10/2018 at 14:42 (2,087 days old) by washman (o)   |   | |
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but same thing happens when you rent. When said slumlord sees taxes go up, your rent goes up also. Been there, done that, I rented for 15 years, same landlord, and rent went up every year yet I had nothing to show for it. |
Post# 999927 , Reply# 14   7/10/2018 at 16:03 (2,087 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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Owning a your home outright, even with the expense of property taxes is cheaper than paying rent year in and year out. And instead of a handful of useless rent receipts, you have money in the bank with your EQUITY in the property. The only one that makes out in the end from a rental property is the landlord.
Eddie |
Post# 999948 , Reply# 16   7/10/2018 at 18:59 (2,087 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.)   |   | |
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Post# 999953 , Reply# 18   7/10/2018 at 19:57 (2,087 days old) by washman (o)   |   | |
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Yes Glenn I meant absurd.
Compared to other locales, I am fortunate tax-wise. |
Post# 999955 , Reply# 19   7/10/2018 at 20:28 (2,087 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)   |   | |
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I have a gorgeous view of the sunset every night its not cloudy and stormy. My property tax bill is twice what it would be in Bangor, the nearest city for the same valuation and I get squat for services and my road is dirt, so I get a view tax. But I own everything free and clear. I did pay my mortgage down so when I retired I have the title. But after 23 years its just getting too much for me to handle alone and I cant hire anyone to help me do the stuff I used to do after 2 broken ankles, 2 rotator cuff surgeries and a double hernia all because I tried to do everything myself.
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This post was last edited 07/10/2018 at 21:56 |
Post# 999975 , Reply# 21   7/11/2018 at 02:41 (2,087 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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“The last recession we had-the home values went DOWN in my area-EVERYONES home values went down by 35-40%so-----NO MORE EQUITY!!!” If you own your house outright, that means you don’t owe on a mortgage. Therefore, regardless whether or not if the property values drop due to economic downturn, you still have equity, albeit less. It is an asset that can be liquidated for whatever it is is currently worth. For those that used their home like a bank, and kept refinancing and pulling out the equity and spending it, the last downturn was disastrous. I would agree, these people would have been better off renting. In California, the longer you own your home, due to Prop 13, your property valuation for tax purposes remains somewhat stable. By law, your assessed valuation can only be increased no more than 1% per year. Therefore, since we have owned our home for 24 years, we pay much less property tax than someone who may have purchased more recently at a higher price than we paid in 1994. Between our property tax and HOA dues we pay approx. $600.00 per mo. for a home that would rent for $2500.00 per mo. So even if we have to replace a water heater or heating system once in a while, we are still spending way less on housing than if we were renting. And our HOA dues cover the exterior maintenance, landscaping, insurance, water and garbage. If we hadn’t bought a home when we did, and paid it off, we couldn’t afford to live where we’ve both lived all our lives. And David’s ancestors came here from Italy during the Gold Rush in 1849, and were dairy ranchers. His family has a long history here. So, in my mind, being a homeowner has been one of the best decisions we ever made in our lives. But, homeownership isn’t for everyone. It requires commitment and financial discipline. I sure would hate to be holding 24 yrs. worth of rent receipts instead of a paid for mortgage and a deed of trust on our home. Eddie |
Post# 999986 , Reply# 23   7/11/2018 at 07:29 (2,087 days old) by dermacie (my forever home (Glenshaw, PA))   |   | |
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Post# 1000002 , Reply# 26   7/11/2018 at 10:00 (2,087 days old) by ea56 (Cotati, Calif.)   |   | |
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When we bought our home in 94’ we paid $120,000. At the bottom of the market 6 years ago our next door neighbor bought his unit for $108,000! Now that was disappointing to say the least. But we had always paid extra towards the principal, so at that time we owned the home free and clear, and weren’t underwater. Six months ago, the last unit that sold in our HOA went for $403,000, so we haven’t done so bad.
The secret is don’t borrow on the equity by refinancing every time the property values go up. That is a losing gamble almost every time. And as far as I’m concerned those people got just what they deserved. It is this kind of irresponsibility that causes real estate prices to skyrocket and makes the market unstable. Because when these people have their own finanical downturns, ie: job loss, serious illness, ect., they can’t make the paymts. and the homes go into foreclosure. This incessant “flipping” to turn a quick profit is a lot of what has caused home ownership to be out of reach for the average person. This began here in California as I recall around the mid 70’s, and mortgages had interest rates of up to 22%! That and using your home like a piggy bank. Remember, what goes up. must come down. Eddie |
Post# 1000023 , Reply# 29   7/11/2018 at 15:40 (2,086 days old) by twintubdexter (Palm Springs)   |   | |
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Looks like our annual property taxes are about identical for very different areas of the Country. I guess we all dislike taxes of any kind. About 5 years ago my taxes took an unexpected hike. I did a survey on my neighbors' tax bills (readily available online) and petitioned Riverside County to lower them which surprisingly they did. I live in an area where a home's value currently increases by about 30% a year. Does that mean that my bank account does the same? Silly rabbit, of course not. But the ever-increasing property tax puts a dent in it for sure.
I take some comfort knowing my 2 good friends who live in a very nice gated community less than 1 mile away, Sterling Estates, own a fairly new 5,500 sq ft, 5 bedroom, 6 bath with maid's quarters home and pay well over $20,000 in property taxes per year. Their HOA fees are astronomical too. All that space for 2 people who sleep in the same bedroom is totally foreign to me. The 4 big central air conditioners are just another story.
I'll keep my cracker box thank you very much...
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