Real estate fail

[vicarz]

So a picture is worth a thousand words - but today I found the words I garnered from those pictures did not stand up to a close up inspection. Chief is awesome, as is Scott, and between the two I learned a whole bunch. I'm tempted to say I learned a bunch, but more importantly I learned how much I don't know.
That huge tub? Not installed correctly.
The counters and floors? New and completely uneven.
Those cracks? Follow the wall and bubbles - water infiltration.
Those tiles? installed incorrectly - and who saves money on trim by using grout!?
Why is the big black frig in front of the window!?

So each place seemed either priced about right or even overpriced when you considered all the work you were talking about. Worse, I realized that my baltimore dream is a horrible commute...and that I bought where I did because I didn't want to live in the burbs and commute a long way to work. I love where I live and considering leaving it makes me appreciate it more.

We get spoiled. "Another threesome for my birthday? Wow, again? Do you have to be in it too?" SPOILED. Also, making shit up. But my point to me is ... wtf is my point.
Appreciate what I have and try to spend less time wondering what if, what else.

Damn though, with a chock full of advice from Chief I am regaining a perspective on how much work my crack-pipe real estate dreams would cost in terms of time. I'm not the only person with money and a half-baked idea.
My job is the same way - it took forever to get here, and it would take forever to make another bed in another office.
My education was a slow burden of time over time, and is only now paying off. However, I still have to keep maintaining it.
My investments are ok, but the more time I put in them the more I can make. I can't do some half-assed research and get rich - aint gonna happen.

Shit, nothing is easy.

Hit the gym on the way home and am thrilled
I made it.
My sick is either gone or gone enough to be ok in the gym.
My butt isn't 100% but I was able to get my lift today - unlike 5 weeks ago.
GOLDS IN BALLSTON GOT A BUMPER PLATE SQUAT RACK SETUP!!!

Nappy time for José now. Head spinnny.

Comments

[jewelsdelphina.livejournal.com]

Looks like you are trying to learn about what to look for when thinking of buying a new place. My partner is really handy and we go to open-houses whenever possible and have been looking at potential houses in our area for the last couple of years. We don't get distracted by shiny, like some buyers, so can generally tell good flip from bad flip and are not afraid of houses that clearly need more than a little work. They are still the best deals, especially with what's called 203K financing, which has become useful if you plan to live in the home, but it has some major flaws you need to fix, such as new heating and cooling or windows. You can get a separate loan for the repairs that doesn't count against what your qualify for on the purchase of the home.
What we've learned so far is to check how old the electrical is and whether there's evidence of roof problems (check the closet ceilings and walls, sometimes people forget to paint in there). And we also look at zoning with our city GIS site. Sometimes you can even buy access to the mortgage, as public record, which you might already know. I realize you didn't actually ask for any advice, but I wanted to throw in my two cents, since my partner and I have done ALOT of house-hunting. Bottom line, don't be distracted by shiny, afraid of ugly, and be thorough in investigating all costly repairs. :)

[vicar.livejournal.com]

No - I appreciate the advice and thank you for it!

Your advice is in line with what I'm getting from Chief :)