Comments on: “I Can’t Afford A House” Syndrome http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/i-cant-afford-a-house-syndrome.html personal finance blog with anecdotes, advice and commentary. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:47:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Kathy http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/i-cant-afford-a-house-syndrome.html/comment-page-1#comment-305614 Kathy Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:44:29 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=3419#comment-305614 When I bought mine in 1977, it cost me $22,500. Realtors advised me that I would NEVER find ANY house that was under $30,000. What I learned was, don't be discouraged by "expert" advice or conventional wisdom. If you truly want something, start looking for it. My house is not big, but it has everything I need. It's brick, has a garage, one big bedroom and two smaller ones, and it's on a good sized lot, 80' x 120'. The neighborhood wasn't so good at first, but it improved over the years. It's true that prices today are a lot higher, but a home is an important purchase in more ways than one. What I learned as a young lady was that as a renter I had very few rights. The OWNER basically had ALL the rights, and the power to tap into my pocket forever. The struggle to reverse the balance of power was worth it. When I bought mine in 1977, it cost me $22,500.

Realtors advised me that I would NEVER find ANY house that was under $30,000. What I learned was, don’t be discouraged by “expert” advice or conventional wisdom. If you truly want something, start looking for it.

My house is not big, but it has everything I need. It’s brick, has a garage, one big bedroom and two smaller ones, and it’s on a good sized lot, 80′ x 120′. The neighborhood wasn’t so good at first, but it improved over the years.

It’s true that prices today are a lot higher, but a home is an important purchase in more ways than one. What I learned as a young lady was that as a renter I had very few rights. The OWNER basically had ALL the rights, and the power to tap into my pocket forever. The struggle to reverse the balance of power was worth it.

]]> By: Big Winner http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/i-cant-afford-a-house-syndrome.html/comment-page-1#comment-277561 Big Winner Tue, 26 Aug 2008 02:05:18 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=3419#comment-277561 I used to think I could never buy a house. Then I realized that a large group of people - many with incomes lower than mine - had bought houses and were successfully paying their mortgages. I used to think I could never buy a house. Then I realized that a large group of people – many with incomes lower than mine – had bought houses and were successfully paying their mortgages.

]]> By: Glenn Lasher http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/i-cant-afford-a-house-syndrome.html/comment-page-1#comment-277483 Glenn Lasher Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:29:31 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=3419#comment-277483 This is good advice. You can get around town on a $100 bicycle quite handily. For that matter, if you must drive, you can get around in a $4000 car. I do both of these things. For the seasoned mountain biker or road racer, yes, then the extra money on a premium-quality bicycle makes sense, because your bicycle is your passion. If you are just getting around town on it, though, it is like buying a Mazzerati to drive back and forth a few miles each day. This is good advice. You can get around town on a $100 bicycle quite handily. For that matter, if you must drive, you can get around in a $4000 car. I do both of these things.

For the seasoned mountain biker or road racer, yes, then the extra money on a premium-quality bicycle makes sense, because your bicycle is your passion. If you are just getting around town on it, though, it is like buying a Mazzerati to drive back and forth a few miles each day.

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