Questions tagged [housing]

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If I want to sell my 3 bed house in Nunhead London and buy a 2 bed flat in central London does it matter that the property market is falling?

Should I do this sooner rather than later? If it’s continuing to fall should I sell my house asap, wait and then buy when it hits rock bottom?? Or sell up and buy in Australia?!
Flossy's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Strange electricity charges on apartment move-in & move-out

Upon moving out of my current apartment, I noticed my electricity demand nearly quadrupled despite no difference in behavior. The next month's usage (not pictured) is identical to this new much higher ...
johnDanger's user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
6k views

Can someone sue for house ownership if they gave money for it?

My parents received money from my grandmother to put a down payment for a house. After my parents purchased the home and put the house under their names, my grandmother moved in and eventually after 3 ...
Kevin Gomez's user avatar
-2 votes
1 answer
167 views

Usefulness of government reported "market value"

My county's property records often indicate a "market value" along with tax assessments. This is typically lower than the listing price of property, and I'm wondering how to interpret it. ...
gomennathan's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
206 views

Potential ways to mitigate realtor's seemingly massive conflicts of interest, when buying a home

I recently tried to make an offer on a home in Pennsylvania, and after reading the contract, I noticed what seem to be several massive glaring conflict of interests for the buyer's realtor. Realtors ...
Erin B's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
116 views

Is it reasonable to expect an adjustment to prorated rent upon early move out?

I'm familiar with the idea of prorated rent but am in a situation that's new to me with a bit of a twist. In the past I've always been the one to set the move out date but this round our landlord set ...
jxramos's user avatar
  • 1,411
3 votes
1 answer
288 views

In Islamic mortgage, is rent going towards paying for the house?

If I get an Islamic mortgage for 200k, the bank might charge 210k, with the 10k being the profit they would take instead of interest. The monthly repayments for this mortgage will be split in two - ...
Samir Vora's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
181 views

Housing Price Index - How to determine if Housing Marketing is high or low

What is the best source/website for seeing if the housing prices are high or low? I am looking to buy a home but don't know where to look confirm if the housing prices in aggregate or by city/state ...
nak5120's user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
0 answers
123 views

Should I close my French PEL to invest in ETFs?

My grandmother opened for me a PEL. I am going to give a complete description of what is a PEL as it is most probably unknown for money.SE. I am French and the PEL is a saving account that means: &...
JKHA's user avatar
  • 129
0 votes
1 answer
105 views

Modeling wealth over time in a home [closed]

Suppose a person decides to buy a house and finance it by taking out a mortgage. I am attempting to model the wealth of this person over time. I need some help deciding whether this system of ...
Taylor's user avatar
  • 187
0 votes
2 answers
260 views

If pre-approved for a $300k home loan, needing $1k monthly payments on it for a $200k nearly new house, is it a no brainer to buy the house?

Assume the bank's loan has a 2.6% interest rate. (I know this is historically very low, but even lower is not impossible.) Assume one has $3000 per month, leftover, after all their expenses and ...
adamaero's user avatar
  • 383
1 vote
2 answers
96 views

Are there alternative options to getting an appraisal for a refinance of my home?

I live in New Hampshire, USA. I'm trying to get my home refinanced and it most likely requires an appraisal (not sure the requirements), but anyway... they want $1870 for the appraisal fee! I'm aware ...
TheFrack's user avatar
  • 209
1 vote
0 answers
60 views

HUD housing recertification removing someone from lease

B"H Hi I'm trying to move out of HUD housing, and the re-certification has passed and my father has signed the documents without my signature re-certifying, which is what I want because I want to ...
B''H Bi'ezras -- Boruch Hashem's user avatar
30 votes
5 answers
7k views

Paying for a flat renovation to reduce rent payments in the future

A friend of mine owns an old house which requires renovation. They proposed me to pay for the renovation, and in exchange, I could live in the house and pay a smaller rent (or perhaps no rent for a ...
user109730's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
213 views

How can I determine how much improvement (dollar value wise) I can put on an urban lot?

So, I'm in the position of considering where (within a given city/real-estate-market) I and my family want to build our next house (which will also be our first experience as homeowners -- we've lived ...
ThreePhaseEel's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
127 views

Is this how I can achieve the minimum break even price if I sell my apartment?

I am planning to sell my apartment in New York City. I have only owned my apartment for 2 years, so I know I most definitely won't be able to "break it even." I think a more realistic goal ...
user2247155's user avatar
-5 votes
3 answers
333 views

Can I raise money in an IPO of my house?

I am thinking of getting some cash by selling shares of my house. Can I sell shares of my house in an IPO to raise some cash for myself? It would be super cool to ring the opening bell during the IPO ...
David Roy's user avatar
  • 117
13 votes
2 answers
4k views

How many years do I need to own a house until I don't have to pay capital gains taxes?

I've owned my home for 1.5 years and it has been my primary residence. I decided to move, and want to sell, however, I'm unsure if I have to pay capital gains. When searching the internet I find ...
Gary Holiday's user avatar
17 votes
10 answers
8k views

Pay off half mortgage vs invest in stocks

Some background: I have a mortgage ($212K/$247 remaining, 3.675% APR) on a house in my previous city. Selling it was my primary goal, but unfortunately that hasn't happened. And looks like the ...
user1200373's user avatar
50 votes
15 answers
12k views

Is there any reason to not buy if mortgage is comparable to rent?

I'm curious: Say if you could buy a property or choose to rent and the mortgage per month on the property is similar to (or even lower) than the rent in your area, is there any reason to not buy? ...
Lightsout's user avatar
  • 2,003
3 votes
1 answer
143 views

For buying a home, what kind of loans can I seek with a large cash collateral but no credit history?

Story: I'm just after going to my local bank and attempting to get 'prequalified' for a home loan, since the first realtor I called instructed me to do so before we got started. On trying, I was ...
Slavering Bandersnatch's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
343 views

Is $15 USD for a hotel/motel room really that "unthinkably low"?

I just watched a video where a guy tried to claim that the hotel or motel room he was going to meet somebody at and pay for costs "$15", in the USA. I assume he means "per night". While money is not ...
Lucchese Sakata's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
151 views

If you want to buy a house but you also think value will drop… is there something you can do to alleviate the risk?

Disclaimer: yours won't be fiscal advice. People involved will consult a professional before doing anything. This is just to gather some preliminary information. Situation: you want to buy a house ...
o0'.'s user avatar
  • 193
0 votes
1 answer
109 views

Sell or keep property just purchased

I bought a house with 2 units in Switzerland recently for $750k mainly for rental income and long term security. The house returns $29,000/annum brutto rental and after deducting interest, ...
flatronka's user avatar
  • 101
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Implications of buying a house during/ after a stock market crash?

I am currently in the process of buying my first house (I live in the UK). Having had an offer accepted, I am now waiting on the sellers to complete on buying the house they're moving to. With the ...
Noble-Surfer's user avatar
13 votes
5 answers
11k views

Pay off Credit Card Debt now or later

I recently paid a non-refundable housing deposit of $1,300 for summer intern housing. The company I am going to work at this summer has outlined in my contract that I will receive $2,500 to cover ...
user94442's user avatar
  • 155
2 votes
2 answers
186 views

Roof warranty 5 year versus 25 year- Would it allow me to get more money back in a house I plan to sell?

I inherited a 1960 house worth over 200k in tax assessment. It's has some issues though....foundation and internal renovation to become updated in styles. I bought full coverage insurance for it. A ...
dman's user avatar
  • 123
1 vote
2 answers
299 views

How to price target when selling a home?

Under the Fair Housing Act, it is prohibited to "impose different sales prices or rental charges for the sale or rental of a dwelling." But in the residential market, does price targeting actually ...
Frank Swanton's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
57 views

Do I need to report rental income on my apartment? [duplicate]

Say I am renting an apartment for ~$1000 a month and I have a friend that needs a place to say. I let him stay on my couch and he pays me ~$999 a month. So I'm at a loss of $1 each month. Do I need ...
Jake Steele's user avatar
41 votes
9 answers
12k views

Do I care if the housing market has gone up or down, if I'm moving from one house to another?

I can see several cases in which it obviously IS important if the market is high or low. e.g: if I'm buying my first house if I'm retired and selling my last house if I'm moving to a very different ...
Brondahl's user avatar
  • 2,266
1 vote
2 answers
187 views

Is it a wise decision to buy a home in the current market in a coastal market where prices are at a premium [closed]

I am looking at the possibility of purchasing a property in the San Diego costal area, however I wanted to get some feedback from people that know the economic outlook better than I would. Is it a ...
CodingRiot's user avatar
1 vote
0 answers
92 views

HUD section 8 benefits -- community service exemptions

Regarding the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) policy for Area Housing Assistance (general page, specific definitions, and exempt status mainly what the question is about, definition for "work ...
B''H Bi'ezras -- Boruch Hashem's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
690 views

Is buying an apartment a worse choice than renting, currently (2019) in Australia?

For one reason or another, an apartment is considered a bad investment in Australian cities. This is because the demand here isn't huge yet (people in general would rather live outer-city in houses/...
Johnathon.Ticker2's user avatar
5 votes
4 answers
974 views

Why is the "buy vs rent" debate framed in terms of "buy a house vs. rent an apartment"?

Most coverage of the "buy vs rent" debate in North American popular financial media (see here for an example) frames the debate as a simple dichotomy: either renting an apartment (i.e. renting a unit ...
ThreePhaseEel's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
202 views

Buying strategies for foreclosure condos

I saw a foreclosure condo which seems upgraded by the bank. I really liked the place, but the price can be cheaper. Can we negotiate with the bank on such foreclosure houses? What are some ...
Tina J's user avatar
  • 435
3 votes
1 answer
2k views

Self-employed net income for affordable housing - valid to take from profit/loss?

I'm trying to understand net income from self-employment, when qualifying for an affordable housing program. I had always thought that net income was the cash (checks, wires, etc) coming in. However,...
ina's user avatar
  • 360
57 votes
10 answers
28k views

When is it better to move - before or after a housing bubble bursts?

My husband and I currently own our home and are looking at upgrading to a bigger house in the next year or two. The housing market right now in our area (US East Coast city) is doing really well, and ...
David K's user avatar
  • 766
2 votes
2 answers
278 views

Trust issues with rental security deposit

I'm in a situation where I will need to rent an apartment without the ability to see it or meet the landlord/sublessor first. This creates a trust issue that I'm not sure how to address. Most ...
m-chrzan's user avatar
  • 131
4 votes
2 answers
557 views

Can I break a lease in response to a nonrenewal notice?

Just got notice that our house is being put up for sale and that we need to be out in 6 months. This is not an early termination, but a notice we will not be able to renew our lease. Since we'll ...
dranxo's user avatar
  • 149
26 votes
16 answers
11k views

How to best invest 90,000 EUR with zero knowledge in investing?

I have 90,000 EUR and difficulty figuring out what to do with it. This money is in a savings account with an interest rate of only 0.05%. Here in Netherlands, I pay around 600 EUR each year on this ...
user1880405's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
2k views

What should I be concerned with in buying a house for less than the market value? [duplicate]

I've grown up in my grandparents house my entire life. They lived two miles away my entire life. Sleep overs, dinners, barbecues, etc. It's been the plan since I was a kid to buy the house when I got ...
user avatar
125 votes
19 answers
32k views

Should I buy my house in cash, or with a mortgage and invest the rest of my money?

I can afford to buy a house (to live in myself) in cash. Most of my investor friends tell me this would be a dumb idea, because I could earn more in interest by buying the house with a mortgage and ...
painter48179's user avatar
  • 2,761
0 votes
1 answer
134 views

Should I pay off my mortgage? [duplicate]

I have €77,000 in my bank account. My mortgage has €75,000 left on it (without interest) and a term of 14 years remaining. The current interest rate is 4%, but of course this can change. Should I pay ...
Cloud's user avatar
  • 3,655
3 votes
2 answers
325 views

Apartments are far more expensive in my area. Should I seek a house on limited income?

So, where I live: the cheapest apartments are within $150/mo of a two story house + basement. There are more modest lots available, and this more modest housing is my goal (maybe). Preliminary ...
user1833028's user avatar
6 votes
1 answer
752 views

Can landlord/property change unit after approval and payment of fees?

My boyfriend and I are currently in the process of moving across the country, about 650 miles. On September 2nd we visited a property in the area we will be moving to and we really liked it. After ...
Sara Way's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
817 views

Pay off entire mortgage or put into investments

I am currently living in a house with my family, which I see 5 - 10 more years left, until we move onto to a new home. I have received a lump of sum of 600k that would be enough to pay off my entire ...
user's user avatar
  • 1,507
0 votes
1 answer
280 views

I want to rent an apartment. The landlord wants me to sign at the court. Is this safe? Or smells like fraud?

I saw an apartment in a listing (I live in Taipei, Taiwan). The websites states that the contract has to be signed at the court. Is this safe? Or smells like fraud?
alex's user avatar
  • 103
17 votes
3 answers
6k views

How do I go about asking landlord to prorate when I can't move in yet?

I am renting an apartment. Move in date was August 1st. The apartment is slightly dirty with cobwebs and the walls definitely need to be painted. Landlord says that she will paint very soon but until ...
LampPost's user avatar
  • 273
2 votes
1 answer
8k views

What is a non-residential grant deed?

In looking at properties on one of the popular property aggregator sites, I've seen some transactions labeled as being "insured non-residential grant deeds." This is usually accompanied by a sale at a ...
Ivan's user avatar
  • 1,171
2 votes
1 answer
475 views

"Gifting" a house to a family member

I bought a house for myself a few years ago with the profit from an investment, however as I was (still am) under 18 I had my mother buy it in her name. As I am nearing 18, I was wondering how I could ...
DividedByZero's user avatar