So who here's a homeowner? Is it worth the trouble? I could buy for about my (cheap) rent in this town, given my tolerance of open drug dealing and indifference to school quality. Folks seem to think that's a worthwhile effort, but on the other had I sure do like any and all troubles with the place being the landlords problem and not mine.

If I do get reckless, what should I think about? Do I have to get a realtor, or do I just call people up, or what?

I own my apartment.. the tax breaks alone, make it cheaper then renting...for me at least....

If you can get the mortgage, buy the home. It'll be about the same per month as rent on a decent place, but you'll get a huge tax deduction and build equity.

Hell, I was afraid you would say that. I love my apartment but it brings me no 'equity'.

So do I need a realtor, (or Realtor, as they say), or what?

is there any kind of First Home-Owners' Grant that you can get from the government over there? 'Cause here we used to get 14 grand, but now its only 7 grand. Still, it helps.

Bill's advice is what I'd give. Buying our home here in West Palm Beach has been the best financial move my wife and I have made.

You don't need a realtor. If you can research on your own, you can buy it on your own. I've sold and bought 2 places without a realtor.

No grant. I get 2k for willingness to live in certain sections of the ghetto from my employer, if they have funds left (more at beginning of the year, hence my attention to the matter).

So if I get it inspected there's no icky surprise of doom that will lead to my tragic end that giving some dude I don't know 5% would save me from?

Being a kid was a sweet deal, but those times are over.

2k? we're discussing this over 2k? how much is the house?

nah, the 2k just reminded me that as an adult I'm supposed to buy a house. I'm thinking about 150k in the neighborhoods I'm interested in.

A realtor won't cost you anything on the buy side, and they have good contacts for a lawyer to handle your closing. Having a lawyer is a good idea the first time out--they'll be able to tell real fast if there's anything weird with the contract, and explain all the gobbledygook that it contains. Don't know what it's like by you, but our lawyer was about $300. A realtor will also have contacts at the banks and can hook you up with a "mortgage guy".

I was toying with the idea of moving to Baltimore City a year or so ago, but I'm not entirely sold on that idea anymore. If you can afford it, buy it, but shoot for one of those neighborhoods they are trying to rebuild to be Canton II.

Also, it would be cool to say you live in Pigtown.

is it bad that i'm 30 and (as of yet) have no desire to even THINK about owning a house?

all i know is that i don't want to live the rest of my life in ohio.

I'd get lazy about the commute from Pigtown, and I had a kid try to pull me and/or my bag off my bike at a stop sign in reservoir hill a while back. I am not willing to count on significant neighborhood improvements. Thinking Barclay/Remington/Waverly for now. Upton's ok but the prices seem nuts for the ghetto there right now. 90k for a shell? next to sandtown?

Why aren't you sold? Baltimore rocks.

I'm almost 30 too, and am in no position to buy a home. I can't afford a decent car or to get married. and my student loans are still substantial.
I'll probably die before I retire.

My car is 20 years old, I am unmarried, and I have no deposit. I owe 35k in student loans. I called up my bank and they're all, sure, you can get a mortgage, no worries. Here's a cash buyer certificate. Go for it.

ha.

gotta love this country!

My work keeps me down here, and I'm not real hip to commuting to Annapolis constantly when I have a pretty nice 8 minute commute these days. I've toyed with the idea of just moving to a brand new state, but that also involves ditching an entire client list. So I'm just sorta evaluating the horizon and looking to get rid of some deadweight bills.

It seems odd to me, I must admit. Evidently I have a kick-ass credit score.

GREEKTOWN

Are you serious? What bank, if I can be nosy?

USAA, but they told me I should call around to compare and I don't think it was a special military deal or anything. 7.25% fixed, which I gather is not fab but not awful. They wanted me to have closing costs (5k or so).

I don't know details, just the rate, but Arundel Federal Savings Bank on Patapsco (crack whore country, but they are nice people--and a client) is offering 6.00% on 30-months and looking to pick up some bidness.

I have no idea how good my credit is, I got approved for my current apartment no questions asked, but when I moved in with two of my siblings at my previous place, the landlord required me to get someone to co-sign.
I also got approved for credit on the dog we purchased for our Christmas gift this year.

Credit rating for a dog? You and I move in very different circles.

I guess over 30 years a percent is a lot. If I find a place I'll def call those folks - USAA is in TX and I would want to check somewhere closer, even though it technically doesn't make a difference I'm told.

You don't want to live in OH, daystar, come join me in a duplex. My cousin left Ohio and and now she's a manhattan lesbian accountant - anything can happen in the blue states.

Yeah, we bought a Shih-Tzu/poodle mix from Petland in Omaha for a little over $900, we wouldn't have went with such a pricey dog had we not been able to pay monthly payments for it.
I couldn't afford to purchase a dog at that point, but my girlfriend really wanted one, so I agreed to make the first $200 in payments as part of her Christmas gift. I am only the co-signer on this one.