Is it worth the money... is it an investment? (Page 3/3)
cliffw SEP 10, 12:52 AM

quote
[B]Originally posted
... wife is pissed, so I've got to get some tile down quickly.

This style probably doesn't appeal to too many people here, nor would the fixtures... but this is ALL THE RAGE here in San Antonio for the fancy people in Stone Oak and Encino Park.



Too funny !

The wife is pissed. Here you are, busting you azz, moving to parts unknown to you, trying to take care of your family, please your wife, and she is pissed.

Stone Oak, Encino Park, I know it well. No, not the Hill Country. I wish my life was not so hectic right now. I would kidnap you and show you some Hill Country.

Todd, I admire your work. Well done. However, ROI, I bought our home in 2004. We just sold at almost twice the buying price. I did't do zhit to it. As far as remodeling.

This is frustrating. My desktop is ... being moved, disconnected. Responding on a smart phone sucks. Give me a call. 210 471 1192.

The wife is pissed. Hilarious. My wife, a lovely beautiful soul, is always pissed, mostly. Especially when I laugh at her for being pissed.
maryjane FEB 09, 10:56 AM
Todd:
I don't really think this is the thread I had in mind... Thought you had one referring to older homes with good bones but I can't find it now.

Jane and I just came back from 5 days wandering around farther West and this is one of the houses we looked at, tho it is in town (San Saba) and no acreage at all. Still tho, a beautiful house. Like the old broken down ranch house I posted about recently, it was built in 1904. (they are both in the same county about 20 miles apart)

Already has a wheelchair ramp, which I will probably need sooner rather than later.
If this one had a few acres with it, I would jump on it tho it is really more home than I need at my age. We need to downsize significantly, but not this much.
My primary concerns would be piping and the fact it hasn't been upgraded to central air and heat, which would probably be a minimum of $10k more to do.


https://www.realtor.com/rea...X_76877_M78632-11727

We have just about decided it would be more cost effective, to buy a small parcel of raw land and have a new home built.
There are lots of 20ac parcels for sale out in that area, but they are big ranches that are being split up/subdivided and often come with ''reasonable restrictions to protect property values".

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 02-09-2021).]

82-T/A [At Work] FEB 09, 12:12 PM

quote
Originally posted by cliffw:

Todd, I admire your work. Well done. However, ROI, I bought our home in 2004. We just sold at almost twice the buying price. I did't do zhit to it. As far as remodeling.



In the end, the money spent on the house made it more livable, gave me something to do, improved my skills across the board, and it worked like a savings account. What I spent, I will get back, along with the equity the home has earned over the past 4 years (I'm moving in 3 months). On top of that, I still have all my fingers.



quote
Originally posted by maryjane:

Todd:
I don't really think this is the thread I had in mind... Thought you had one referring to older homes with good bones but I can't find it now.

Jane and I just came back from 5 days wandering around farther West and this is one of the houses we looked at, tho it is in town (San Saba) and no acreage at all. Still tho, a beautiful house. Like the old broken down ranch house I posted about recently, it was built in 1904. (they are both in the same county about 20 miles apart)

Already has a wheelchair ramp, which I will probably need sooner rather than later.
If this one had a few acres with it, I would jump on it tho it is really more home than I need at my age. We need to downsize significantly, but not this much.
My primary concerns would be piping and the fact it hasn't been upgraded to central air and heat, which would probably be a minimum of $10k more to do.


https://www.realtor.com/rea...X_76877_M78632-11727

We have just about decided it would be more cost effective, to buy a small parcel of raw land and have a new home built.
There are lots of 20ac parcels for sale out in that area, but they are big ranches that are being split up/subdivided and often come with ''reasonable restrictions to protect property values".




Let me ask you... what is it you're looking to gain by purchasing a large property lot. Not trying to pry, but you're saying you're going to need a wheelchair soon, so I wonder if you do really need 20 acres, or if you might be more happy with something smaller? I don't know what your budget is... but there's a lot of nice homes that are in subdivisions... not necessarily cookie-cutter homes, but something where you can get a nice lot, a nice home, and be closer to people (if that's something that interests you), still have a little bit of land, and have it be cheap.

The above home is really nice... I like the whole front porch. Something I've always wanted.

I had made a post in the past about that... but I can't find it now either. My problem is that the old historic homes are not in areas with good school districts. I'm in no rush for my daughter to grow up, but in 6 years, I won't have to worry about school districts.

All the shows I watch, other than This Old House, etc... are shows that involve restoring old mansions (Bargain Mansions, Rehab Addict, etc.)


If this is going to be your last home, go not just for what you think you want, but also what you think will help you in the long run.
skywurz FEB 09, 12:45 PM
Depending on the age of the house (pre 76) i would be very cautious of that popcorn ceiling. Could be asbestos.
maryjane FEB 09, 12:59 PM
I don't know that I will need a wheelchair ramp but better to have one and not need it than need it and have to suddenly have one built.
More property allows for an ag exemption on property taxes.
Homestead exemption does allow for some, but I would like enough property to be able to raise "something".
A beef steer for my own consumption, and 2-5 to sell and maybe some grapes.

I thought, the place I'm living in now would be my last home, and I really really don't want to move. But, outside forces are present.
Humidity here is very hard on Jane, causes her respiratory infections several times/year and 3 different Drs have recommended we relocate to a drier climate.
We are always just one hurricane away from flood disaster and wife is just tired of the mud and trees, cloudy skies, inbred E. Tx population, the 42" of annual rain and Houston Metroplex is quickly moving out into this county.
But yes, where ever we endup will be my last home and I expect Jane's as well. (she's 15 years younger than I am)

It will be extremely difficult to leave here for me. I have almost 60 years of involvement on this property (since 1964) and a huge physical and emotional investment.
None of my spawn are interested in this property (3 live out of state) my brother is gone, and both my other siblings are older than I am.
The market is good right now so I suppose it's time to let it go. I had a vision for it when I started working on it in earnest in 2006 and didn't quite reach it, but did turn it from raw forest into a true working farm.
The appraised value on this 41.4 acres in 2006 was $48K.
Nearly 10X that now.
I'll want to roll the proceeds from this place over to another primary resident for tax purposes and need to do so before the Dem controlled congress screws CG taxes up worse than they already are.
I'll be 71 in a few months so 'the long run' isn't going to be what it once was.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 02-09-2021).]

maryjane FEB 09, 01:01 PM

quote
Originally posted by skywurz:

Depending on the age of the house (pre 76) i would be very cautious of that popcorn ceiling. Could be asbestos.


Built in 1904.....