Biting the bullet ... Opinions requested?
 

After 14 months or wanting to be frogs, 9 months of unsuccessful marketing of current home, we decided to just bite the bullet and buy! We have a call into our rep, wish she would call ... We want to start knowing what is available, close in 13 and move in feb. many of you have gone this route with this market ... Did you buy what you basically wanted, or gone for less thinking you would upgrade later? We are leaning on getting the model,we want and doing the extras when the house sells (gambling), obviously not bumps/ structural .... Just hate the thought of 2 moves....
Any input ... Thanks, we just want to be there,boring in Kennesaw!

That's a tough call, as each person will have varying opinions as to what is right for them. Some are more conservative, some go all out, some more moderate. Are you buying new, building, or purchasing pre-owned? Sounded to me as if you might be considering a spec home? In that case, I think I would perhaps go for the location and house I wanted, and wait to upgrade. If building, I would put money down on the lot I wanted and wait 6-12 months to build. Also depends on available cash flow and investments. As no one really knows your situation, it's impossible to offer good advice! Best of luck in whatever you might decide though!

Opinion Wanted
 

It may be boring in Kennesaw, but can you afford to carry two homes. If you can, just buy what you want now and let the future take care of itself. I am one of those who found what I wanted on our first visit here and have made changes to the house and now have no intentions of moving.

Boring in Kennesaw....I certainly feel for you. We lived in Newnan. Put our house on the market in May of 2011, bought a lot in August of 2011. We just sold our house last month one week before we were to move to TV and carry 2 mortgages and we had to bring money to the table. It was one stressful year! If I had to do it all over again I think I would of waited until the house sold and then maybe rent for a while to check the place out. Go with your gut!!!

We bought what we could pay for without a mortgage. We are very conservative financially.

Just as others have said, that is a decision that will ultimately be a financial decision that should not put you in any kind of jeopardy for your continued peace and happiness.

We waited until we were older than a lot of people to retire.

These are all ultimately decisions based on everyone's personal value system.

:agree:

Ask yourself, "can I put my head on my pillow at night and fall asleep with the decision I have made?"

Very well said, 2B and sage advice!:thumbup:

Yankee Quilter, there is no right or wrong answer. Everyone you talk with will have a different slant on what made sense to them. As others have said, do what you feel works best for you, your situation, and your mindset. And ditto to what 2B said: "Whatever helps you sleep well at night"!

Bill :)

We had our northern home on the market for 9 months. Decided to buy in TV and have 2 homes until we sold the Maryland place. Purchased on a Monday and Friday of that week we sold our "working years" home. We purchased what we wanted. Looking back I don't think we would have changed anything. Moving out was a pain because we were rushed. Moving in not so bad we took our time.

I know how you feel and it can be very frustrating. We bought our property in TV in July 2011, knowing we would have a year to start the build. In August of that same year we put our house on the market. Like many people, not only in our area but across the country, it didn't sell right away. In February 2012 we were told by our TV representative who found our property that if we did our design meeting that month we could get a 4% discount. My husband did the math and we decided to "bite the bullet" and start the build a few months early. We closed on our TV home in April and still hadn't sold our house. Fortuneately we are both still working so the two mortgages weren't too bad but I was still very nervous. We finally sold our house in June of this year and are living in an apartment until our retirement next July. Like many of the previous posters, IMHO, you should do what you feel is economically right for you.

Another option is to refiinance your current home to lower your payments in case you end up with 2 mortgages. Even a 3-5 or 7 year ARM may lower your payment significantly and you'll probably sell your home before the ARM adjusts the first time. Or go with a 30 yr - if you haven't refinanced in the last year or two your payments should drop.

Here's a vote for DO IT!

If you can afford to build now without totally compromising your finances, take the plunge.

Here are some reasons:
1) Prices here are climbing. I think it's fair to say you will never get a TV home cheaper than right now.
2) Be optimistic about selling Kennesaw. Maybe you can refinance, or get a home equity loan if you need to. Or ultimately reduce your price so it sells. If you're like the rest of us, it won't be long before you forget the sting of selling the home you worked so hard for for less than what you know it's worth.
3) Life here is WONDERFUL! Join us. Leave the boring and the upcoming winter.
4) Life is also short. You owe it to yourselves to enjoy what's left of it.

Ijusluvit,
You sound like you we're part of our discussion! We are watching the prices climb and as they climb you seem to get less! We are in an over 55 here and have a great location,it will sell, lots of interest just too many with homes to sell!

We will pay cash for TV home, and do the niceties later, but figure while we are young enough to play, what the hell! We ate hot dogs as young kids inno ur first house, now we can eat hot dogs at Palmers and get 2 fer drinks! And play ball, swim, ride ..............

Love your enthusiasm ... Come over for a glass of wine when we are in ... May be no chairs!m:wave:

Thanks all!

Sounds like you've made up your mind to go ahead! Go for it! :laugh:
Just tell all your visitors to bring their own lawn chairs for a while! It'll work itself out.

Idjusluvit!

Well, the update is. we are coming down this weekend to look at lots, again, and at specs! If we find a lot and can get into one of the 2 open designer appointments open for this year, we will probably go that route, if not ... spec here we come! We did pricing with our rep and things have gone up 9% since Jan. based on the pricing we were given then and same amenities and model today! No more waiting around!
In GA, if we have to rent it, so be it! Our builder says he has several customers who want to do long term rents due to loosing as much as they did on their homes.... time will tell!
Long story short, here we come, cannot wait and 2013 Frogs we be!!
Thanks for your input!!!!

Yankee Quilter -- Good luck with the plans for your new home in TV. Frogdom will be yours soon! :wave:

Best of luck to you, some of the spec homes I see on-line look stunning. We have the home built but will not be full time until sometime in 2013. We too are coming this Friday from upstate NY. We built an Iris in Sanibel. If we can be of any help, please let me know. We added things that would be difficult later, but some of the other extras we will wait until we are there full time. Best Wishes.
Linda

Thanks, best of luck to you too! You have quite a long drive, if driving. We have relatives in Lockport and from there to here is long, then another 6 hours!

We think we are doing a Sunflower. We had intended to bump front and back, but have decided, to get a reasonable lot, just to do the back and do built ins instead in the front ourself. My main thing is I want tile in the living areas before we move in. That is too big a pain after, and of course, want the kitchen and bath we want .

Betty

No we are flying, with the prices of gas, it is almost as inexpensive to fly. We did a couple bump outs and the tile as well. Most importantly I finally got the kitchen I always wanted. Good luck to you. Linda

Looking for home
 

When we were in your situation we hooked up with marge and karol and they helped us. Check there website and you can look at all that is available in the MLS. good luck. Focus on The Villages