Home Sweet... Mortgage...Or Rent. Which Would You Choose?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Tell Us Your Thoughts About Living Arrangements:

  • I currently rent a place.

    Votes: 6 27.3%
  • I currently own a place.

    Votes: 13 59.1%
  • I prefer to rent. (Why?)

    Votes: 2 9.1%
  • I prefer to own. (Why?)

    Votes: 12 54.5%
  • I currently live in a house.

    Votes: 11 50.0%
  • I currently live in an apartment.

    Votes: 4 18.2%
  • I prefer a house. (Why?)

    Votes: 14 63.6%
  • I prefer an apartment. (Why?)

    Votes: 1 4.5%
  • I prefer another form of living, such as: mobile home, RV's, condominium, townhouse, etc. (Why?)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Other -- I'll share my thoughts on this in a post.

    Votes: 3 13.6%

  • Total voters
    22
May 23, 2009
15,715
4,851
113
About self-driving cars: I can actually see where that would make a lot of sense. Upkeep would be insane on them if you were freelancing it, and imagine trying to take a self-driving car to your local mechanic who has been working on Fords and Chevys all his life. I would definitely want a subscription model if I had a self-driving car.

About RV crime: that is exactly why I would want to live out in the middle of nowhere, where nobody knows I am there, with a thick screen of trees between me and what passes for the road... Or in a densely populated neighborhood where there are always witnesses on the street. Given the chosen RV style of living, I'm thinking out in the boonies is more practical. Hard to get people to accept an RV lifestyle in their really tight, really crowded neighborhood.
I can definitely understand the need for certain services to be on a subscription basis -- programming for a self-driving car would surely be one of them. It's going to be interesting to see if that's even possible. (I personally think that even if it is, only the most elite will be able to afford it, but that's just me.)

I've heard several reports of people being killed in self-driving pilot programs, such as when a self-driving car failed to recognize a human driver motioning for it to go first at a 4-way stop, but these incidences aren't being given any press.

It makes me think of how not one, but two Boeing employees conveniently died -- "of natural causes" -- right before they were scheduled to testify against the company. Yeah, ok. I'm not smart enough to subscribe to most conspiracies, but any normal citizen knows corporations will go to any length -- especially murder -- to keep up a profit.

As for planting a permanent dwelling "where nobody knows where you are" -- maybe it's still possible in Tennessee, but I live in the Pacific Northwest. Out here, there is an ever-increasing numbers of unemployed, homeless, fentanyl-addicted people who are tirelessly looking for exactly those kinds of places -- and seeing as they have nothing but time on their hands, it won't be long before they find yours.

The added problem of living out in the middle of nowhere is that you might also be at a severe loss of getting any help in time.

I watched an RV'ing video last week hosted by a couple with years of experience in the community, and their warning of the week was to stay on guard if someone asks you if you've ever been in the military.

It was explained that these days, it's often not because they're trying to be friendly.

It's because they are gauging the likelihood that you'll have a gun somewhere on your premises -- and/or if you know how to use one.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
25,866
8,556
113
I can definitely understand the need for certain services to be on a subscription basis -- programming for a self-driving car would surely be one of them. It's going to be interesting to see if that's even possible. (I personally think that even if it is, only the most elite will be able to afford it, but that's just me.)

I've heard several reports of people being killed in self-driving pilot programs, such as when a self-driving car failed to recognize a human driver motioning for it to go first at a 4-way stop, but these incidences aren't being given any press.

It makes me think of how not one, but two Boeing employees conveniently died -- "of natural causes" -- right before they were scheduled to testify against the company. Yeah, ok. I'm not smart enough to subscribe to most conspiracies, but any normal citizen knows corporations will go to any length -- especially murder -- to keep up a profit.

As for planting a permanent dwelling "where nobody knows where you are" -- maybe it's still possible in Tennessee, but I live in the Pacific Northwest. Out here, there is an ever-increasing numbers of unemployed, homeless, fentanyl-addicted people who are tirelessly looking for exactly those kinds of places -- and seeing as they have nothing but time on their hands, it won't be long before they find yours.

The added problem of living out in the middle of nowhere is that you might also be at a severe loss of getting any help in time.

I watched an RV'ing video last week hosted by a couple with years of experience in the community, and their warning of the week was to stay on guard if someone asks you if you've ever been in the military.

It was explained that these days, it's often not because they're trying to be friendly.

It's because they are gauging the likelihood that you'll have a gun somewhere on your premises -- and/or if you know how to use one.
I am definitely, definitely staying down here in Tennessee! Definitely!
 
May 23, 2009
15,715
4,851
113
I guess if you want to keep the house in pristine condition all the time, upgrading with every trend (like fashion)...which I'm not saying is a terrible idea if you needed to be able to sell at a moments notice. Pros and cons.

$500/month seems incredibly generous for the big ticket items. People overpay for the small things and it does indeed add up. I get it if you are infirm or elderly but I think people should at least attempt to reach out through the grapevine if they need work done.

Paying close attention to the bottom line or finding a person that is knowledgeable will prevent "panic buying" on services.
Hi @Mii,

I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding, but did you mean to write $1500/month, like what I had written in the post you are replying to?

I was really shocked that the number was that high, but if I understood correctly, the research for the article was averaging out costs owners have to spend on fees, repair, and maintenance after owning for XX number of years and won't get that money back when they sell. I've been taking an informal poll online and in life of the home owners I know and they said $1500 was about right. In the area where I live, I have no doubt it would be closer to $2000.

I'm reading a lot of articles about how people who buy houses are becoming "house poor." They budgeted for the mortgage, but were completely unprepared for the associated costs that came with it. Now everything they have is being used to try to keep the house (they can't sell because of the cost of finding a new place, or no one is buying.)

I found very quickly about this kind of thing with my house in FL. FL has hot, muggy weather and what I didn't realize is how quickly mold would grow on my siding. I've read that most sided houses only need to be power-washed once or twice a year, but I was having to pay to have mine professionally done every 4 months, and that was stretching it. The tropical weather made it a constant battle.

Now I know a lot of people would say, "If it's not a health hazard, why bother?" But I lived in a neighborhood with a strict HOA, and along with avoiding fees or legislation, I also didn't want to be "that house" -- the one that looks like a homeless shanty and drags down the value of all the others in the neighborhood.

That's another problem many people don't anticipate -- they might not be able to sell their own house for a good price because Crazy Harry down the road has turned his front lawn into No Man's Land -- which is, of course, why many people feel a need to buy into neighborhoods with HOA's in the first place.

I tried doing the power washing myself at first but it was way too much for little me to keep up with, and my Home Depot washer didn't do a very good job. The guy also told me that the siding's UV coating would eventually be worn down by all the washing, and I quickly realized that I needed to start saving up to either find someone who could re-coat the siding (I was told this wasn't possible,) or else have the siding replaced on a regular basis (UGH.)

Additionally, the yard came with a lot of landscaping where all the shrubs got some kind of mold and rotted out, so I had to pay to get all those replaced as well.

For me, it's been a blessing to move to an apartment, as I'm able to save a lot more money, and with SO much less that I have to worry about.
 
May 10, 2011
1,557
192
63
Very interesting post that you wrote. :)
I am scared to ask what you mean by that lol 😆 😳 😂

I really was just being silly, but the juxtaposition of rough & tough prior military with an affinity for growing flowers is.......intriguing. 💐 😎

#there'snoaccountingforfarmgirls
 

MsMediator

Well-known member
Mar 8, 2022
1,016
652
113
We have to take inflation into consideration, which doesn't support that home ownership is a great investment.

A $100,000 home in 1984 is equal to $300,000 in 2024. That doesn't mean a $200,000 profit. And one has to factor in taxes, HOAs, mortgage insurance, maintenance, etc.
https://www.minneapolisfed.org/about-us/monetary-policy/inflation-calculator

I basically agree with renting as cheaply as possible in a safe area, and investing the rest. Of course, it is easier to do as singles. It may not be be cost efficient to rent multiple rooms as a family.

Overall, I agree homeowners come out a bit ahead financially.
 
Mar 13, 2014
41,715
16,513
113
69
Tennessee
I am scared to ask what you mean by that lol 😆 😳 😂

I really was just being silly, but the juxtaposition of rough & tough prior military with an affinity for growing flowers is.......intriguing. 💐 😎

#there'snoaccountingforfarmgirls
I was just being a bit silly too. :)