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

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.

Very interesting post that you wrote.

I am definitely, definitely staying down here in Tennessee! Definitely!

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.

Looks like I will be staying in Tennessee too.

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

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.

Yeah, so... Um... For all the rest of you folks... We still got plenty room here in Tennessee. Just saying. Y'all welcome to come on over and put down some roots.

I was just being a bit silly too.

For sure, brother.

LOL.........I appreciate the kind gesture and words. However, I am engaged to be married to @1ofthem

Congratulations

Has it really only been 2.5 years since you met here?

Another "this-is-not-a-dating-site" CC love story .

How time flies!

Signs You're Single - Christian Chat Rooms & Forums

Yeah has been that passage of time. I think she was shocked when she saw that I no longer look that adorable......LOL However, I am convinced it was this quip of mine that made her think oh my word he needs a wife.

"Reckon I am the typical or the generalization for single guys. 14 years ago when my ex and I divorced, she just wanted gone. So she made no claims and she let the court know I could have the house, the kids, and the dogs. So for 14 years I have been hearing from my mother, sisters, Aunts, nieces, and my friends wives.

That ya sure can tell I am single cause have no pictures on the walls. As well as for 14 years they shake their heads cause my drapes don't match my furniture. My furniture don't match my carpet. My silverware is a hodge podge of 4 different patterns. While I have all china type plates all my cups are plastic and do not match the dinnerware. With some of those plastic cups saying Taco Bell, McDonalds, Subway, and other fast food names on them.

For 14 years they have been letting me know I should get remarried. I am convinced they only do so cause they are all OCD and when they visit my home, that all the mismatch sets off their anxiety.......LOL"

https://christianchat.com/christian-singles-forum/signs-youre-single.203626/

Lol no worries, I was just in a goofy mood when I posted that 😂.

I read through the thread you linked to, and it was TOOOOOO cute! All the best to you both 💘😁

Wow! Congratulations! please say hi to sis @1ofthem 'been a while since we last talked ❤️ I am happy for her ❤️ she is a nice sis here on CC .Thanks ♥️

I have heard that this is not a dating site yet here you are engaged to another member. I met my wife here (JesusLives) shortly after I joined in 2014. We will be celebrating our 10th anniversary in November. Congrats to you both!

Don't worry. Your future wife will straighten all that stuff out.

I told her hello for you and she said hello back . Then she proceeded to tell me what a nice person you are and how much she likes you.

I found here or this site quite by accident and just happened to join. Reason I say it that way is I had joined some Christian groups on facebook and to be kind just was not my cup of tea. So I dropped out of all of them and decided that talking to fellow believers via social media may not be the best idea or experience.......LOL

So I was actually looking up some scriptures in a search and it just so happened that one of the what I thought was a scripture. Was in fact a scripture used in a conversation linked here. So I joined and jumped in the conversation that day. So over the next couple weeks I was again feeling that oh maybe this not the best way to interact with fellow believers again.

So as I was looking at the forums looking for somewhere that would show or have info how to delete your account. I saw just all the different forums they had. Saw the single one and being single it just made me go huh have never seen a single forums before, so I was just curious. Well it was lighthearted so I joined in some convos.

While I don't remember what was said in my first responses. I recall 3 of you real clear in the interactions. One being @seoulsearch. I had made a comment that behind every tragedy of mine you could always find a girl. She responded just saying that it is the same for gals. I then explained that I did not mean tragedy in the way of breakups or heartache. I was making fun of myself in that I was that guy that would jump his bike like Evil Knievel or say hell ya'll watch this to impress a girl. Which had left me with scars and oft in the emergency room.....LOL

So anyway it had set off a light round of teasing from folks here and I just laughed cause it was funny replies. Well I think it had been a day or two and the teasing had died down. Then suddenly you come around and make a funny comment, so while I don't recall what the comment was or what exactly I said back but more or less I recall saying to you. Penalty on the play unnecessary dogpiling on........LOL

The third person well I will allow to be nameless but do recall after I read her comment I wat thinking easy lady. I don't even know you and you are attacking me accusing me of doing things that are criminal in all 50 states.......LOL

Then I met my to be I found here by accident had no intention of wanting to ever be married again as I was a little jaded from my last marriage and the divorce. So had no plans or intention. However, is the theme of my walk in Christ, God always seems mostly in my life to remind me, if I may paraphrase the proverb. I may make my plans but it is God who directs my paths.