Wow. It has been over a year and a half since I have posted. Everyday life, not to mention chores around the house tend to get in the way.
So where are we now. My STAR and Veteran tax credits kicked in. That is what they told me, but for some reason my monthly payment actually went up. Who knows?
In addition to running out of oil a few more times I have had to pay for maintenance on the boiler. Money has not been that tight since I was able to use my 401K to pay off my car. The extra money is nice but doesn't seem to do much in the way of keeping me from living pay check to pay check.
I have finally filled the spare room. A friend took it, so this is someone I can trust. I just hope that living together does not drive our friendship apart. Before he moved in I replaced a casement window in the room to allow for an air conditioner to be used.
I know it is not to exciting and no real insight was offered but I thought it was time for an update.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Say good by to the Bad Guy....
So it has been a while since I posted. My last post lauded the arrival of my new roomie who I found off of Craigslist. Well suffice it is to say that all is not well in paradise.
Jesse moved in the house in November. It was lucky for me because i needed the extra cash for heating oil. He payed the first months rent plus an additional, though 100 short. I used the much need cash and put oil in the tank. Along with Jesse came his fish tank and dog Bentley. I knew the fish tank would raise the electric bill but it wasnt until the adjudstment that I knew how much.
So here I have this 23 YO kid living with me for 700 a month. The rent is for the room only, but I am OK with him having the tank out of the room and some other stuff as well (coat/shoe rack, etc).
December rolls around. We had agreed on the 7th for him to pay rent by. The 7th comes and no rent. It is the Holiday season so I understand and let it slide. He begins to pay me piece meal and by the end of the month he is caught up. This happens again in January. By the end of January he is caught up.
So February rolls around and I am expecting the same sort of deal but beginning to get pissed. By the middle of March he still owes me 600 for Feb and the Balance of March. I agree that the 600 he had put for a deposit could be used for Feb. I only get a portion of Marche's rent and he now owes me 400 for the month.
April comes and I start to get livid. I let Jesse know that I will ahve to charge him a late fee and that I need the balance of March and April by the 7th. On the 6th I get a check from his mother for the balance. Keep in mind it had been agreed upon that he pay cash. I go to the bank to cash and realize there is an error on the check. I return it to him for his mother to correct. I do not get the corrected check until the 10th. Walking in the house that day I was full prepared to kick him out if he did not have the check.
So here we come to May. Expecting a check I text him early and tell him that rent is due. He tells me that it is due on the 7th. That is true when I was getting cash. Still I wait to the 7th and ask him for hte rent which he told me he would have. I only get 300 from him. The following day I ask when I can expect the balance and things escalate to a heated argument. I verly nearly hit him. I wanted to hit him, but i held back for fear of losing my house.
We spoke calmly a few days later and he has begun to move his stuff out. I am still waiting for the fish tank to go. I could use the relief on the electric bill. I worked it out and I really will not need the extra rent for the coming winter. I may leave the room vacant, we shall see. If I do rent again, I will make sure to rent to someone a little more mature.
Jesse moved in the house in November. It was lucky for me because i needed the extra cash for heating oil. He payed the first months rent plus an additional, though 100 short. I used the much need cash and put oil in the tank. Along with Jesse came his fish tank and dog Bentley. I knew the fish tank would raise the electric bill but it wasnt until the adjudstment that I knew how much.
So here I have this 23 YO kid living with me for 700 a month. The rent is for the room only, but I am OK with him having the tank out of the room and some other stuff as well (coat/shoe rack, etc).
December rolls around. We had agreed on the 7th for him to pay rent by. The 7th comes and no rent. It is the Holiday season so I understand and let it slide. He begins to pay me piece meal and by the end of the month he is caught up. This happens again in January. By the end of January he is caught up.
So February rolls around and I am expecting the same sort of deal but beginning to get pissed. By the middle of March he still owes me 600 for Feb and the Balance of March. I agree that the 600 he had put for a deposit could be used for Feb. I only get a portion of Marche's rent and he now owes me 400 for the month.
April comes and I start to get livid. I let Jesse know that I will ahve to charge him a late fee and that I need the balance of March and April by the 7th. On the 6th I get a check from his mother for the balance. Keep in mind it had been agreed upon that he pay cash. I go to the bank to cash and realize there is an error on the check. I return it to him for his mother to correct. I do not get the corrected check until the 10th. Walking in the house that day I was full prepared to kick him out if he did not have the check.
So here we come to May. Expecting a check I text him early and tell him that rent is due. He tells me that it is due on the 7th. That is true when I was getting cash. Still I wait to the 7th and ask him for hte rent which he told me he would have. I only get 300 from him. The following day I ask when I can expect the balance and things escalate to a heated argument. I verly nearly hit him. I wanted to hit him, but i held back for fear of losing my house.
We spoke calmly a few days later and he has begun to move his stuff out. I am still waiting for the fish tank to go. I could use the relief on the electric bill. I worked it out and I really will not need the extra rent for the coming winter. I may leave the room vacant, we shall see. If I do rent again, I will make sure to rent to someone a little more mature.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
New Roommie
I finally got my new roommate last month. Along with him came an awesome fresh water fish tank and his dog Bentley. Bentley is a pure bred Golden Retriever.
Also I noticed they were taking more out of my check than I had anticipated for my 401K loan. I had taken the loan out to help pay for stuff when moving into the house. I had thought that I had taken the loan for a total of 54 months. Turns out it is 54 weeks. This is good an bad. Though I am paying more than expected, I will be done with it sooner than expected in August.
I cant wait to get my $8000 from my home buyers credit. I will be putting about 2K towards furniture I had purchased, and hopefully can put the rest towards credit cards.
Once early 2013 rolls around I will have my car paid off. That is unless the Earth is destoryed on Dec 22 2012. It would suck if the world were gone and I still owed these F#()*)(ers money :)
Also I noticed they were taking more out of my check than I had anticipated for my 401K loan. I had taken the loan out to help pay for stuff when moving into the house. I had thought that I had taken the loan for a total of 54 months. Turns out it is 54 weeks. This is good an bad. Though I am paying more than expected, I will be done with it sooner than expected in August.
I cant wait to get my $8000 from my home buyers credit. I will be putting about 2K towards furniture I had purchased, and hopefully can put the rest towards credit cards.
Once early 2013 rolls around I will have my car paid off. That is unless the Earth is destoryed on Dec 22 2012. It would suck if the world were gone and I still owed these F#()*)(ers money :)
Friday, September 4, 2009
No Gas For me....
At least not for now. In my area Gas is controlled by National Grid (formerly Keyspan). I called up and inquired about getting gas service run to my house. The closet gas main to my house is 466 feet away. NG will pay for 100 feet of main, and the rest the consumer (me) would be responsible for. The cost is $72 a foot. That comes to $26,352. On top of that I would still have to pay for the new heating equipment and a plumber to install it. I had wanted to convert to natural gas as soon as possible. As a new homeowner spending over $30K is just not an option. In the future if they offer a promotion or if neighbors are willing to share the cost I would be interested. Until then I am stuck with Oil.
update:
The 3rd bedroom which is downstair is for rent. It needed a door added and some painting done. Most of the painting is complete and the door was installed yesterday by a friend (cost $79 for materials and a six of Coors Light for my friend). I have posted the room on craigslist and as of yet I have only had one person come by to see the room. I have had 3 other people show interest, but all have either flaked or already found another room. There was also one guy who tried to pull an internet scam on me. Luckily I am internet savvy and recognized the signs before I was defrauded and left with a negative balance in my account.
update:
The 3rd bedroom which is downstair is for rent. It needed a door added and some painting done. Most of the painting is complete and the door was installed yesterday by a friend (cost $79 for materials and a six of Coors Light for my friend). I have posted the room on craigslist and as of yet I have only had one person come by to see the room. I have had 3 other people show interest, but all have either flaked or already found another room. There was also one guy who tried to pull an internet scam on me. Luckily I am internet savvy and recognized the signs before I was defrauded and left with a negative balance in my account.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Closing and Such
Closing was on 8/11 and I moved in on 8/12. Since then I have spent what for me ammounts to a fortune between Home Depot and Lowes. Dont forget Walmart. Mortgage was sold to JP Morgan Chase and is due on 10/1. Luckily I was able to get my newphew to move in right away. He is helping me with a little rent and money for cable as well. He has also been a great help around the house. Speaking of helping around the house. I have to thank all my friends who have done more to help than I could ever hope for.
Now I just have to get one more bedroom rented.
Now I just have to get one more bedroom rented.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The waiting is the hardest part
So my tentative closing date of July 10 is approching fast. I am still waiting on the results of the appraisal which is actually scheduled for today. Final mortage approval depends on what the house appraises for. In my case I need the house to appraise for more than what I am offering the seller, since I am planning on rolling my closing costs into the loan. The appraisal will determine whether I actually have to come out of pocket or not. If it appraises way to low, then my journey as a home owner will come to an abrubt stop.
So here I sit waiting for a call from my mortage guy, hoping the numbers work out in my favor.
So here I sit waiting for a call from my mortage guy, hoping the numbers work out in my favor.
Talk about Agita!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
VA Home Loan: Buying a Home with No Money Down
Right now as most people know it is a buyers market, but most are expecting that the market has pretty much hit bottom. Not only that but as the economy improves home loan rates will most likely climb as well. For those of you who are Veterans like myself, and looking to purchase a home, the VA Home Loan Guarantee program may be your best bet. I am currently buying a home with no money down, and the closing costs are rolled in. There is no Mortgage insurance to pay, because you pay an upfront "VA Funding fee, which can also be rolled into the mortgage. If feel this may be a good option for you here are some things to consider.
If you have the money for a down payment it is always better to go that route. Your mortgage payment will be cheaper and there will be no need to pay the VA Funding Fee.
The VA does not provide or guarantee that you will get a loan. You have to have a reasonable credit rating and a Income to Debt ratio of 41% after your mortgage payment is calculated. the VA is basically guaranteeing your downpayment, which is why there is no PMI.
VA loans limits vary depending on where you live, but right now is Typically $417,000 in major metropolitan areas.
For more info check with your lender and the VA's website: http://www.homeloans.va.gov/
*right now I am waiting on appraisal and final loan approval, but the tenative closing date is July 10th.
If you have the money for a down payment it is always better to go that route. Your mortgage payment will be cheaper and there will be no need to pay the VA Funding Fee.
The VA does not provide or guarantee that you will get a loan. You have to have a reasonable credit rating and a Income to Debt ratio of 41% after your mortgage payment is calculated. the VA is basically guaranteeing your downpayment, which is why there is no PMI.
VA loans limits vary depending on where you live, but right now is Typically $417,000 in major metropolitan areas.
For more info check with your lender and the VA's website: http://www.homeloans.va.gov/
*right now I am waiting on appraisal and final loan approval, but the tenative closing date is July 10th.
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