Good Neighborhoods in SA?

[Biernutz]

You could find a starter home or town home North of the airport that is better than throwing money on rent...

No houses in his price range...unless it's a repo that needs work

[Nbadan]

No houses in his price range...unless it's a repo that needs work

There are small starter homes...just don't expect a home larger than 1800 square feet without spending more than 250K

[Biernutz]

There are small starter homes...just don't expect a home larger than 1800 square feet without spending more than 250K

I live north of the airport. Starter homes at 1500 sq ft start at $140 +..unless it is a repo home

[Nbadan]

I live north of the airport. Starter homes at 1500 sq ft start at $140 +..unless it is a repo home

I could point you to a neighborhood in the 125K range...

[Biernutz]

I could point you to a neighborhood in the 125K range...

Go

[Nbadan]

Go

Go to Zillow...there is a whole neighborhood of homes of off Trent street and Brook Garden Lane...Price range from 120 to 140

[Nbadan]

For that you get the best middle school in SA, one of the best high schools, a renovated elementary school, one of the best library branches in the city, restaurants, the largest park, retail and the hottest clubs in SA...

[Biernutz]

Go to Zillow...there is a whole neighborhood of homes of off Trent street and Brook Garden Lane...Price range from 120 to 140

They have some 1000sqft 2bed 2bath homes that are garden homes on Trent lane. They are so packed together
that they are more like apartments or townhouses. I consider a starter home a 1400 sqft home 3-2 with parking for 2 cars.
It's a very dense house packed area with no yards and lots of people. But if that's what's you like...I think you would get
more bang for your money if you worked with a relator to get a bank repo north of that area. ....that's if you are handy with
home repairs....

This is Trent lane houses

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale..._mmm/?view=map

[DJR210]

They have some 1000sqft 2bed 2bath homes that are garden homes on Trent lane. They are so packed together
that they are more like apartments or townhouses. I consider a starter home a 1400 sqft home 3-2 with parking for 2 cars.

1000 square feet is the same size as large apartments.. no thanks. You'll outgrow that house in 2 years, wishing you never bought it. Then you're gonna go through the hassle of selling and moving again.

[Oh, Gee!!]

Rofl. You'd have to spend $30k in burglar bars and security cams....maybe a front yard gate

Pussy

[Blake]

Pussy

That'll make me move there

[CosmicCowboy]

No.

Even if you had any equity... the realtor fees, closing costs, maintenance, etc would far exceed it. And that's assuming you can sell the place quickly without it sitting on the market for months while you continue to write mortgage checks. People lose thousands by selling houses a few years after buying them. Bottom line, don't buy a house you can't afford or aren't planning on staying at for at least 10 years or so.

The part about needing to stay a few years for the numbers to really work is true but with the low interest rates you can still build equity. I bought a house in the Alon Market area for my daughter a couple of years ago that was a little over $150,000. Closing costs with 5% down were about $9000 and the monthly payment is $1200 @ 3.5% interest (including taxes and insurance). It has increased in value 5% a year and adds $275 a month in equity. It would already rent for more than the monthly payment. If you do buy make sure you have the sellers include a one year home owners warranty...saved a ton when the AC needed service and the hot water heater started leaking.