house hunting sucks (renting)

[94FormulaBird]

well the fiance got a job at MUSC...time to move a little closer that way...Im am absolutley damn tired of apartments...I NEED a garage...we are trying to find stuff in west ashley or james island...but it seems all the affordable nice looking stuff is on this side of town...

alot of people at work are telling me to look for something on james island where we can make use of the connector...

advice welcomed...also if any is renting out a 3BR/2BA house with a garage that is not right next to a school or daycare or sketchy area...lemme know

[ForceFed4g63]

There's a new development on Secessionville, have a few friends that say they're pretty reasonably priced for new homes.

[CINDERBLOCK]

What's your price range? There is a home for sale in my neighborhood. Not sure what your idea of nice/affordable. I'll try to post a link... If I can find the listing

[CINDERBLOCK]

Search 313 clayton drive. It's a foreclosed home or....

[Mustangscotty]

Some practical advice, sort of..

Not sure how experienced you are at house hunting.

No one-stall garages! Look for the location of the water heater and washer/ dryer. Hopefully not the garage. They could set off the fumes from that professional rattle can painting. Do you have a place to store parts (attic above the garage or FROG).
Location(s) of the water hose to put out red neck fires and wash the cars.

Look for a level driveway, if you drop a trans hopefully there will be no red neck games (chasing the car down the driveway). Make sure the driveway is not cracked up as well as the garage floor. Is there an outlet or two in the ceiling for additional lighting? 10' ceilings for pulling a motor, 12-14' ceilings for an auto lift to work well. Additional space between garage doors for a motorcycle or auto parts storage?

Hopefully there will be no windows or easy access doors for thieves. People see what you have and they are suddenly your friend. Consider what direction the garage is pointed toward. That is, will traffic in a busy thorough-fare see your goodies sitting about the driveway or garage? Consider how much anti-theft devices will cost while looking at he house. Look for a fully fenced in back yard capable of being secured.

Take a look at the neighbors, what do they drive? Street racers, punks, crap, motor-heads.. Then who do they know that may be interested in stealing what you have? This is where buying in an upscale neighborhood pays off, IMHO Old people suck when it comes to performance vehicles, that is, if they don't own one or three. They are quick to complain about welding, painting, not wearing your shirt when washing the car on a hot day, leaving the hose on or basically anything they can think of.
I like kids, but kids don't like nice cars. If there are a lot of the little buggers then maybe save some dents/ damage and go to a different hood.

Found a house to buy? Go there throughout the day (morning, noon and night and a weekend as well) and check out the neighborhood for yourself. Observe everything from loud neighbors, pets parking, windy days (how the tree's sway/ lean), locate creeks, rivers, lakes, inlets and look for risk. Look for industrial operations such as waste treatement plants, electrical and gas/ utility areas that may be noisey or have a foul odor. If you have the luxury of seeing if anything floods or maybe ask a future neighbor if any part of the neighborhood floods then that is a plus. I asked one neighbor who the "trouble makers are" and they were happy to point that out.
Notice if any aircraft are flying overhead and if they are circling, on take off or approach.

[04ctd]

good advice. before I bought my house, i went & got a bag of chow at the local drive thru, and sat on the porch for a few hours & ate my supper & watched the sun go down.

[greengp]

Whats your price range? That can make a big difference. Nowadays house on James Island is not going cheap. The prices keep rising. A new decent sized house with garage and nice yard will cost roughly 200k plus on James Island. West Ashley has better options for your money.

[94FormulaBird]

We aren't buying anytime soon...not sure if we'd stay in the low country once I'm out if school...renting seems to be our best bet...we are paying $1150 for a 2bd/2ba apartment with cable and water included...been looking around and a lot of stuff around that price Is run down or in a shit neighborhood...looks like another apartment is in the works

[Matts94Z28]

Expect to spend 1300-1600 for something nice.

[chrisheltra]

Shit we were paying $1200/month for the mortgage on a 2500 sqft, 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, finished frog, 2 car garage house on the golf coarse in the hamlets. You sure you want to be where you're looking?

[MonteC]

Buy! If your spending a over a thousand a month just get a mortgage. When you plan on leaving sell or rent it out.

[ForceFed4g63]

Buy! If your spending a over a thousand a month just get a mortgage. When you plan on leaving sell or rent it out.

x2, these days there's no reason to rent when you can buy and have your monthly payments be cheaper.

[94FormulaBird]

no money saved for down payment or closing costs...buying isnt an option

[04ctd]

no money saved for down payment or closing costs...buying isnt an option

brother, check with a realtor. get on some Obama program

my daughter was looking, a 1800 sq ft house was $1000 rent.

she got 2300 sq ft for $1200 mortgage. IDK how much she put down, but she got it done ASAP.

cut something $$ else out.

[ForceFed4g63]

no money saved for down payment or closing costs...buying isnt an option

There's all sorts of programs you can do, if I can buy a house anyone can lol

[TLyons90]

Subd! Lease on my apartment is up at the end of march and I refuse to
move into another apartment! I'm also not smart enough to get rid of my toys to live in something worth my while and not complain...

[CarsAndGames]

Shit we were paying $1200/month for the mortgage on a 2500 sqft, 3 bedroom, 3.5 bath, finished frog, 2 car garage house on the golf coarse in the hamlets. You sure you want to be where you're looking?


Ballin out of control!!!


I pay around $800 for my house. 2700 sq feet, almost 4 acres. 2 car enclosed car port.

I would never rent again

[Matts94Z28]

Ballin out of control!!!


I pay around $800 for my house. 2700 sq feet, almost 4 acres. 2 car enclosed car port.

I would never rent again

He doesn't want to move out in the sticks though.

[Jimmyz18]

He doesn't want to move out in the sticks though.

that's my issue....kids are in school and don't want them taught hillbilly.....lol

[chrisheltra]

Ballin out of control!!!


I pay around $800 for my house. 2700 sq feet, almost 4 acres. 2 car enclosed car port.

I would never rent again

Negative. The ex wife now has it all but in all fairness she had it before I meet her.

[MonteC]

Negative. The ex wife now has it all but in all fairness she had it before I meat her.


:cool:

[DolSVT00]

Buy something, obama will help you. Realtors are hungry around here. Just dont fall into one of those 80/20 loans. Get a pre approval, try lending tree or quicken loans. Stash back about 2k in liquid funds and get the seller to pay closing costs. Trust me you can buy a home 0 out of pocket, im getting ready to buy another and rent it and i dont plan on spending my money to get it.

[CarsAndGames]

He doesn't want to move out in the sticks though.

You have a point.

Though I am only about 15 minutes from USC :) and not too far from White Knoll High ( where I went to high school) It's not too bad.


Thought being on a football team that won 1 game in 2 years sucked.

[viperkris]

+1 on buying. I'm working on my 3rd house right now. 3bed/3bath/3 car garage and my payments including HOA will be about 1100/month. As you know, you can't rent a house like that for anything close to that.

Need a down payment? sell off some retirement funds, refinance a car (that's what I'm doing), get a personal loan for around 10K, and use that. There are plenty of options out there, you just have to get creative.

Buying doesn't always make sense, but with rates right now and the potential for a rental house later on, it is something to really think about.

If you do find a place you want to rent, there's nothing that says you can't offer them a lesser amount. Its more common than you think to negotiate on a rent. Find a place that has been vacant for a few months that's a little out of your price range. Offer them what you can afford and tell them its better to take a smaller rent than no rent at all.

[MonteC]

+1 on buying. I'm working on my 3rd house right now. 3bed/3bath/3 car garage and my payments including HOA will be about 1100/month. As you know, you can't rent a house like that for anything close to that.

Need a down payment? sell off some retirement funds, refinance a car (that's what I'm doing), get a personal loan for around 10K, and use that. There are plenty of options out there, you just have to get creative.

Buying doesn't always make sense, but with rates right now and the potential for a rental house later on, it is something to really think about.

If you do find a place you want to rent, there's nothing that says you can't offer them a lesser amount. Its more common than you think to negotiate on a rent. Find a place that has been vacant for a few months that's a little out of your price range. Offer them what you can afford and tell them its better to take a smaller rent than no rent at all.


If you do that just make sure you have an iron clad lease. Don't want to get the boot when someone who is willing to pay comes around.