Thoughts on buying a townhouse?

NEW -> Contingent Buyer Assistance Program
[quote author="movingaround" date=1207870779]Not sure if this will be relevant to you or not but I know when we started out after college I thought we would be in our place for at least 5 years - only to discover that in certain fields moving is the key to getting promoted quickly. I know now that for us we can never know for sure we will be somewhere for more than maybe two years and even that could be shorter with mergers. layoffs, etc. Just something to think about depending on your area of work......</blockquote>


so true... this is from the BLS in 2006. being at a diff job other than your first job right out of college within 2 yrs is almost a certainty.



"Individuals held an average of 10.5 jobs from ages 18 to 40, with the

majority of the jobs being held before age 31."
 
So do you two live together now? Sounds like you don't. I would consider renting together first for at least a year or so. Why not take one big life changing event at a time instead of two at once? Besides it will benefit you two in the long haul with house prices :)



And like others have said, are you about AV? I considered it a little big ago, but the commute just seemed killer (but I guess you are used to it from Ladera). Besides Irvine, I really like the Foothill Ranch and Tustin Ranch areas as well.



Also, another thing to consider. Maybe you can only afford a townhome now. But if prices continue dropping (odds are in your favor) and you can keep saving up by renting, would you consider a one or two year wait worth it to get you and your fiance a SFR?





so where is tenmagnet to instigate the going back and forth between ipop and catchme?
 
[quote author="skek" date=1207872361][quote author="24inIrvine" date=1207871852]so where is tenmagnet to instigate the going back and forth between ipop and catchme?</blockquote>


24 -- now the tables have turned. Ipop knows where catchme works! I think ipop is going to get a bunch of those gangsta thugs from his accounting department and be waiting in the parking garage for catchme after work. Better call your brothers, catchme!</blockquote>


and for that we need tenmagnet as well. To videotape and post on youtube :)
 
I would not eliminate Aliso Viejo because of traffic issues if you work in Irvine, because I have found the 133 is a very good way to get to Irvine quickly, assuming you are close to the 133 onramp at El Toro. Obviously, it's different if you need to get to Irvine off the 5 near Tustin, but sometimes having to go from one end of Irvine to the other using busy streets can be worse and take longer than taking the freeway up from South County if you are close to the 133, or can deal with paying tolls on the 73.
 
[quote author="24inIrvine" date=1207871852]So do you two live together now? Sounds like you don't. I would consider renting together first for at least a year or so. Why not take one big life changing event at a time instead of two at once? Besides it will benefit you two in the long haul with house prices :)



And like others have said, are you about AV? I considered it a little big ago, but the commute just seemed killer (but I guess you are used to it from Ladera). Besides Irvine, I really like the Foothill Ranch and Tustin Ranch areas as well.



Also, another thing to consider. Maybe you can only afford a townhome now. But if prices continue dropping (odds are in your favor) and you can keep saving up by renting, would you consider a one or two year wait worth it to get you and your fiance a SFR?





so where is tenmagnet to instigate the going back and forth between ipop and catchme?</blockquote>


Thanks for the recognition 24.

Spreading the truth is not an easy job.

Looks like Ipop and Catchme took the party over to this thread without inviting me.

No problem, you?re progress is coming along nicely.

The blonde hottie over blue bikini comment shows growth.

Now don't forget when you?re out, Fly with da Goose and cran.
 
<img src="http://www.noelgreen.com/uploaded_images/sopranos.jpg" alt="" />



Yeah, it was all-good between Tony and Phil at first right.

That?s until Phil and NY wanted a bigger piece of the HUD action, more juice on the asbestos removal project and started putting the sqeeze on Tony and NJ.

Beware!
 
ScubaSteve,



I'd recommend at least hanging out a lot in AV whenever you can. At least then you can get a sense of the city and the area and really see if it is some place you'd like to be chained to for a few years. So go on weekends, check out places to eat, things to do, etc. Also maybe ask the locals how they feel about the area...
 
[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1207874665][quote author="tenmagnet" date=1207872762][quote author="24inIrvine" date=1207871852]So do you two live together now? Sounds like you don't. I would consider renting together first for at least a year or so. Why not take one big life changing event at a time instead of two at once? Besides it will benefit you two in the long haul with house prices :)



And like others have said, are you about AV? I considered it a little big ago, but the commute just seemed killer (but I guess you are used to it from Ladera). Besides Irvine, I really like the Foothill Ranch and Tustin Ranch areas as well.



Also, another thing to consider. Maybe you can only afford a townhome now. But if prices continue dropping (odds are in your favor) and you can keep saving up by renting, would you consider a one or two year wait worth it to get you and your fiance a SFR?





so where is tenmagnet to instigate the going back and forth between ipop and catchme?</blockquote>


Thanks for the recognition 24.

Spreading the truth is not an easy job.

Looks like Ipop and Catchme took the party over to this thread without inviting me.

No problem, you?re progress is coming along nicely.

The blonde hottie over blue bikini comment shows growth.

Now don't forget when you?re out, Fly with da Goose and cran.</blockquote>


Sorry to say catch, but your company's web site leaves much to be desired. Some of the links are totally broken. Definitely 2nd rate. Where is the QA? Where is the pride? Come on man, your web site is your company's face to the digital world! Better let Duke know that whoever is responsible for the site has been slacking big time... It's not you is it?



So you can check yourself, <a href="http://www.dridefault.com/">go here</a>, scroll down to the bottom and click on the support site link next to the customer service phone number. Whoops, doesn't work. Corporate portal, don't work either... Support site doesn't work huh? Bet your customers love that.



Holy crap, there are 13 whole people at your company catchme. That is less staff than a McDonalds during lunch rush. If ole Duke really knew what he was talking about, I'd think his company would have more employees than a football team after 24 years in friggin' operation.



Hey, you got your <a href="http://www.dridefault.com/?page_state=the_team&unique_id=9&sub_nav=2">picture posted too</a>! If you are ever in the job market catch, look me up man. I put dudes like you to work...</blockquote>
ipoplayer,



Ipoplayer,



I am sitting my office working and reading your post and I start to laugh.

The more you talk, the more uneducated you show. You are probably a lonely jobless douchebag who is frustrated at the world and find a mean to take it on someone.

Let other members here judge your words.

I dont need to explain to you how my company works. A company doesn't have to have 1000 employee to be effective or website is being through overhaul process.



You are officially on my ignored list.
 
<em>*Smacks forehead*</em>



That is the best guerilla marketing we have had to date, I think. A software company relevant to the industry we discuss has just suckered us into checking out their website.
 
Too bad, he got your quote in there before you edited Ipop.



But I think I should say good call Ipop on deleting yours. I think those attacks were not warranted. No need to get personal and insult where the guy works. It just seemed like a no no of a post and I'm glad you deleted it. Catch me, I would suggest you edit your post a bit and this should just be dropped instead of being carried over to every new thread about a new purchase.
 
<blockquote>



Thanks for the recognition 24.

Spreading the truth is not an easy job.

Looks like Ipop and Catchme took the party over to this thread without inviting me.

No problem, you?re progress is coming along nicely.

The blonde hottie over blue bikini comment shows growth.

Now don't forget when you?re out, Fly with da Goose and cran.</blockquote>


Apparently my cal state education has failed me because I have no idea what your lingo such as "Fly with da Goose and cran" means. This isn't the first time one of your chick magnet lines went over my head. Perhaps, you can leave a non USC translation with those in parantheses for me :) And yeah, just admit it....



blonde > brunette in that photo!
 
Hi All,



Just to give you guys some facts.



We currently do not live together officially (each renting our own place) but we stay with each other 5 out of the 7 days.



I probably won't live with my buddy once we get married because that would be weird!



I don't know AV that well but I do hang out in LB and IRV a lot. I live in Ladera right now and drive to LB and IRV quite frequently, so I think AV location wise would be OK. We both work off of Bison by the 73 (which we take when we do not car pool). When we do have kids (probably one year after marriage), her father will probably be around a lot to help baby sit while we both work since he's retired (free compared to day care).



I am currently 6 years out of college and have switch jobs 3 times. I think I have found the right job to settle into for a while (hence marriage, kids, house, etc). While I think we can wait, I was just a little excited when I noticed prices dropped from 515-525K to 443K for this place.
 
[quote author="catchmeifyoucan" date=1207877067][quote author="ipoplaya" date=1207874665][quote author="tenmagnet" date=1207872762][quote author="24inIrvine" date=1207871852]So do you two live together now? Sounds like you don't. I would consider renting together first for at least a year or so. Why not take one big life changing event at a time instead of two at once? Besides it will benefit you two in the long haul with house prices :)



And like others have said, are you about AV? I considered it a little big ago, but the commute just seemed killer (but I guess you are used to it from Ladera). Besides Irvine, I really like the Foothill Ranch and Tustin Ranch areas as well.



Also, another thing to consider. Maybe you can only afford a townhome now. But if prices continue dropping (odds are in your favor) and you can keep saving up by renting, would you consider a one or two year wait worth it to get you and your fiance a SFR?





so where is tenmagnet to instigate the going back and forth between ipop and catchme?</blockquote>


Thanks for the recognition 24.

Spreading the truth is not an easy job.

Looks like Ipop and Catchme took the party over to this thread without inviting me.

No problem, you?re progress is coming along nicely.

The blonde hottie over blue bikini comment shows growth.

Now don't forget when you?re out, Fly with da Goose and cran.</blockquote>


Sorry to say catch, but your company's web site leaves much to be desired. Some of the links are totally broken. Definitely 2nd rate. Where is the QA? Where is the pride? Come on man, your web site is your company's face to the digital world! Better let Duke know that whoever is responsible for the site has been slacking big time... It's not you is it?



So you can check yourself, <a href="http://www.dridefault.com/">go here</a>, scroll down to the bottom and click on the support site link next to the customer service phone number. Whoops, doesn't work. Corporate portal, don't work either... Support site doesn't work huh? Bet your customers love that.



Holy crap, there are 13 whole people at your company catchme. That is less staff than a McDonalds during lunch rush. If ole Duke really knew what he was talking about, I'd think his company would have more employees than a football team after 24 years in friggin' operation.



Hey, you got your <a href="http://www.dridefault.com/?page_state=the_team&unique_id=9&sub_nav=2">picture posted too</a>! If you are ever in the job market catch, look me up man. I put dudes like you to work...</blockquote>
ipoplayer,



Ipoplayer,



I am sitting my office working and reading your post and I start to laugh.

The more you talk, the more uneducated you show. You are probably a lonely jobless douchebag who is frustrated at the world and find a mean to take it on someone.

Let other members here judge your words.

I dont need to explain to you how my company works. A company doesn't have to have 1000 employee to be effective or website is being through overhaul process.



You are officially on my ignored list.</blockquote>


Uh-oh, catch is responsible for the web site... I struck a nerve. Less time on blogs Leo and more time on the PHP.



Dude, you are the one who threw out there 3-4 times the company you worked for. Don't get your panties in a bunch if someone takes the bait and actually checks it out. Sheez... You opened the door and ole IPO just walked through it.



Sadly you aren't worthy of IPOs attention. You have to resort to the elementary school personal attacks. Note how I was able to get a rise out of you without debasing you at all personally. That is skill my friend. That is the result of 9 years of college education amigo, granted I lost a couple years to partying, so let's call it 7 instead... Thin skin my friend, very thin.
 
[quote author="ScubaSteve" date=1207877911]Hi All,



Just to give you guys some facts.



We currently do not live together officially (each renting our own place) but we stay with each other 5 out of the 7 days.



I probably won't live with my buddy once we get married because that would be weird!



I don't know AV that well but I do hang out in LB and IRV a lot. I live in Ladera right now and still drive to LB and IRV a lot so I think AV location wise would be OK. We both work off of Bison by the 73 (which we take when we do not car pool). When we do have kids (probably one year after marriage), her father will probably be around a lot to help baby sit while we both work since he's retired (free compared to day care).



I am currently 6 years out of college and have switch jobs 3 times. I think I have found the right job to settle into for a while (hence marriage, kids, house, etc). While I think we can wait, I was just a little excited when I noticed prices dropped from 515-525K to 443K for this place.</blockquote>


Alright, well working off the 73 doesn't sound as bad of a commute given that taking the tolls 5 times a week for 2 cars wouldn't hurt your cash flow too bad. But just remember, when you do take the 5. That commute could be brutal.



I would still suggest why not trying renting a place in AV first to see what you think of the area. THe nice thing about it is that it has that giant town center that has almost all you need so alot of times you don't even have to leave AV. But it does kind of seem on its own little island out there having to take Alicia 4-5 miles from the 5.



And also, just remember prices don't look they are going to stop dropping. So add the price drops on top of another year or so you and your wife can save while renting. That could mean instead of a townhouse, you are buying a new detached SFR with more land and maybe another bedroom :)



Foothill Ranch reminds me of AV in the way they have a giant town shopping center with almost all you could need. I suggest you check that out too! :) Although, I work off the 5 in Santa Ana, so I am guessing that would be a brutal commute to the 73 side of Irvine.
 
[quote author="24inIrvine" date=1207877400]Too bad, he got your quote in there before you edited Ipop.



But I think I should say good call Ipop on deleting yours. I think those attacks were not warranted. No need to get personal and insult where the guy works. It just seemed like a no no of a post and I'm glad you deleted it. Catch me, I would suggest you edit your post a bit and this should just be dropped instead of being carried over to every new thread about a new purchase.</blockquote>


catchme is the guy who posted the URL to his company web site 24. It's not like a had to do any forensic research to figure it out... Obviously the guy wanted or wants people to check it out for some reason. Who the heck posts who they work for on a blog?
 
My new wife and I are/were in a similar situation. We decided to rent for the foreseeable future. Since she works in finance it wasn't too hard to overwhelm her nesting instincts with the calculations. Looking back I have no regrets on our decision. It will be nice when we buy a place, but it will be even nicer to buy a place and save 20% or potentially even more.
 
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