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Home Owner Thread

Do Not Sell My Personal Information
I have a very simple question - is it insane to buy a house in this market? I've been looking for some time but it's so hard to rationalize buying now when comparing to prices from just 5 years ago, hell even 2 years. I just feel like I'm going to finally take the plunge and then the bottom is going to fall out.

In the nation the true bottom only fell out once. But price is only one factor to home owner ship. Right now you should be able to get a 30 fixed if you have decent credit from 2.875-3.25 based upon loan amount, loan to value and a few other factors. Anyone that has owned a home 10 years ago will tell you how stupid low that rate is.

Further rent is higher than ever right now, so typically outside of the 5% outlay for down payment, a mortgage is cheaper than renting.

So as long as you plan on being in the house 5-10, who cares if value goes down a bit.

For example, after the 2008 crash and 2010 bottom, 10+ years later, most of the country's housing markets values are significantly higher today than they were then including all of Ohio. 18 years if mortgage and looking up purchase price on every house because i have too to fill out the 1003 properly lets me know where values have gone and are currently.

Long story short, if you can afford it, stop being a wimp and buy a fucking house, lol
 
Has anyone in the area had windows recently replaced?

Had a couple quotes recently. Whole home is 18 double-hung windows, and one patio door. Got a quote from Parma Windows, who sells Polaris, that was 14K. Got a quote from Window Nation to install Soft-Lite Imperials at 25K. Still shopping, but figured I'd check in here to see what people's experiences are.
 
Has anyone in the area had windows recently replaced?

Had a couple quotes recently. Whole home is 18 double-hung windows, and one patio door. Got a quote from Parma Windows, who sells Polaris, that was 14K. Got a quote from Window Nation to install Soft-Lite Imperials at 25K. Still shopping, but figured I'd check in here to see what people's experiences are.
Last fall I replaced 13 double hung windows along with a new entry door for 10K with lifetime replacement warranty. It was from Weather Sealco out of Ashtabula. Don't know if they serve your area, but Parma Windows pricing seems to be in the ballpark.
 
I'm looking into converting my house into a smart home. Does anyone have experience with this? Any products you've used that you would recommend? I've done minimal research but hope to start making this transition later in the summer.
 
I'm looking into converting my house into a smart home. Does anyone have experience with this? Any products you've used that you would recommend? I've done minimal research but hope to start making this transition later in the summer.
So, I'm always super hands-on techy. I work in IT and love tinkering. For me, home assistant is fantastic. Throw a raspberry pi with Z-Wave/Zigbee dongles somewhere and you're off to the races.

I don't like having anything subscription or cloud-based. I occasionally give in and make exceptions for some things (like my roborock vacuum) but everywhere I can, I make sure that it can work locally without relying on a company staying in business and supporting the product. I have a server in the attic that I run everything off of.

If you don't like setting everything up yourself and want things to "just work" then HA is an awful choice.
 
I'm in this smart home mode too...and just want someone to call to give me some guidance and intel, as this stuff is over my head. And time....got none of that.
 
Has anyone in the area had windows recently replaced?

Had a couple quotes recently. Whole home is 18 double-hung windows, and one patio door. Got a quote from Parma Windows, who sells Polaris, that was 14K. Got a quote from Window Nation to install Soft-Lite Imperials at 25K. Still shopping, but figured I'd check in here to see what people's experiences are.
Let me start with, the market has changed dramatically since I last got several quotes for windows, so actual prices are probably no longer accurate, but take it for what its worth. The window prices I knew were mid-late 2019, in Maryland, for a "modern" house, as in less than 50 years old and should be easy to pop a window in and out with a basic vinyl window replacement. Any contractor worth a damn was going to charge you 500-800/window, for non name brand double hung window. 250-350/window+labor. The better you know the guy, or the more work he has in your house the lower the cost. Name brand like Anderson was going to be another 200-300/window.

Pure window guys were in the 500-1200 range. If you can find the local guy who makes his own windows you will be in the lower range. The national/regional companies are going to be in the higher range, plus obviously any other upgrade to the window you have.

I imagine that you are looking at a 25-50% increase i price since COVID though.
 
Let me start with, the market has changed dramatically since I last got several quotes for windows, so actual prices are probably no longer accurate, but take it for what its worth. The window prices I knew were mid-late 2019, in Maryland, for a "modern" house, as in less than 50 years old and should be easy to pop a window in and out with a basic vinyl window replacement. Any contractor worth a damn was going to charge you 500-800/window, for non name brand double hung window. 250-350/window+labor. The better you know the guy, or the more work he has in your house the lower the cost. Name brand like Anderson was going to be another 200-300/window.

Pure window guys were in the 500-1200 range. If you can find the local guy who makes his own windows you will be in the lower range. The national/regional companies are going to be in the higher range, plus obviously any other upgrade to the window you have.

I imagine that you are looking at a 25-50% increase i price since COVID though.
Looking like I'm going with Polaris windows, their middle tier (UltraWeld?). Window installer recommended by the Polaris factory. 19 windows (which includes one patio door) for 14k.

After telling me 26k to my face, Window Nation emailed me two days later quoting 16.6k. That was for Soft-Lite Imperial LS
 
I'm in this smart home mode too...and just want someone to call to give me some guidance and intel, as this stuff is over my head. And time....got none of that.
Throw questions in here. Although, Im currently on the way to the hospital for the birth of my first, so I may no longer have all the free time. We'll see!
 
Looking like I'm going with Polaris windows, their middle tier (UltraWeld?). Window installer recommended by the Polaris factory. 19 windows (which includes one patio door) for 14k.

After telling me 26k to my face, Window Nation emailed me two days later quoting 16.6k. That was for Soft-Lite Imperial LS

Patio door is going to be the big price there.

A patio door (with glass), is going to be 1500-2000. If its a french door setup its going to be 3000-4000.
 
Throw questions in here. Although, Im currently on the way to the hospital for the birth of my first, so I may no longer have all the free time. We'll see!

Congrats brotha! Its a progression in terms of a burden on time. You feel like its bad....but its a slow burn. You'll love it though - know the sex yet, or a surprise?
 
So, I'm always super hands-on techy. I work in IT and love tinkering. For me, home assistant is fantastic. Throw a raspberry pi with Z-Wave/Zigbee dongles somewhere and you're off to the races.

I don't like having anything subscription or cloud-based. I occasionally give in and make exceptions for some things (like my roborock vacuum) but everywhere I can, I make sure that it can work locally without relying on a company staying in business and supporting the product. I have a server in the attic that I run everything off of.

If you don't like setting everything up yourself and want things to "just work" then HA is an awful choice.
Right now, nothing in my house is "smart." Where would you recommend starting?

Archie. Miller. Fired. - Page 52 - Indiana Men's Basketball - BtownBanners
 
Congrats brotha! Its a progression in terms of a burden on time. You feel like its bad....but its a slow burn. You'll love it though - know the sex yet, or a surprise?
Girl.

We're spoiled. Both of us full time work from home, support system close, parents retired. About as easy as it gets... should be exciting!
 
Right now, nothing in my house is "smart." Where would you recommend starting?

Archie. Miller. Fired. - Page 52 - Indiana Men's Basketball - BtownBanners
So... what do you want to smartify?

Maybe the best place to start is a thermostat? I have an ecobee. Nest is great. It's been years since I looked into them.

People like security cameras. Front doorbell cameras are popular. Ring, Nest would be the two popular options. Or you could go the manual route.
 
Piggybacking, I have a Ring, have an Ecobee on the floor that is waiting for install, and a whole new wifi system waiting for install too (another thread had this data in it, forget where it was though....reposting to add value here):

NetGear AC1750 WiFi Cable Modem
Nighthawk AC2300 Router
Eero wifi system for whole home coverage

I have not yet taken action, as I'd prefer to have a professional come in for a consult. Even if it is Geek Squad lol.

Might just install this stuff though - shitty internet been pissing me off.
 

Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-13: "Backup Bash Brothers"

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Episode 3:11: "Clipping Bucks."
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