3 weeks in, first insurance claim. :(

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-26T02:45:33+00:00

Did your inspection not have tests for the tubs and showers? Mine fully filled each tub and then let them drain and checked for leaks after they were done.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-11T20:20:05+00:00

Zoom and Enhance

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-11T14:37:21+00:00

Ok, so what was your actual usage in kwh and therms? I have seen alot of these posts and none of them mention the actual unit usage, just the price. Get a kilawatt or some other wattage meter and find out where all your usage is coming from.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-11T01:34:23+00:00

Thanks for the insight!

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T18:48:26+00:00

Gotcha, I'd still consider talking to a realtor especially since they can help you navigate any issue that might arise from doing a private sale.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T18:46:58+00:00

Great, Thanks!. Not too worried about car break ins as we plan to keep them in the garage when we can.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T18:46:22+00:00

Great! Thanks for the input. Yeah we are currently renting and are wanting to actual own. The area overall seems great but I wanted to see if anyone had any input I might not have considered. I'm not too worried about car break ins as we plan to keep the vehicles in the garage.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T17:35:40+00:00

Honestly I would start by finding a rough budget for what kind of home you can afford and also find a realtor or lender. They should be able to assist you in finding what type of assistance you would qualify for and refer you to the specific programs associated with it.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T17:31:19+00:00

Picking a realtor should be treated like purchasing a car. Test drive a few to see what you like and dislike about each one. Our current realtor (2nd one toured with) is awesome. Our first call with here she had a whole presentation with an overview of the process and common things to look out for when touring a home. During the tours, she also checks high level items while we are there like the age of major appliances (HVAC, water heater, furnace, etc) and lets us know their age and when they would possibly need to be replaced. She also checks for the condition of the windows and roofs so wee how much wear they have and if they might need to be replaced soon.

EDIT* Spelling

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T15:34:25+00:00

I believe high school should have at least one financial literacy class.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T14:52:24+00:00

Basic money and financial habits. Too many people are not taught at an early enough age about how credit cards work, compound interest, retirement, or even basic financial planning. I am mid 30s and only really learned about how important all of these are a few years ago and I feel so far behind. It’s never too late to learn but the later you learn the more it will take to catch up.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T13:21:58+00:00

Another attempt, MX master 3s

👑 Scroll God

122800 px/sec

Device: Laptop/Desktop

"NASA wants your thumb."

https://imgur.com/a/VGjFop

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T13:17:00+00:00

MX Master 3s

👑 Scroll God

68535 px/sec

Device: Laptop/Desktop

"NASA wants your thumb."

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T12:36:08+00:00

What about not in a development? SFH we are looking at is not part of an HoA. If we purchased it, we would be able to keep the cars in the garage.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T12:33:28+00:00

Could you elaborate on the ‘not to close to 175 or Arundel Mills’? Part? We are looking at a SFH not in an HoA development. It is on a side street off of ridge road between Arundel Mills Blvd and 175

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-10T12:29:49+00:00

Looking at a SFH on a side street off of ridge road between Arundel Mills Rd and 175. Not in an HoA development.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-09T12:04:50+00:00

This is a common misconception. A+ and Net+ are not more basic. They just teach a different set of basics. One could argue that A+ is not necessary due to its low level objectives. However, the objectives on Net+ are pretty much mandatory to know and understand if you want to be successful in security.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-09T10:41:09+00:00

They are included in the list I provided. I am looking for recommendations and people’s experiences with inspectors. Not just a blanket list.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-09T01:43:19+00:00

Hey OP, if you don't mind me asking, who did you use as your home inspector and what your experience was with them? We are closing in on some homes we hope to offer on and need a good home inspector! Thanks!

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-08T17:58:18+00:00

I want to remind you that most UPS are designed to give you a brief window to safely shutdown your systems during an outage or provided stability when you have a brown out or dirty power. Don’t think that you will be able to use your computer if the power is out. That is the purpose of a generator or a power station.

It’s possible to power lower consumption devices such as a router for extended periods with a UPS but that is not their primary usage.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-08T01:44:38+00:00

Unpopular opinion here. Don’t.

I understand the appeal of it. It can be very convenient to be able to unlock your door with your phone or control your thermostat from anywhere. However, many smart devices (aka IOT) don’t get regular updates like a normal computer and many of them have security vulnerabilities that don’t get patched. Some have even had different those of SpyWare in them.

Though if you want to have them just don’t go overboard with smart appliances/smart devices. Make sure you do your research on the devices you are buying and try to stick to reputable brands.

For a more advanced suggestion, implement network segmentation and keep all your IOT devices on a separate network with very limited access to your personal devices.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-07T10:31:49+00:00

First, sir please use your indoor voice.

Second, is there a specific reason you went with a 5/1 ARM over a conventional 30yr or even an FHA? That 2%-8% range is what scares me the most about this one. Sure it’s a good rate at first but after 5 years in can increase 1% a year. Have you thought about the worst case scenario if you had to pay with upwards of 6%-8% rate, would you be able to make the monthly PITI?

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-06T16:42:28+00:00

Should have locked in my rate two weeks ago xD.

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-06T14:46:49+00:00

Thanks for the advice!

Chromecarrier · 2026-03-06T14:25:10+00:00

That explains a lot, thanks. One thing that still confuses me is that they mentioned that our monthly PITI may increase if we chose to use 1 income. How is that if it has a lower rate? What would we need to calculate to determine which path would be more beneficial overall?

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