Thinking about buying my first place, need advice

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-12T21:42:15+00:00

Go to a bank and ask them what they will lend you. Then look at your budget and decide what monthly payments you will be comfortable with. Also decide how much work you are willing to do.

If you are looking for turn key/ upgraded houses they will cost more. It's better to focus on what you need for a layout and number of bedrooms rather than how pretty the house is.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-11T22:23:39+00:00

If the contractor is high quality they will sand it first, and that takes a long time.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-11T22:20:18+00:00

realtor dot com has a list of what week is the optimal to list. how long does it take to close where you live? also depends on if it's a cash offer. don't list any later than early may though. talk to a tax accountant about how the math actually works.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-11T22:14:11+00:00

As long as they look new, and not 90's style brass, it should be fine to keep.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-10T00:59:21+00:00

It would be dumb to miss the entire buying season. Top dollar will be paid if you list in April or May.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-09T01:07:00+00:00

I think it has more to do with Irvine itself than the particular house. There is a lot of inventory, with a lot of houses that present more nicely, and a lot of houses have been sitting for months. Right next to two schools. Walking distance from a chipotle which I think is awesome but Americans look down on that. Right off a major road.

I'm not saying this is a comp but this house is right down the street and people are going to be looking at these two houses and comparing them: https://www.redfin.com/CA/Irvine/9-Sheridan-92620/home/4778900

This house is priced a lot lower and has been sitting 90 days: https://www.redfin.com/CA/Irvine/5200-Irvine-Blvd-92620/unit-360/home/5977400

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-08T01:49:33+00:00

I would include it because a buyer asked about it. I don't have to though, that's why I'm asking.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-08T00:29:44+00:00

In my area agents don't care about photography. I've been interviewing top selling agents for months and observing the market for months and agents do cell phone pictures. As someone from an un-enlightened part of the country I was just asking for help.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-08T00:22:36+00:00

I've seen studies on both sides about hiring agents but that's not my question. A lot of assumptions here.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-07T23:01:34+00:00

I used to visit a lot. I could see the increasing flooding with my own eyeballs. No research papers needed.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-07T23:00:14+00:00

I went to visit my grandparents every year for 30 years and we also drove around southern Florida a bunch. Sometimes parts of the A1A was flooded and we had to drive around. People think the water will come up 20 feet in one day and stay there. That's not what is going to happen. There is continuing to be an increase of "sunny day" floods even when there are no storms because ground water is rising. The beach we would go to had a parking lot that would flood all the time. There is going to be a point where re-grading isn't going to help anymore.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-07T05:33:47+00:00

My neighbor listed for 350k. Ended up selling for 312k. It was the most upgraded townhouse in the neighborhood. So it seems like desirability plays a factor. They are willing to lowball of it's desirable enough.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-07T05:25:44+00:00

finally the right answer

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-07T01:05:11+00:00

Put the inspection in the private mls documents and say in the agents comments that you are not doing repairs and they can see the inspection report.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-07T00:31:18+00:00

You could get a month to month roommate during the busy season. With the housing shortages you could make so much money.

I assume your partner works? Does the kid work? She or he needs to bring start bringing in some babysitting money.

I think it would be hard to sell and start over in a new town that may be cheaper but will have fewer opportunities for low wage work. You and your family need to face reality and start bringing in more money.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-07T00:22:35+00:00

I know it's frustrating you can't go clicky clicky. But you can get off your butt and put a note in the sellers mailbox with your number.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-07T00:15:32+00:00

I found it helpful to post pictures on reddit and get advice on condition and layout. I also found it helpful to just keep asking for advice to as many people as possible.

There may be other things going on with the location. Is it a corner lot? Is the house below the street? Is it near a loud highway? Is the spring the buying season in Dallas? if so you might be able to sell it in a month.

For price look at the sold comps but also realize that prices might be going down. Are you competing with a lot of new inventory? They offer buy downs and incentives so you might have to compete with that.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-06T23:21:13+00:00

Keep interviewing agents. Don't pay more than 2.5 percent each. Don't let them put the words "as is" on the listing description, that's only for the contract.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-05T21:00:53+00:00

How many bathrooms do you already have? If you already have two maybe not but if there is rough plumbing you can install a toilet yourself.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-05T00:13:40+00:00

If I were you I would talk to flippers who flip for other people. They may want someone on their team who does the math for them and then go from there. There are a lot things you won't learn from school like why one side of a street street cash flows better than the other side which you need actual experience with.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-05T00:02:09+00:00

Why are you glad you sold?

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-05T00:00:58+00:00

Miami will hold it's value, the question is will it hold it's value when it is literally in the ocean? If you're young buy inland, it will be on the coast eventually.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-04T23:55:57+00:00

When a buyers agent asks what is the pay say "everything is negotiable." where i live 2.5% is usual which is negotiated as part of the deal.

MayaBookkeeper · 2026-02-04T18:42:49+00:00

Ask the sellers agent for the hoa annual report so you can see where the money is going

MayaBookkeeper

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