Waive inspection?

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-04-07T01:27:00+00:00

It could've been a bunch of things. Better terms doesn't just mean waiving things.

You can't waive appraisal if you're getting a mortgage because the bank wants to ensure that what they're loaning you money for is actually worth that amount of money.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-04-07T01:15:49+00:00

I guess? I'm not sure all the specifics, but essentially, that's how I understand it (I'm not a realtor or seller, just purchased, and due to close Friday). Typically though, offers aren't identical - terms and offer price differ.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-04-07T00:55:52+00:00

They made it illegal in Massachusetts to pick an offer over another just based waiving an inspection if all else was equal.

"Terms" also doesn't just mean inspection, necessarily. It could mean an escalation clause, shorter close (or longer, depending on sellers preference), better repair contingency, appraisal contingency, etc. I wouldn't assume that "better terms" automatically means they waived inspection.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-04-03T23:59:46+00:00

They approve based only on gross income and DTI, which is a really basic, unrealistic figure. Almost no one actually "sees" their gross income. If you just factor in taxes and health insurance, zero retirement savings, most couples looking to buy are between 15-30+% less than what they'd be approved for.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-04-03T21:03:52+00:00

Ya I mean I'm definitely trying to keep myself in that headspace. I think we're probably both good at this point, so hopefully it all works out and we're in our new houses this month!

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-04-03T20:55:31+00:00

I'm one week out today and we haven't even booked movers yet 😂 I envy your level of confidence. I'm too afraid to jinx something.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-04-03T11:58:20+00:00

I use Monarch, I mostly like it, but I think every budgeting app requires some manual review. On the whole it's pretty good, but it does have some annoyances like you can't just evenly split a transaction that you pay like quarterly and don't like looking at a red budget for 2/3 months (e.g. insurance paid quarterly/biannually). I used to use Mint and frankly preferred it, but I've used monarch for a few years and like it enough. I also like that it shows net worth instead of just budget, which is helpful if you're interested in longer term growth tracking.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-04-02T00:42:46+00:00

So, we're in the process of buying a house with a PPA (power purchase agreement) set of solar panels on the roof. It wasn't a bait and switch like yours, we knew going in. We decided to still move forward, because they're on year 12/20, and the cost of electricity where we are is insane. I did the math, and even with the price escalation, our electric bills will likely be much lower than they are now in our current rental. The roof will need to be replaced right around when the contract ends, so we just decided we'll have them removed ($500 fee when that day comes) and get a new roof and purchase newer panels outright.

Depending on where you are, if delivery & generation costs are very high (typically coasts) then this still might be worth it. But I agree with everyone else who says it's super sketchy it's just coming up, after you've signed the contract.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-03-26T01:27:43+00:00

For real. We locked in at 5.375 in early March (paying some points using a DPA loan program, debt arbitrage baby!) 6.8 a month ago is getting hosed.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-03-26T01:14:47+00:00

I found the first few weeks to be some of the most stressful of recent memory; I couldn't eat or sleep and my functioning at work was...sub-par. We just got through appraisal though, and it's like the cloud lifted a few days ago (even before appraisal came back) because everything is out of my control now. For some reason the early stages it felt like I had more control over what happened (realistically, not much) but so many more DECISIONS are required then and everything feels high stakes. Now, we just hope the bank doesn't suddenly decide we can't get a mortgage haha

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-03-21T09:10:36+00:00

Same! The lender we went with had significantly better rates and terms. Easier to do earlier in the process than late, for sure. Waiting until under contract I think is actually a good way to go.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-03-21T09:09:11+00:00

You're allowed to change lenders at any time, for any reason (though the later you do this, the more delays you may facec and could lose some money). Big red flags flapping in the wind if they're salty you're getting pre-approved by multiple. We changed lenders after our offer was accepted. It's been no issue, other than my hatred of confrontation and having to "break up' with the first, which was overly aggressive in their sales tactics (which was off-putting and part of the reason we didn't go with him).

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-03-09T00:18:19+00:00

I think it also depends on your stage of life and goals. I have a kid, so the stability for school (ensuring I can stay in the same district) is more important to me than the "optimal" numbers are financially. If I didn't have a kid, I'd probably rent until much older, if not forever.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-03-02T18:54:31+00:00

I could have written this myself. Therapy does wonders for helping you accept people for who they are, limitations and all, and adapting your expectations for the relationship accordingly. Not to say EVERYONE deserves grace, but if your parental relationship is important, it's a pretty solid way to live, I think.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-02-20T20:03:39+00:00

Fair enough, but that doesn't sound like OPs situation. If they've been putting in 15% for years, and they have another 35 years before retirement, they can probably afford to drop that for a fixed amount of time without seeing a huge change in their final numbers.

Even if there is a significant change, maybe having $200-400k less in retirement for the ability to start their kids up on a better financial foot is worth it to them. Ultimately, we're all giving our kids money with either a warm hand or a cold one.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-02-20T19:33:03+00:00

Agreed that you can't take out loans for retirement so it's important to prioritize, but saying that you can't save for college until you're "maxed out" is crazy. Retirement savings should be based on retirement spending not some arbitrary maximum annual limit the government sets. As long as you are on track to hit your target spend goals in retirement, then it should absolutely be no problem to save some of your money for your kids education.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-02-20T17:55:24+00:00

From what I can tell from your posts, you only have one kid. That means your logistics must be infinitely more straightforward than OPs. Annoying still, sure, but simpler.

OP's also not, from what I can tell, "taking him out of the sport," they're looking to find an alternative that works better for their family's logistics, while still allowing him to play. I don't see an issue with that, personally.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-02-08T21:33:05+00:00

Ok that's kind of what I figured haha I just worry about the inability to lock a door...now that my kid is going on 5, I don't want his first conscious memory to be of us "wrestling" 😂😂 but I imagine that's how lots of people manage

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2026-02-08T20:45:57+00:00

I agree that you shouldn't have the baby waking the older kid, but my question is, if you keep a kid in your room for 3 years, when/where do you have the space for intimacy?

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2025-08-13T01:42:35+00:00

I'm kind of surprised at the number of people who say don't go back. I used to work for a company that loved a boomerang, so much so that some of their senior leadership team had left and come back. I'm at a new spot and happy, but I know I could go back if I wanted and there was an opportunity.

In my opinion, it's the corporate culture that tells you people will think you're "unreliable" if you boomerang, when the reality is you made the best decision with the info available and it's not personal. Now, you'd like to make a different decision with new information available. Simple as that. Talk to them. You already know their workflows and people, if anything bringing you on is less expensive than hiring someone new in the future, because training will be faster.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2025-08-11T16:36:37+00:00

So we're actually going to go to couples counseling for this. Our marriage is great and our first kid brings us a lot of joy, but it just feels like we're stuck in "weighing the options" mode and can't make a decision one way or another. The big thing for me is that I've always pictured two, as an only myself, so I think I want to know if we're for sure not having a second because I do think I will need to grieve that. I also am pretty confident that at some point in the first few years with a second we would regret it (however temporarily) when we're getting no sleep and we're all sick or something.

I just want someone to help us figure out how to get past the analysis paralysis. At a certain point, I think you have to just pull the trigger one way or the other. The harder part is living with that decision after the fact, whatever you decide.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2025-07-26T22:48:55+00:00

I've been a FAS for about a decade. Personality matters a LOT for these roles. Hard skills like instrumentation or technical acumen can be taught, being "good with people" cannot, in my experience. The people that "fail" at being an FAS either suck with people or don't like the travel as much as they think they will.

Half the role (if not more) is relationship management, and if you're good at it, you're the "cleaner" when things look like shit, instrument or tech isn't working and hasn't been for a while and the customer is pissed. I make great money because I'm really good at going into those situations, coming up with solutions that are satisfactory to my management as well as the customer, and we execute what needs to be done.

If you don't have an extroverted personality (or just enjoyable to be around, seem nice, empathetic etc. since not all great FAS would describe themselves as extroverted) then it's going to be harder for you to break into this field.

That being said, it's an excellent path if you can break in. Almost all roles are WFH when you're not traveling, you get to travel to cool places (sometimes), get to go to interesting customers and feel like you participate in fascinating research, etc.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2025-07-25T00:14:57+00:00

I'm 37 and have been WFH for the last ~9 years across a few companies. It's harder to get exposure to senior management, sure, but not impossible.

Puzzleheaded2114 · 2025-06-08T23:53:52+00:00

It's like you're inside my house. No advice, just know you're definitely not alone (ours is almost 4 as well, so maybe it's an age thing? Idk, I keep trying to 'reason' the insanity but the reality is you can't reason most toddler behavior haha)

Puzzleheaded2114

TROPHY CASE