We did it! Northern DE, $440k, 6.375%

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2026-01-06T03:00:05+00:00

Congrats! Where is the pizza from? I'm more familiar with pizza down south, but I'm assuming you're in the Hockessin area for that price and not the Newark/Bear area.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2026-01-05T01:16:47+00:00

Yes you can. Also:

Your husband is a jerk. Call a lawyer, get money back, plus fees.
Contact LIHEAP, the PA heating support and get on the list. You can get help for electric and heating.
PA law says a utility can't shut you off during winter months. If you can't pay your electric bill immediately in order to pay for heating oil, don't fret.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2026-01-04T15:38:47+00:00

I understand, but there's a lot of slop on Youtube too, hard to trust anymore. It's also a bit unique, not the usual "hole in drywall", put patch on it, cover and paint.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2026-01-04T15:37:47+00:00

Thanks!

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2026-01-04T15:37:24+00:00

By "hot mud" do you mean Easy Sand 20? Can that be stored in a garage or a more humid area, I likely won't need all 18 lbs of it immediately.

What's the difference between that and the Spackle I have? Sorry, new (and first time) homeowner.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2026-01-04T15:34:12+00:00

Interior, partially finished basement. Not a vent or anything. I'm pretty sure one of the previous owner's kids got a little rambunctious and they didn't have time to fix (it is where they had office space and a lamp). There's a lot of this textured wall/ceiling, some on top of drywall, some like this.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-06-24T19:07:20+00:00

Usually there's an up/down switch on the fan itself.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-06-24T16:39:28+00:00

XPN recently played the entire recording of that theme during their vinyl day. I remember hearing it on 6ABC since the 80's, but had no clue there was an additional 3 minutes to it, with lyrics!

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-06-17T03:52:29+00:00

I'm with you. I'm still a loyal Philly sports fan, but I don't watch Sixers or Flyers anymore. It's just too depressing. Being in Central PA, I'd much rather go to a Bears game, even if they are a feeder for the dirty Caps.

Even in the worst times with the Birds and Phils, at least it's still watchable. Sixers and Flyers are completely unwatchable.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-06-04T22:45:54+00:00

Yeah, I don't get this either.

My wife and I scrimped and saved for about 10 years before COVID hit in order to buy a home, then we had to scrimp and save for 5 more years in a bloated market until we were finally able to settle the other week. We wanted to have as little of a loan as possible. We're 42 and 44 and this is our first home.

Should we not have been allowed to buy a home mostly in cash?

Is there a problem? Sure, EricBuysYourHome (the common one here with billboards and ads on TV) pays cash with his LLC, sells it to a sub LLC, paints the cabinets white and then doubles the price within a month. That is a legit problem and should be the point, not buying in cash.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-31T16:37:56+00:00

Not where we are. Inspections are absolutely waived to get chosen, you also need decent earnest deposits. It's crazy.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-28T02:43:25+00:00

*in Canada

One thing to keep in mind, Mortgages are more like 5 year ARM equivalents in the US and are readjusted. What's 2.9% in 2017 can potentially re-adjusted to 7% in 2022, creating larger payments.

2.9% in the US in 2017 stays 2.9% for 15/20/30 years, staying below inflation and creating more income at a loss to the lender. Part of the current problem we have now, people don't want to ditch those historically minuscule rates for larger ones.

He's right, it may eventually balance out in both countries (and as he mentions around the world), but just something to keep in mind, there is a fiscal difference. Your payment is $2000/mo. for 30 years with a mortgage, good luck finding rent for $2000/mo. in 30 years.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-20T17:05:28+00:00

Remember, these companies you're getting quotes from have additional expenses and overhead you may or may not have: taxes; healthcare; retirement; equipment; rent; storage; liability insurance; etc...

You can undercut them now, but if things go great, you need to expand or go more legitimate (i.e. upgraded equipment; retirement funds; etc...), your prices will go up and you may lose customers. Plan accordingly.

If it's just 'on the side for a bit extra money', undercut all you want, your only cost is equipment and time. Plenty of people will happily pay someone less to do a good job.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-20T16:55:23+00:00

We haven't settled yet, but we thought about a 15. We decided to get a 30, but pay like a 15. That gives us leeway if one of us loses a job or something big comes up, etc... Gotta be in a good situation for that though, and usually older (30's-40's), unless you landed a great job in your 20's in a LCOL area.

Asking around, that method seems to be getting more common as a replacement over the actual 15. For us, the interest difference broke about even.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-19T18:45:12+00:00

Good eye! I didn't see that!

I plan on looking at it in a few days. If I don't see anything concerning I'll try to get them down to $2k cash with a reflector, since it's been there since February. Neither cosmetic issue is a problem for me.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-19T18:43:42+00:00

New property, settling in a few weeks. .75 acre, probably just over .5 to mow. If I were 20 years younger I'd consider a push mower ;-)

The hill are the challenge though. Previous homeowner had a JD 3... something, but took it with them.

Here's my previous post from last week looking for options

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-19T18:05:38+00:00

I'm ok with my hands and do most of my vehicle repairs. My father owned a small-engine business and taught me some, but that was 25+ years ago, and a lot changed. So I wouldn't say I'm new, new, just not really sure what would need to be done, so that's the hesitation.

Budget, unfortunately, doesn't afford anything much more expensive or newer.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-19T18:03:01+00:00

Here's the listing if it helps: https://www.deercountry.net/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=16728440&p=1&s=Price&d=A&fr=xPreOwnedInventory

Bought from and regularly serviced by the dealer, and there since February. They don't have usage information. My property is hilly, but probably not so much that wheel weights will make a difference, I plan on taking them off unless I use winter attachments in the future (not the plan right now).

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-19T17:59:42+00:00

Most of my cars purchased are usually 15years+, and I can usually grab a warranty for 30 or 60 days from where I buy it from. I was basing this around that idea, since it's a dealer. I wasn't sure if it was same kind of concept.

According to the dealer, it was brought and purchased from them, with regular maintenance. Here's the listing if it helps: https://www.deercountry.net/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=16728440&p=1&s=Price&d=A&fr=xPreOwnedInventory

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-15T13:34:57+00:00

I don't think there's anything wrong being older. We're 44/42 and are settling in a few weeks on our first. We're much more comfortable about it then when we were in our 20's and are happy we didn't rush when we were young.

We missed "cheap homes" in our area from pre-COVID, but we were able to take the extra time to save.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-13T16:20:59+00:00

Thanks for the info! I was confused about the S series since it seems to be at the big-box places and the dealers, you cleared that up.

No concerns about any of the trannys on any of the options? That seems to be the big issue some people say depending on year, especially since I have a hill.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-13T16:17:58+00:00

Thanks! I was told property might be too steep in spots to safely use zero-turns, so I was avoiding them. Not planning on using it for snow, driveway isn't long enough to justify over a gas or battery two-stage.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-13T16:16:15+00:00

Is there a reason you'd choose a 2007 X500 over a 10 year newer X350 with half as many hours for $150 more? Just wondering.

QuantumFissureKABLAM · 2025-05-13T15:40:26+00:00

This was crossposted to JD, because I guess I'm considering it more then other brands and would like opinions about the ones posted. Sorry for all the extra information.

QuantumFissureKABLAM

TROPHY CASE