Thread: To buy or not to buy, that is the question...

You sound single and if you are I would say keep renting and spend your extra money on things that make you happy.

Family makes me want a place that I am grounded to along with my family.

Without family I could move any time I want and would not want to be tied down to such a thing as a house that even if the cost of ownership gained me some equity who would I leave it to?

Yeah, I lived there in '83-'84 for about 7 months and it wasn't for me. Of course I was raised in the south and it was just so different from what I knew that I was miserable the whole time. Still I found it very hard to survive on what I could make for a.20 year old with only a high school diploma and an unfinished/incomplete apprenticeship in a trade. For me much of my misery was about difference in flora and fauna as well as climate which was interesting but very unfamiliar. I didn't know until I came back to Florida that my favorite color was green. I missed the lushness and subtropical climate so much that I didn't even know was important to me before.
This is all off topic though. LA is a tough place to live in my estimation. Like New York, people either love it or hate it. It's just not for me.
One thing I will say is if the feces hits the windmill that is not where I would want to be.

Originally Posted by animalwithin

Bob and STF, perhaps a move to Ontario is in order if it's such a rosy place

It is only as rosy as you make it or not. I have been fortunate enough to see a fair bit of the planet and everywhere has it's pros and cons. So far I will stick with the devil I know.

Bob

Are you serious? Maybe you can talk to Elon Musk and he'll put you on a spaceship to Mars. There's no one there that can harm you! Sounds like your afraid of adversity and can't make a commitment. You should rent. That way when an incident occurs or someone scares you, you can move somewhere else. You ask for opinions and I gave you mine. Don't let all this bullshit from people around you steal your dreams!

Interesting question. Real Estate is almost always a good investment in a growing, thriving city or state.

LA currently has some big issues, and current high real estate prices. Many people are fleeing LA and other parts of California because of those issues. The flight has not yet affected LA Real Estate prices, it has in nearby states where people are fleeing to. But businesses are relocating out of California and that can/will hurt the economy/taxes.

Politics runs in cycles, Bush, got us Obama, Obama got us Trump, Trump got is Kamala.

California was once a Republican state and may be again. If the recall of Newsome is successful, it may start a wave of recall in other states and in LA, specifically the Mayor, Garcetti who has trashed the city with his lack of leadership and the District Attorney.

So, a lot depends on what happens to Newsom, he is a/the tipping point, he, and Como in New York. Already in California the State is fighting the recall trying to verity all recall signatures, (but no signatures to vote by mail), Humm. The numbers are there and if it goes to a recall, he is toast.

If the two go, it could start a political land slide. Will it get to the point where it hits the fan, and you must hunker down or run for the hills? I doubt it.

For most of California the draw is the weather and lifestyle, and now many parts of the country are experiencing the decline of major cities because of the political tilt. If people get tired of it and the momentum starts to build everything could change, it will take time, but LA’s decline was decades in the making.

Yes, buy. Do your homework about where you are buying, and the price. Interview and hire a good real estate broker/agent. People spend more time buying a car than they do a home. A good broker can make or break your purchase. Do not hire the guy who sells part time or your nephew who just got a license.

Just remember this, everything in a Real Estate Contract is negotiable, everything. If your Agent/Broker can not explain the Purchase Contract to you, paragraph by paragraph, (a 20-minute conversation) and his negotiating strategy, (most do not have one). He is not who you want to represent you in the largest financial investment you will make in your lifetime.

Worst case, the recall fails, and things get worst. You could probably sell and break even or make a little money. The problem then is, where do you go, because the rest of California will be going too or is already there.

Just write the damn check.

My opinion, in short, Move away from LA. The cost is crazy living there. Buy a home now! Quit worrying about what could happen as it can happen anywhere you live.

...oh yeah, and whatever you do, make sure you stockpile ammunition. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I try to keep at LEAST 1000 rounds for everything I own.

Appreciative of all the replies gents

Originally Posted by 32t

You sound single and if you are I would say keep renting and spend your extra money on things that make you happy.

Family makes me want a place that I am grounded to along with my family.

Without family I could move any time I want and would not want to be tied down to such a thing as a house that even if the cost of ownership gained me some equity who would I leave it to?

Turning 31 in a few days and I am single. I do see myself wanting a family at some point though. I'm currently looking after my parents as well as running the family businesses so I'm not 100% mobile.

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

Are you serious? Maybe you can talk to Elon Musk and he'll put you on a spaceship to Mars. There's no one there that can harm you! Sounds like your afraid of adversity and can't make a commitment. You should rent. That way when an incident occurs or someone scares you, you can move somewhere else. You ask for opinions and I gave you mine. Don't let all this bullshit from people around you steal your dreams!

I appreciate the forthrightness John, thank you for the kick in the ass

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Interesting question. Real Estate is almost always a good investment in a growing, thriving city or state.

LA currently has some big issues, and current high real estate prices. Many people are fleeing LA and other parts of California because of those issues. The flight has not yet affected LA Real Estate prices, it has in nearby states where people are fleeing to. But businesses are relocating out of California and that can/will hurt the economy/taxes.

Politics runs in cycles, Bush, got us Obama, Obama got us Trump, Trump got is Kamala.

California was once a Republican state and may be again. If the recall of Newsome is successful, it may start a wave of recall in other states and in LA, specifically the Mayor, Garcetti who has trashed the city with his lack of leadership and the District Attorney.

So, a lot depends on what happens to Newsom, he is a/the tipping point, he, and Como in New York. Already in California the State is fighting the recall trying to verity all recall signatures, (but no signatures to vote by mail), Humm. The numbers are there and if it goes to a recall, he is toast.

If the two go, it could start a political land slide. Will it get to the point where it hits the fan, and you must hunker down or run for the hills? I doubt it.

For most of California the draw is the weather and lifestyle, and now many parts of the country are experiencing the decline of major cities because of the political tilt. If people get tired of it and the momentum starts to build everything could change, it will take time, but LA’s decline was decades in the making.

Yes, buy. Do your homework about where you are buying, and the price. Interview and hire a good real estate broker/agent. People spend more time buying a car than they do a home. A good broker can make or break your purchase. Do not hire the guy who sells part time or your nephew who just got a license.

Just remember this, everything in a Real Estate Contract is negotiable, everything. If your Agent/Broker can not explain the Purchase Contract to you, paragraph by paragraph, (a 20-minute conversation) and his negotiating strategy, (most do not have one). He is not who you want to represent you in the largest financial investment you will make in your lifetime.

Worst case, the recall fails, and things get worst. You could probably sell and break even or make a little money. The problem then is, where do you go, because the rest of California will be going too or is already there.

I'm really hoping the recall goes through. I don't have enough expletives to describe that man. The right propositions got passed back in November (or rather the wrong ones didn't make it through) so there is hope, but it will take tremendous work to turn this state around, if it is to happen.

I've got a few areas in mind as well as a price range. My work involves a lot of legal and financial contracts so I can usually make my way through real estate contracts. Dealing with agents, on the other hand, can be more cumbersome.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

...oh yeah, and whatever you do, make sure you stockpile ammunition. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I try to keep at LEAST 1000 rounds for everything I own.

Most definitely. I need more, I've been foolishly neglecting buying some. I also want to learn to reload my own but I don't think I have the space to set up a proper work bench/area for such an endeavor.