House Hunting

[Vonnie]

My husband retires from the Bitish Army in about 3 1/2 years, and we plan to settle in the States hopefully in Florida where my family is.

We have been discussing buying a house now as an investment and of course having somewhere to go. I guess my concern is this........Should we start looking in earnest or is it selfish or even foolish to plan this far ahead. I know the Lord is coming soon, but we still need to plan ahead for our children and ourselves, right? I'm sooooo silly when it comes to this kind of thing. I suppose what we really need is prayer for guidence. Any suggestions are welcome.

Vonnie

[wwgtv]

No, you're not being silly. you do have ot plan ahead for your family. Remember that no one knows the day and hour. The Rapture could still be years off, even though we expect it any day now. That being said, be sure to pray about any plans that you make so that God will be invovled in them.
God Bless
:D:

[tofu]

Florida? I'm jealous! It's a beautiful state. I especially like Orlando and Tampa.

If you're looking for real estate investment, be sure the city is one where the housing market is OK and values are still appreciating. For example, the Washington DC housing market is still going nutso and rising fast, from what I hear. However, the Dallas market is much slower, and homes are not selling very quickly - plus prices are lowering a bit.

Just check out the area and you'll be OK.

[lighthouse]

ORLANDO IS GOOD

[waterglobe]

Originally posted by tofu
Florida? I'm jealous! It's a beautiful state. I especially like Orlando and Tampa.

If you're looking for real estate investment, be sure the city is one where the housing market is OK and values are still appreciating. For example, the Washington DC housing market is still going nutso and rising fast, from what I hear. However, the Dallas market is much slower, and homes are not selling very quickly - plus prices are lowering a bit.

Just check out the area and you'll be OK.

Yeah, my brother in laws sister and her hubby live outside of DC..they built a house worth 300,000 a few years ago, and it is worth 600,000 now ... :confused

[sundero]

We are in the process of relocating to the Boca area, and if you are looking in that area it might be very smart to buy now. Prices are going up, and while I have no idea how long they will rise at such a crazy rate, you would probably get more house cheaper now than in 3 years.
As for planning for the future, I can't call up the scripture, but aren't we told to live our lives, ready to go, but to still live them as if the end is far away?
Susie

[architectlink]

It is a GREAT time to buy in Florida and a bad time to sell, in Orlando anyway. We have enough extra houses that the prices are being driven down (because they recently redid the Navy Base and are overbuilding).

I've been watching the rapture signs for years, and Jesus could come any minute, but that should not change your decision. The Lord will lead you.

I am selling my Historic house and looking for a new house...it is fun because there is so much to look at that is a great value. Make sure you are in a good school district and in a good neighborhood.

Best wishes!

[architectlink]

By the way, when you get to Orlando, pm me so we can get you into the Rock & the Rabbi...the awesome Christian musical playing here.

[Quickened]

Interest rates are extremely low which pushes up prices by making financing affordable.

Keep an eye on interest rates.

They have nowhere to go but up.

This in turn may bring down house prices.

It is possible that real estate is in a bubble state do to low interest rates.

Time is on your side, watch the trends.

Good Luck and pray on it.

The Lord will guide you.

Quickened.

[Purity]

Originally posted by lighthouse
ORLANDO IS GOOD

Orlando is the greatest!!! :thumb

[linda]

Hi Vonnie,

The rapture could happen in 5 minutes or in 50 years, no one but the Father knows. I'm a watcher too, but that didn't stop me from refinancing my home.

I'm jealous too.....I want beachfront property in Florida! I'll be praying your house hunting goes well.

[Gail 55]

Fl. is great all year round-------except summer---make sure you get good ac in new homm LOL, welcome to Fl. if you come !!!

[tofu]

Originally posted by Quickened
Interest rates are extremely low which pushes up prices by making financing affordable.

Keep an eye on interest rates.

They have nowhere to go but up.

This in turn may bring down house prices.

It is possible that real estate is in a bubble state do to low interest rates.

Time is on your side, watch the trends.

Good Luck and pray on it.

The Lord will guide you.

Quickened. I agree. Bubbles most certainly exist in certain cities. Like the stock market of the nineties, it will pop when rates rise. What I want to know is this: Where do people get the money?? As in Waterglobe's example, who could afford a $600,000 home that was worth only half that just a few years ago? Mania...greed...fear...these are what drives any bubble where the prices rise so quickly. And during a mania what do you hear? "Gosh, I'd better hurry up and buy now before prices rise any more!"

Linda - the way things are going these days - and with Sharon agreeing to a Palestinian state THIS YEAR...I'd lean on the Rapture being more like 5 minutes than 50 years! :B: :thumb

[CoolCal]

Tofu, I should be retiring soon at the end of this year, I'm thinking about Denton texas. I will be planing a trip there in the near future.:thumb

[Raphael]

Some mortgage/house buying advice: Prequalify. Especially since you're coming from abroad. Find a mortgage lender who will determine your FICO (Fair Isaac) score. It's a credit score, but an accurate one. Never mind the "credit bureau" scores. The prequalifying lender will tell you what type of mortgage loan you qualify for, and for how large a borrowed amount. Shop around some before you approach a lender for this. One lender to avoid:

HONEST RAPHAEL'S MORTGAGE LOANS AND QUALITY USED CARS