All Settled

Finally I am fully moved into my new home and have all of my new financial accounts set up. The home buying process took forever i.e. about 4 months. And then getting all of my new accounts set up like the mortgage (it got sold immediately to a new servicer), new credit cards I've opened to purchase home items, new utility accounts, etc. has taken this long. I just now, a month or so into living in my new place, feel like I finally have a handle on it.

Besides home furnishing expenses (I'm not going too crazy, but there's a lot of even small things that I need like garbage pails and area rugs not mention window treatments), I just today saw my electric bill. At my old place, they usually averaged around $30 which is VERY low I know. The new bill is $90. But now I have a dishwasher, central AC and a washer and dryer, so that's the difference. However, I barely have any lights in my new apt yet (everything I want seems like it is on back order) so I wonder if this will go up even more once I actually have some lights at night.

I've decided to make additional $500 a month pre-payments towards principal. I really feel like I want to chop down the mortgage balance ASAP! I have to balance this desire with the need to keep some cash on hand, should I ever need it. Luckily the developer is still making all repairs to my apt. I've already had a plumber here 2x, an appliance repair person and the developer. That's one benefit of buying new. The cost of buying new was the transfer and other taxes. My closing costs were about 17K. Yikes! NYC is crazy with the taxes, as usual.

So far I like being a homeowner, even thought I really feel like I am just renting from the bank. I guess I own about 26% of my apt. at this point. But I hope to own a lot more over the next few years!

Still Waiting

It's May, and I am still trying to close on a condo I had an accepted offer on in early Feb. The mortgage broker I used took my application to a big bank. That bank keeps demanding more and more documents from the condo developer. I also think the mortgage broker has not been on top of it. He certainly hasn't been good about updating me. Meanwhile, I feel like my life is on hold. I haven't given notice to my landlord yet, my house is half packed and I have no idea when I am moving. I found a new mortgage lender and he seems to be a total hustler (in a good way) and I'm hopeful I can close this puppy mid-month and move by the end of the month.

Homebuying Process

So since I spontaneously decided to buy an apartment and had my offer accepted at the end of January, I have been sitting around waiting to get a mortgage. I have a commitment letter from a bank now, but still no closing date. The property appraised last week at the asking price, so everything has been moving along smoothly, it's just been so slooooow. I'm happy though, as I locked in at 4% on my mortgage and a day or so later, rates went up above 4. yay!

I just updated my networth for Q1. I've almost reached by end of Q2 goal already, which is incredible. Of course next quarter my networth might go down, as I will be spending about $18K in closing costs. Ugh, everything in NY is so much more expensive than the rest of the country. However, prices tend to go up more as well in terms of real estate. The broker just put 6 more units identical to mine on the market at $50K more than I paid. No guarantee they will get what they are asking, but if they do in theory the value of my unit just went up by $50K as well.

In reality, I"m not counting on any appreciation in the real estate. I want to pay this puppy off, preferably in 10 years or less. Playing with the mortgage amortization calculators is so fun!

Moving to the darkside

For my whole (adult) life, I've been a renter. Basically, for 15 years. For the last 10 years I've looked at buying an apt. in the NYC area. I've focused on different boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn) states (NJ) and types of places (a place in the Catskills or somewhere rural, or somewhere in the city?). As of last Sunday, I think my loooong search is just about over!

Most of my friends and family are shocked, as they think this came "out of the blue" and while I haven't actively been looking recently, I feel confident in my decision because this apartment has most of the things I've been searching for: a one bedroom plus a little more space in the form of an alcove, low monthly maintenance, no fancy amenities, in a safe, quiet neighborhood with a cool vibe, on a great subway line and close to the subway stop, beautiful hardwood floors and a price that is totally affordable. I am planning to put down a 25% deposit. With the tax abatement, my total monthly spend should be comparable to my rent -- maybe a few hundred more depending on my interest rate on my mortgage, but if I get any kind of mortgage interest deduction, it might be even less than I pay now!

I actually feel relief. Having all that cash just sitting around and not invested was stressful. Now I certainly won't have that problem: I am currently shaking out the couch cushions to try to come up with more $! Actually, I am going to Coinstar today to cash in my change. Buying a condo in Brooklyn/NYC is not for the weak or the poor, that's for sure. The closing costs will probably be about $20K! Oy vey.