Home Owners.

[WritingChaos]

I'm closing on my first home today. ^_^ Joy! I hope I'm making the right move by buying during our struggling economy. Anyone have some guesses at how much per year you spend on up keeping your house? I'm thinking along the lines of septic tanks, spraying for termites, lawn care and such. I'll have about half an acre and no lawnmower. I'm thinking of hiring someone at $55 a mowing. Don't know if that's reasonable or not. :confused:

Edit:
I can't figure out how to delete this posting, I just noted that we're not to talk about such things here.

[Walk]

Congrats on your new home. Blessings on your new life in it. Being in Texas, your mowing season is approx. 7 months which would cost you around $1500 a year. You can buy a push mower for around $300-500 depending on what gadgets you want on it and you can push mow a half acre. Now if you don't want the hassle of mowing, you just hate it, then pay the $55. I imagine that as gasoline prices rise, so will the price of mowing. My septic system doesn't cost me much, I buy a box of something to pour in it about every other month. Here in Okie land we don't have to treat for termites every year. Now lawn care, that will cost you if you like a full lush lawn, but it will be worth it. I have three acres and I spend around $500 a year on fertilizer and such. Hope that makes enough sense to help. Have fun decorating and enjoy your investment.

[Rebecca]

Since this isn't writing-related, I'll move it over to the 4B site/forums.

Rebecca

[righter1]

Congrats on the new home! Actually, with prices slumping, you may have chosen a good time to buy--you're not paying the premium you would have, say 2 years ago.

As for costs, it'll depend on the economy in your area and what your local area's prices are. I live in Kansas City, which has a fairly low cost of living for a city of its size. Lawn care? My hubby does most of it, and although I'm the money person in the family, I don't really keep track of what we spend on grass seed or fertilizer a year. Plus, it all depends on what you want, how much land you have, that sort of thing.

Anyway, congrats on the new home! I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

[lynnmosher]

It's a buyer's market so I'm sure you got a good deal. May you thoroughly enjoy your new home. May many blessings come your way as you live there.

[WritingChaos]

Well it ran me 104,500 for the three bedroom home. I could have gone for something lower, however those homes had many sex offenders around them. I have two little girls so that made me a bit wary. I’m just hoping my wife can get into a new job soon so we don’t lose the house we just closed on today. Things are really crazy right now. If I didn’t believe in God I think I would do the normal person thing and jump in front of a train. Yeah I know, smart thinking. :p I better get to moving things. This should be my last post till Monday perhaps.

P.S. Thanks for moving this for me Rebecca

[jacks girl]

I would do the math on buying a mower verses paying someone to mow. I actually like mowing. I put on some ear plugs and just go at it my mind is all over the place.

As far as the septic we had ours cleaned out last year cause it was plugged up, think it cost 200 really didn't help the line was stuck up watch that cheap TP. LOL.

Also if you want my advice get on a budget dave ramsey has a great budget software of course all you need is pen and paper but it's helpful to get advice from someone that knows what they are doing.

I tell you i thought your avatar winked at me. LOL I must be seeing things. may be i was weeding for to long. LOL

jacks

[WritingChaos]

Jacks Girl,

A wink huh? I’ve been known to wink. I found a site with a large collection of characters; this one suited me best.

I’ll try to keep your pointers in mind about the septic. I already have a budget going, and we will be -$350 a month unless we cut some things. We’ll just have to figure out what to cut. Thankfully we’re in town now, so gas wont be killing as bad as it was. That should help a bit.