Why not buy a house?!

Turn the tables and ask them why dont they buy a house.

A lot of people think that buying a house is simple. True, economically speaking, you can just pay mortgage instead of rent if you are renting an apartment. But many people don't understand that there are extra expenses when it comes to http://www.mylot.com/images/emotes/rasp.gifbuying your own house. One is that you have to pay association dues to the homeowners association. When I first moved in to my house six years ago, a lot of homeowners who were renting all the time were shocked to find this added expense. I wasn't shocked since we do own condominiums and we do pay association dues here, so I expected the same when I moved in to my own house. Next is the added transportation cost, or gas cost. If you have the money to burn, yes you can afford to buy from the high-end subdivisions within Metro Manila. But if you're like me who is just a regular employee, chances are you will buy a house within your means and it is usually located in the outskirts of Metro Manila. This means I am spending an extra two hours of travel just to get to work unlike before that my travel time is less than thirty minutes. When you buy a house, you will need money to make improvements on your property. Lots of money. Houses here in our country aren't like those in the US that you can just move in and that's that. Most houses here are bare and you will need to renovate it even if it's new. When I moved in, the improvements that I made was screening of doors and windows, the fence or gate and the kitchen extension since I have a small (okay not small, let's term it cute) house. But all that improvements cost me around P100k and that was in 2006. And I was still paying mortgage at that time. Plus the association dues. Plus water. Plus electricity. Plus other expenses. I would just keep silent and not mind these people who pester you into buying a house. Are they real estate agents by the way? Maybe they're trying to sell you something that's why they keep asking you to buy a house.

Hmm, people always want to interfere in other people's business, and they actually think it's there business! I think they just don't have enough entertainment in their lives... Don't rise to it, just tell them that you know all the facts that they're trying to tell you, and that it's up to you what your living arrangements are. It's your life, not theirs!

You know something, I feel for you and your husband. I quite understand the situation. I have a lot of foreigner friends and clients living in our country. Some of them appear to have the same problem as you guys. Almost everywhere they go, there would always be a ridiculous problem, mostly for moronic reasons. If it is any consolation, no one is really spared in this country, even we ourselves who are natives to the country have the same problems as you guys. You're not alone. Most of us just deal with things differently. Someone should take the garbage out, meaning your present (bully in her own mind) neighbor. If we were neighbors, I'd help you get rid of your next door garbage permanently.

You can't stop them. You could only inform them that it's just a matter choice. I'm sure those who ask you that question don't mean anything wrong but are just asking out of curiosity. As you can see, buying a your own house is not as easy as buying a bread in a bakery. So those who are aware that you have the means to do so but don't know you reason why you don't want to would really want to know.

Keep moving is not the right way to resolve your problem, I think. I suggest you to purchase a home so that, your family will have a permanent residence. To resolve your problem from being robbed, high electricity bills, expensive internet bills and so on, you must tackle it one by one. For instance, you should engage security guards at your place, to install CCTV system, Burglar alarm system and so on to protect your assets and to ensure your safety. For me, everywhere is the same to live unless it is a place where will be flooded very often, unhealthy because it is too near to dump site and so on. In my advise, you must try to have your own permanent home to stay.

We aren't buying a house because the area we live in is very expensive, so most people have stopped asking us. Also, we want to be able to move to different places because we are thinking about spending a year in a different country when our son is a bit older, so if we bought a house we'd lose a lot of money in the buying and selling costs.

It will not matter what you tell them, they still will want to mind your business. Do not argue or explain. Just say, "It is not the right thing for us at this time." They cannot argue with that and you do not owe them any explanation, they have been told already if I read your post right.

How about telling your friend that he/she is wrong with his/her assumption that owning a house can make you save more money? Heck, you disburse more compared renting because of house maintenance. Think of it like this, NO HOUSE IS AN ASSET unless if the house generates you money. YOUR OWN HOUSE IS A LIABILITY always because it eats your money. It'll be eating at your pockets! I'll bet that friend will shut it from now on if they look at their own accounts and see how much they have to pay for maintenance only--compare that to your rent expenses. Well, I certainly hope he/she stop asking you will for your sake. Have a nice day and Happy MyLotting!

Hi chicgale, those who are suggesting you buy a house are YOUR WELL WISHERS. :( But yes, they should mind their business.. Nevertheless, I have this logic to share with you so that next time somebody suggests you buy a house you do not immediately get worked up. If you buy a house, your monies would all get locked up the real estate. In the process, there would not be much for robbing, at least in immediate future, would there? As to problems you are facing, they will be there almost everywhere. There is no rented accommodation that is without problems, and there is no owned house that is without problems. :( At times, we outgrow the place..what we liked initially, we no longer fancy it. I do agree that it is boring to be tied down to one place. Moreover, the amenities that we have today may be inadequate or outdated tomorrow. So to that extent, you are justified in feeling that a house is a wasted investment. You would also be justified in feeling it is a wasted investment if the returns (savings on rentals) from the property do not justify such expenditure. Nowadays, most of the newly constructed houses are so costly that it doesnt make sense to spend on them, because rents for similar accommodations are not that high. But rents increase.. and they increase almost at the same pace as inflation.. So one for rainy day is truly worthwhile..I think. It could become your investment property if you want to keep your freedom to shift to different homes. What do you say?

I have the same thought as well. My sister keep moving out from one place to another place and its all because of the house itself. There will be something about the house that we need to work on if we want to stay there forever but for me it is not worth. If we want to buy house make sure that everything is fine like my mom's house otherwise the problems that will arise later will make us feel regret for buying the house in the first place. Tell them that you will only going to buy a house you meet the right and the worth one.(^^)

Yeah I understand that people always are saying that buying a house is cheaper than paying rent for years. And for the majority of people that may be the case if they have found a decent home with a decent realitor. But like you mentioned many homes have tons of problems. We rent our home and I hope to rent forever. When there are problems it is so convenient for us to be able to call the landlord and get it fixed. Rather than us having to find the money to get it fixed and having someone work on it who will charge an arm and a leg. Do what you and your husband want. Don't let what your friends say get you down. They are trying to have your best interest at heart. But your family doesn't want to buy a house and so that is your decision.

Hi chicgale, I feel what you feel, it is annoying when people keep asking something that is totally none of their business. Hahaha i guess i can relate it to you except that the questions are different kind of questions, but yes we have similar situation when people keep asking even when we already gave them the answer. If I were you I would like to say "why dont you buy us a nice house because im too lazy and I dont want to buy a house now but it seems you really want me to have a house, that is so nice of you but if you dont buy us a house then would you shut up and never ask those questions again unless you buy me a house" hahaha but I guess it is too harsh for your friend and I dont know what kind of friends you have, I mean if they are sensitive or not. But if I were you I would not hesitate to say those words, Im known as a person who respect other people and I will not poking my nose to other people's business so I expect the same from other people and if they disrespect my privacy my sharp tongue would not hesitate to beat them all , everyone has their own reason to buy or not to buy a house, so you have your right to buy or not to buy, you also have the right not to tell them the reason because it is your life and it is your privacy.

darn! that was awful. It's like the bad luck keeps following you. Your story just shows how horrible our country Philippines is, and the wire tap thing? why didn't you bother to fight back. You could have just sue them. Remember, you have the rights too, you're also a human being. xD

I am sorry to hear of all the terrible luck that you have found in your housing. Being safe is the most important thing that we need in a home. And if thats not there then you should not stay there. Now about the friends saying this and you wondering what to say to them, I would just say well renting is good for ones that like to move around when they want to. Renting enables you to do that as often as you would like. And really its your life and what they say really doesnt matter that much. Its only an opinion and thats that! Hope that you can put a stop to this dilema that you have with them.

I with you and your husband's decision of not having your own house at present. Like you we have problems with our neighbors garbage too. They are too lazy to put it outside near the road where the garbage truck collects daily, instead they prefer to gather it in their yard and burn it together with plastics. The sad part is they did it at night, so we had a hard time getting to sleep due to the smoke that the burnt plastics emits was blown towards our house. I already asked the help of the barangay captain to solve the issue but up to now is still ongoing. About your friends concern about having your own house, I think you should tell them your reasons.

friends and neighbors around us always irritate us by asking silly questions and by giving wrong advises. it is better to avoid them and don't consider them. try to do things which you feel secure and tell your friends not to ask the same question again and again

Not everyone are cut out to be home owners. At least, if you rent it's easier to just leave when problems arrive. Where ever you go there will be difficult people to deal with at one time or another. You are the only one who knows what works for you. Tell your friends what you told us. You don't want to move.

People always like that, often ask a question that they think they are caring you, but actually it is not. I understand your feeling, however, you can stop their asking then better just smile and say you will buy a house soon. Or sometime you just ignore their question and talk about the other things. With a person who often ask you about it, you can say it is not their business or told she/he directly that you don't want to hear that question anymore. I hope you wont get mad with these questions like that anymore. Good luck!

Your story was same story as mine some years ago and I do understand of how you feel about those noisy people. Honestly I still don't understand why some people did that. Don't they understand that buying house is A BIG decision, what do they want?? really!!! You know chicgale, better things you do is just ignore them there's no point to keep giving them reason when they don't even listening.