and so it goes-Looking for House

FDH and I drove around Tampa all day yesterday and today looking for the right house. I thought for sure we'd get a steal in this market but apparently things are more expensive than I thought. I've never rented a house before - only apartments so this is all new. Today we viewed one that can only be described as a Hippy psychedelic nest house. The kitchen had a washer and dryer in the middle of it. The back yard had a tent with 4 hay bailes surrounding some sort of wooden pallet shrine, and the bathroom had a shower meant for anyone shorter than 5' 2" and was small black and white checkered tile on the floor, walls AND ceiling.

We have 3 months till we move so I'm not all that worried. It would be nice to check it off the list early though.

[hedixo01]

I have a friend moving to the Spring Hill area, and the houses she's looked at have all been steals. She's buying though, so I'm not sure what renting one would be like there. Good luck!

[Vanquisher]

You can't really rent for a steal. Rental prices have not gone down, unfortunately. Home owners are renting to help pay their upside down mortgages. When we were looking at rentals in Orlando, I was shocked at the pricing of the rentals. Buying, on the other hand, I think you can find some great steals. Renting is a lot more of a stable cost and not subject to the same swings in the real estate market. We rented a three bedroom apartment for more than our 4 bedroom home's mortgage (the one we had in residency in South Carolina BEFORE the bubble burst) by a significant amount.

I wish I was comfortable enough to buy but we're both still in school and the idea of buying a house on 100% loans and no income is so scary to me. Maybe next year but for now, the search continues. I'm hoping I meet some nice old man in the grocery store that wants to rent his house to the clean, trustworthy future Doctor and his teacher wife.

[Vanquisher]

I'm not trying to suggest you buy at all. That was not my intent. Unfortunately, the deals just aren't there for renters. I hope you find one and prove me wrong!


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[diggitydot]

I don't think you can get a mortgage sans proof of income anymore.

It's sad but true. Mortgage payments on the condo that we live in would be way less than our rent

[SuzySunshine]

When we were looking for rentals in OR anything that seemed to good to be true was - watch out.

[MrsPotts]

Unfortunately, when the housing market goes down, the rental market goes up - I'm sure you will find something though!!