"George Leppla" > wrote in message
...
> On 11/24/2011 5:53 PM, jmcquown wrote:
>>
>> Instead, think about property taxes. Think about homeowners insurance
>> (with a flood insurance rider) and wind and hail coverage (this is a
>> hurricane zone). Think about the cost of repairing or replacing
>> appliances. When I was renting, those things were included in the cost
>> of rent. In 2010 it cost me nearly $10,000 to put in a new HVAC unit.
>> When the same thing happened at my Memphis apartment I called and they
>> sent someone over immediately. And gee, they replaced it! Same thing
>> happened when the dishwasher broke and also the water heater. Oh, and
>> when my refrigerator died. Not to mention I didn't have to mow the lawn
>> and keep the shrubs trimmed. I have to pay for all this stuff now.
>> There's nothing free about owning a house.
>
> Poor Jill! I didn't know you had it so rough!
>
> Let me clue you in to two facts.
>
> 1) Everybody who owns a home has all those expenses.... except.. THEY ALSO
> HAVE A MORTGAGE. You don't. (PS - in the last 5 years, we replaced the
> AC, water heater, stove top and dishwasher in this house... all the while
> paying for insurance, taxes and a MORTGAGE.)
>
But see, I didn't want to own a home. I never asked for this. You chose to
buy a home and you did so with open eyes. So sorry if it doesn't agree with
you.

> 2) If you don't like owning a home and prefer living in an apartment, you
> can sell the house.
>
Oh good! In this market, that's a great idea.

> I took a look at where you live based on the link you posted in another
> reply: http://datawhomes.com/ and it seems that the average home in
> your community is selling for around $400,000. Poor Jill! I don't know
> how you can stand inheriting a home like that. Sell it and you can live
> in a $1000 a month Memphis apartment for 400 months... or a little over 33
> years.

I hate to tell you this, but based on the fact that most of the houses here
have been on the market for about 4 years, they're way overpriced.
Meanwhile, golfers are dropping like flies. And having been raised a
military brat, I really have no desire to ever move again. I just want
those HOA people to leave me the hell alone.

Jill