One of my goals is to eventually be able to purchase a house. Many of my nursing colleagues are purchasing homes that are worth $450,000, $500,000 or even more. Sadly, my budget is about half of that or even less, which means the houses I have to choose from are not appealing. Most of them are small, old, or both.
I am just curious how other nurses manage to purchase decent houses? I've been looking through my income, and I just can't find a way to make it possible to incorporate such a house into my budget. I am salary, so there are no opportunities for overtime.
What are other nurses' experience with buying houses? How did you make it work? Did it require switching jobs? Inquiring minds want to know!
I’ve now been made aware that some people in my area are spending in excess of $500,000-600,000 for brand new, custom built homes. Just makes me feel more defeated because there’s no way I could manage that. It’s very frustrating to work all hours of the day taking care of patients who are unappreciative and have nothing to say for it. I can work 16-20 hours a day and get to look forward to coming home to a crappy living environment
If you did the math, you would be very surprised at how fast the little things add up. (There are a few good reasons to lose a Pepsi a day habit.)
It was very good advice to speak to a financial counselor; would be a good use of the fee involved. That person could clarify a lot of things for you and make the whole process a lot less bewildering.
1. Start looking for ways to save money.
2. Start looking at online realty sites just to get an idea of what's out there. Does your city have cheaper bedroom communities? What would the commute look like?
No reason this can't be a fun and educational challenge and eventually gets you into your dream home.
I agree that speaking with someone about managing money would be helpful and yes, any way to save is helpful. Regardless of who I speak to, however, I’m almost positive I already know some of what they might say: I simply cannot afford any home that I’m actually interested in at this point in my life. I’m also trying to avoid apartments, condos and townhomes if at all possible
I’ve now been made aware that some people in my area are spending in excess of $500,000-600,000 for brand new, custom built homes. Just makes me feel more defeated because there’s no way I could manage that. It’s very frustrating to work all hours of the day taking care of patients who are unappreciative and have nothing to say for it. I can work 16-20 hours a day and get to look forward to coming home to a crappy living environment
I agree that speaking with someone about managing money would be helpful and yes, any way to save is helpful. Regardless of who I speak to, however, I’m almost positive I already know some of what they might say: I simply cannot afford any home that I’m actually interested in at this point in my life. I’m also trying to avoid apartments, condos and townhomes if at all possible
So when is your first therapy appointment? First you need to be of sound mind to be able to think clearly before you even think about buying a home. You said you are living with family now so I would suggest once you are in a good place start with an apartment so you can get used to living on your own and creating a budget. Also definitely learn about personal finance soon, don't put that off.
As several of us have mentioned you should be looking for a better job. It is absolutely insane to work 16-20 hours a day at a job and salary on top of it! They are literally stealing from you and you are letting them! Getting a new job should be your first priority, save counseling. There is no way you'll be able to buy a home near what you want if you are working for free. Calculate the hours you work against your paycheck and you may be finding you are being paid close to minimum wage. Fortunately there are plenty of nursing jobs out there, even more since the pandemic. There is absolutely no sane reason to stay at your job. On top of it, what would be the point of buying a home if you never had time to spend there or even sleep.
some people in my area are spending in excess of $500,000-600,000 for brand new, custom built homes.
Do you realize what the home insurance cost (replacement value) would be? The property tax will be enormous and who is going to clean that large a house (4 bedrooms) and take care of the yard? Maybe I am wrong that this is a great architectural wonder but I doubt it! In a half a million house you are still going to look at contractor grade trim, doors, bathroom fixtures, thin granite in the kitchen, cheap carpet or vinyl flooring. Would you message me a listing? I gotta see it to believe it!
Do you realize what the home insurance cost (replacement value) would be? The property tax will be enormous and who is going to clean that large a house (4 bedrooms) and take care of the yard? Maybe I am wrong that this is a great architectural wonder but I doubt it! In a half a million house you are still going to look at contractor grade trim, doors, bathroom fixtures, thin granite in the kitchen, cheap carpet or vinyl flooring. Would you message me a listing? I gotta see it to believe it!
In regards to the cost of home insurance or property tax, I already know it would be way, way too much. I'm afraid you are also right about the quality of some of these homes as well. Yes, they are nice, but they are likely overpriced as they still use "cheaper" materials. Thus, you can imagine that anything that is actually something I could probably afford is complete trash.
I’ve now been made aware that some people in my area are spending in excess of $500,000-600,000 for brand new, custom built homes. Just makes me feel more defeated because there’s no way I could manage that. It’s very frustrating to work all hours of the day taking care of patients who are unappreciative and have nothing to say for it. I can work 16-20 hours a day and get to look forward to coming home to a crappy living environment
How did you get to be so bratty? Who made you believe that you DESERVE a house you can't afford. HGTV and real estate speak (It's not a home, it's a friggin" house) has way too much space in your brain. No one on this site became a nurse so they could own a McMansion. Grow up. Your immaturity makes you easy picking for brainwashing from the real estate media.
How did you get to be so bratty? Who made you believe that you DESERVE a house you can't afford. HGTV and real estate speak (It's not a home, it's a friggin" house) has way too much space in your brain. No one on this site became a nurse so they could own a McMansion. Grow up. Your immaturity makes you easy picking for brainwashing from the real estate media.
Not asking for a McMansion. Nobody said anything about deserving a house that is outside of their price range. Certainly, if I wanted more money there are other careers I could have picked. At the same time, I would hope that I would be able to buy a place that isn't a complete dump, and that doesn't seem to be happening either. I am just thinking about where my parents were, for example, at my age and they had just purchased a 2 story house with basement and large yard that they had custom built for themselves. There's no way I can afford a similar house, which is pretty shameful actually. I am going backwards, not forwards. It's kind of disgusting, really, to see the houses that are within my price range because they are just that bad.
Not asking for a McMansion. Nobody said anything about deserving a house that is outside of their price range. Certainly, if I wanted more money there are other careers I could have picked. At the same time, I would hope that I would be able to buy a place that isn't a complete dump, and that doesn't seem to be happening either. I am just thinking about where my parents were, for example, at my age and they had just purchased a 2 story house with basement and large yard that they had custom built for themselves. There's no way I can afford a similar house, which is pretty shameful actually. I am going backwards, not forwards. It's kind of disgusting, really, to see the houses that are within my price range because they are just that bad.
Plenty of us are living in these homes that you consider beneath you and are perfectly happy with them. As you said yourself, the new McMansions tend to be made cheaply. Also they burn faster than older home construction. Older homes were made with better quality materials like brick and stone and have character and curb appeal, true story book homes in some cases. The neighborhoods have diversity of architecture, whereas today's cookie cutter McMansions look pretty much all the same and usually even the same color!
I think the real problem is your delusional thinking and comparing yourself to others whether your family or coworkers. It seems nothing will ever be good enough for you and you see everything in black and white and label all the homes you can afford as bad. But as I said your first priority should be getting therapy to think clearly.
51 minutes ago, SilverBells said:
Of note: I'll probably have already coded at work before I am even close to affording anything I like ?
Instead of joking about this, get your resume updated and keep applying for other jobs till you find a decent one. Don't give up because one job wasn't offered to you. If you put the time into job hunting that you are putting into your current job you'd already be in a better place by now!
Thus, you can imagine that anything that is actually something I could probably afford is complete trash.
And now that homes prices are skyrocketing due to buyers fighting over any available homes, you should buy what you can reasonably afford and make it into what you want. No one deserves more, or less, than that
Ugh, it's easy enough to say "buy what you can afford." Theoretically, it's a reasonable suggestion. There just isn't much out there that is affordable. Just found 2 new houses that only have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms so neither are that that big...both are each $470,000.
Perhaps it's time to take a break from the house search. There simply isn't anything out there that is a match.
It probably seems as if I'm not listening and/or saying the same things again and again. I'm "hearing" everyone's suggestions and have taken everything into consideration--it's just that at this point, the future (which includes that of the housing market) is pretty bleak. And yes, I have an appointment with someone but not for another 2 weeks.
SilverBells, BSN
1,108 Posts
I’ve now been made aware that some people in my area are spending in excess of $500,000-600,000 for brand new, custom built homes. Just makes me feel more defeated because there’s no way I could manage that. It’s very frustrating to work all hours of the day taking care of patients who are unappreciative and have nothing to say for it. I can work 16-20 hours a day and get to look forward to coming home to a crappy living environment