Being a grown-up is hard :(

[next_to_normal]

I've been getting more serious about the whole condo-buying thing this week. I started the process of getting approved for a mortgage and have been talking to a realtor. And I can feel it already starting to stress me out.

I think the trouble is that I feel pressured to buy something, no matter what it is or how much I like it (or don't). Because of course I can't afford the place I really want - something that's not closet-sized, walking distance to the Metro, in a nice neighborhood - which is not really that much to ask except that everything in this area is absurdly expensive. (There are condos that cost more than my parents' four-bedroom HOUSE.) But at the same time, I know that mortgage rates are really low and the market is already starting to recover and so now is the time to buy and I don't want to miss the opportunity. And then I've got my mother saying, "You're just throwing your money away on rent!" and I need to build equity and whatever.

But, you know, buying a condo is kind of a big commitment. I'd have to expect to live there for at least five years, and I don't want to be stuck living somewhere I'm not happy just to build equity. But it seems like I'm supposed to just buy something, anything, and suck it up until I can afford to buy something nicer.

Anyway. I feel like I have a lot of things to write about - the end of Lost season 2, Side Jobs, a couple movies I've seen - so I'll try to get to those sometime soon. If I can just tear myself away from browsing condo sites... (I keep checking the same sites, hoping for an open house to pop up that's in my price range, even though I know that nothing is going to have changed since the last time I checked. Yay for neuroses, right?)

Comments

[goldenusagi]

But it seems like I'm supposed to just buy something, anything, and suck it up until I can afford to buy something nicer.

I know nothing of these things (let me show you how I fail at being grownup), but I thought you were supposed to rent until you could afford to buy something nicer?

Hey

[(Anonymous)]

Good luck, kiddo - be happy.
eds

[elynittria]

Obsessively checking the listings can be a good thing. When I was buying my house, I spent a lot of time online, and there are times when new listings pop up and one has to move fast.

I was really lucky in getting my current house, because it was listed as a condo, although it's actually a single-family cape. (The "condo" designation was because it shared a garage wall with the house next door.) The price was actually reasonable, given the ridiculous housing market at the time (circa 2005).

Good luck with your search!

[deird1]

(What is a condo, anyway?)

*is ignorant*

[mcmegan]

Condos always make me think of old people in Florida. But that shouldn't discourage you!

My cousin who just got married is just living in an apartment with her husband for now. He apparently wants to buy a house, but she feels that's too much commitment. We thought that was funny, coming from a girl who just got married.

But yeah, at least 2 friends of mine have recently bought houses, so they won't be throwing rent away and the tax credit and such. But I would not want to be stuck here for years.

My current living situation is renting a room from a married couple who are friends of mine. I'm kind of sick of it since my room is super tiny, and it seems like they don't want anything of mine to be outside my room. I want to move, but moving is a pain, and I have to do a summer internship, so I don't know where I'm going for that.