Tag Archive for house

Debt Pay Off Part 5 – Choosing A House or Condo

This is part 5 of a series of how I paid off $95,778.5 in less than 3 years.

Once you know how much of a mortgage you qualify for, the fun begins!

Determining if a house or a condo is right for you really depends on what you are looking for in a home and how much you could afford. If you travel a lot and don’t have time for the day to day maintenance that a house requires, such as snow removal, lawn care, roof repairs and furnace replacements, then a condo might be best for you. You may also want to consider a condo if you are single and don’t need or want a lot of space. Here are some pros and cons of condo life.

Pros

  • Wide price range
  • Generally cheaper than a house (depending on location)
  • Some condos have 24 hour security
  • Less maintenance than a house
  • Built-in amenities such as gyms, pools, party rooms, bowling alley’s and tennis courts

Cons

  • Monthly condo fees that increase annually
  • You may be paying for what you don’t use
  • Pet restrictions
  • Many rules and regulations
  • Less control
  • Less privacy

Check out the financial situation of the condo you plan to buy. You don’t want any surprises after you move in that could cost you. Also, find out how many units are being rented in the condo versus owner occupied. This can cause problems because tenants generally don’t treat a property they are renting as well as if they owned it.

Buying a house has it’s fair share of pros and cons as well. If you have a large family, require a lot of space or maybe you have several animals that need a big yard to run around in. Then a house may be best for you. Location also comes into play when determining what you are looking for. Do you want to live in the city or in the country.

I have attached a few links that should make your search a little easier.

Condominium Buyers Guide Home

Hunting Comparison Worksheet

Click here for part 6

Debt Pay Off Part 7 – So You’ve Moved In, Now What!

This is part 7 of a series of how I paid off $95,778.5 in less than 3 years.

When I first moved into my condo I was really excited. The first thing I wanted to do was paint, I wanted to customize everything to my liking. Be careful of the “I want everything right now” syndrome. It is extremely tempting to buy everything all at once, especially with all of the commercials advertising new mattresses, sofa’s, dining tables, and bedroom sets. Consider buying what you need now, versus what you want. Do you really need a new sofa or bedroom set. Maybe the one you have can last another couple of years. If you do need new furniture, please be very careful with those don’t pay for one year deals. Usually these companies allow you to pay for the item within one year of the purchase date without charging any interest. However, if you don’t pay for the item within one year and decide to pay for it a day late, you will pay all that interest that you incurred within the year. So please read the fine print.

Don’t forget to change your address with the following:

Utilities & Services

  • Cable
  • Telephone
  • Internet
  • Physicians/Veterinarian
  • Attorney

Financial & Personal Products

  • Banks
  • Credit Card Companies
  • Department Store Credit Cards
  • Insurance Companies (health, home/life, auto)
  • Accountant
  • Professional Memberships

Government Services

  • Driver’s License
  • Post Office
  • Income Tax/CRA
  • Unemployment Insurance

Subscriptions

  • Newspaper
  • Magazine

After you’ve updated your address, check your finances. You may need to open new accounts, transfer funds and order new cheques.

Click here for part 8

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