Comments on: Starter versus Once-and-done

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Toyo Car Tires Lead A Legacy Of Racing | Car Lemon Laws — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 21:29:29 +0000

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Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:28:31 +0000

[...] Should one buy a starter home and later trade up if necessary or go for a once-and-done home to live… Gail shares her thoughts on the issue. [...]

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By: Sue

Sue — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:22:15 +0000

I think that the most important thing about deciding on a home to purchase is that you will be happy to live in it, for whatever time that might end up being. Some people seem to buy “starter homes” expecting that real estate values will rise to give them leverage towards the “dream home”. These days, that is less than a sure thing. I agree that many people seem to have unrealistic expectations as to what kind of home they can really afford, and extend themselves much further than would be advisable.

By: Cassandrasl

Cassandrasl — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:20:02 +0000

When I got pregnant two years ago, my husband and I decided to go from a 1400 square foot apartment at $1100 a month in an awesome location, to buying a house. We had the choice, on the same day, to buy the 1100 square foot semi we live in right now that had everything we needed but not much we wanted or a 2100 square foot detached with everything we needed and almost everything we wanted, but that was $40 000 more. We thought on it and decided that we would never regret spending less on a house, and bought the cheaper house (which also happened to be the cheapest house in a very nice neighbourhood). All of the major issues were pretty cosmetic, and now we love our house. And with a baby, I don’t have tons of time to clean, which makes this house easier to take care of.
I think the idea of “starter” vs. “forever” is wrong for home-buying: honestly, you should just buy for the next five years of your life. I grew up military, and I lived in 10 different houses before I was 17, while my husband lived in two his entire life. We’ve agreed that this is our house until we outgrow it (i.e. have more kids than fit in the tiny bedrooms) and we’re pretty content with that, whether it happens or not.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:35:50 +0000

Two days until closing on my first house – a 3 bedroom semi-detached at about 1000 square feet. My husband and I don’t plan to have kids so we never really thought about starter vs. forever. We aren’t young (I’m 36) but last month we finished paying off my husband’s student loan (I never had any) and just looked for a house we could afford. We had a full 10% down (yes we paid $1800 in CMHC fees but with these mortgage rates I feel okay not waiting the 18 months until we had 20%) and enough money saved for all the closing costs and lots of little extras. We both made compromises – duplex for him, small kitchen for me but it is ours and we are excited. We imagine ourselves there in 19 years when we get the mortgage paid and we can imagine moving in 10 years if we chose to. It had a brand new roof, electrical box, oil tank, shed, furnance and doors and windows so it may be a starter but it isn’t being renovated. I just can’t wait!!!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:16:31 +0000

Erin, I’m so thrilled when I hear about families thriving in small spaces. Dwell Magazine often has features about this very topic. It sure does make you see that it’s not so much about the stuff you collect but about how you live your life.

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:54:59 +0000

SQ & Pam;
I know what you both mean; until moving to the area that I am in now I moved 2x each year for University and many times as a child.
But truly I hate the “act” of moving. Especially since becoming an adult I have had to do the packing and moving myself rather than with movers as we did when I was a child. We had to pack up our home and 3 yr old twins when we did the reno and moved in with my IL’s for what was to be 3-4 months which turned into 9 months. And then move back to the house we currently have.
Since I moved as a child I really don’t have any truly solid friendships that come from that time in my life. My husband is still friends with 2 “boys’ that he went to Kindergarden with. That was 37 years ago. Because of my experience (when we moved we actually moved cities not just into another area of the subdivision) I want my daughters to have that too. So really it means that we likely to have this current property for many many years.
Especially if my husband wishes to maintain his business.
Life throws you loops and keeping a door slightly ajar is not necessarily a bad thing.

By: Pam

Pam — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 14:11:53 +0000

It’s a very interesting topic and one I am currently debating with my partner. It seems he wants a once and done situation because he doesn’t like change. It scares him. I, on the other hand want something to take care of my needs now, something I can afford comfortably and something that I’ll be happy in for now. I’ve moved twice with my family and 5 times on my own so far, so i understand that something down the line may change and am more willing to accept that this may not be the place we stay in forever.

Perhaps too, this difference comes from the fact that he hasn’t lived anywhere but the family home we are currently trying to leave. (save for a six month trial). I know that to get what we both ultimately want, it will take at least one previous home-ownership, so we can build the equity needed, the trust with the bank, and give us the time to nail down the finer points on those ultimate goals. The house I want I cannot at this moment afford, nor is the bank willing to take that risk on me yet. So I get that I will need at least one house move to get to where my goal is and I’ve accepted that.

Home renovation can get you most of the way to the goal you want, if you manage the initial hunt that way, but I’m not firmly rooted with buying once and being done. Life happens, so I like to leave that door open just a crack in case I need it.

Special thanks to Saver Queen for a great pot-luck. Big thanks to Gail for being who you are and making it through the storm to enjoy the beautiful day! Thanks to everyone who made it for even the littlest of time!

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 12:57:55 +0000

Thank you to everyone who came to the pot-luck and thank you to Gail, who drove 2.5 hours in a thunderstorm to get to Toronto! It was a wonderful time. The weather turned out to be gorgeous!

I just don’t think the once-and-done strategy makes sense at a time when people move around so frequently. Does anyone stay put in one place for a lifetime any more? I’ve moved between 1 and 3 times every year for the last 9 years, so I can’t imagine staying put for the rest of my life.

By: an ostrich named sam

an ostrich named sam — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:20:01 +0000

I bought my first home just over 5 years ago, thinking that it would most likely be my forever home. Fast forward 5 years, having jut remortgaged and in the middle of a complete exterior renovation and I have an offer for my dream job, which entails a potential move, and possibly selling my home. I never saw this one coming.

I love this little house ( just over 1200 square feet with an unfinished basement), but I’m open to selling it to the right person for the right price. I’d be a bit sad to sell, but home is where the heart is.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:24:26 +0000

I’m with Chris. We bought a very run down starter that will also be our forever home. Each of the kids get their own bed room, even if they are small. The whole place is less than 1100 sq feet. It will be easy to convert to wheel chair accessible in a few years when the hubby’s mobility problems get worse. And when the kids move out, we can rent out the legal basement suite for extra income.

I firmly believe that kids need their own rooms, but not walk in closets or their own bathrooms. If your room holds you bed and dresser, do you really need a in room sitting area or a dressing room? How many cloths do you need to give them a room of their own?

I just don’t get the idea that forever = big. My inlaws (who I adore) are two retirees living in a five bed room house that they can’t afford to heat and soon won’t be able to maintain. If you REALLY want forever, you have to think about what you will be able to manage as a senior.

PS Linda – thanks for referring me to the Flylady website. I’m not quite that intense, but she has some good ideas

By: Starter versus Once-and-done « gailvazoxlade.com | Tips From isabell

Starter versus Once-and-done « gailvazoxlade.com | Tips From isabell — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:35:46 +0000

[...] Original post: Starter versus Once-and-done « gailvazoxlade.com [...]

By: Joanne

Joanne — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:16:40 +0000

I moved around quite a bit as a child. My parents showed pictures of the several homes that they had had via the moves and many years of marriage and 2 children to the young married, pregnant with first child couple selling their home – that was barely furnished – only for them to say, “the houses keep getting slightly bigger”. It was the last house that my parents would buy together- but likely only because my mother passed away when I was 17. That young couple had bought the 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath, double car garage home and couldn’t furnish it completely – it was clearly too much house for them and that was why they were selling.

My husband lived in the same house from the day he came home from the hospital until he moved out (and back :0) as a mid 20 something) and then out again when we were married. His parents just had their 49th wedding anniversary – my FIL doesn’t want to move – they have been in the house for nearly as long as they have been married – and they likely won’t move until their names come up at the retirement home in the near future.

My husband and I bought our first home strictly for the property as it was ideal for his business. It was a small 1100 sq ft 1 1/2 storey 2 bedroom house. Small – kinda – the layout wasn’t ideal – but we bought it for the property. Was it a starter home? Yes probably. Did I think that we would be here “forever” – maybe, maybe not – depends 100% on his business really. It certainly was a good buy for an investment as the property could be flipped to commercial. Three years ago we renovated our home by knocking it down to the ground/foundation primarily for the business and the fact that our family had grown. What is most frustrating is the fact that we have this new house – with the mortgage to match because we didn’t sell a house to buy a new one with the profits that come with selling a house that you have built equity into. In some ways I regret the renovation because of the nightmares and frustrations that it caused but for the most part I am happy with the house we have as it suits my husbands business and we can surely be able to have our daughters grow into teenagers in this house. When they stop sharing a room they won’t have big bedrooms but they can now each have their own and hopefully we will have the basement finished (when the planned spending basement account grows enough!) to add another room for guests.

Our house may not be our “forever” house but I know that my husband likely won’t want your typical subdivision home like I grew up in because his parents house was generously spaced from the neighbours (which he likes and comments that he couldn’t be so close to neighbours on both sides) and our house at our current location allows a similar situation – so if are not likely to move in the near future. Well, maybe if someone comes and offers us a lot of money …

By: Catherine

Catherine — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:22:35 +0000

Wish I’d been there for the debate. We never gave ’starter house’ vs ‘once and done home’ a thought in the dark ages. We bought what we thought we could handle which turned out to be a small two bedroom single home (hubby had to bartend Thurs., Fri., and Sat. nights till 2 a.m. to make it work….and teach besides…)
We’ve only had two homes…that one (which sold in a bidding war) and the one we’re in now that we bought in 1975. I love it here in my rut, but, things are afoot to sell and move in the future (
My childhood included two moves, so I guess I’m not one who is used to a lot of change.
And, in the totally ‘off topic’ department….

There I was in ‘World’s Biggest Book Store’ just off Yonge St. on Edward downtown Toronto with a gift certificate burning a hole in my pocket. I decided I would treat myself to a book by our favourite author Gail. Imagine my shock when I looked her up on their computer and even though there were 16 listings – none were available! As Gail would say…Whaz Up With That????