I just bought a two Bedroom two Bath Condo in the Suburban Silverado Ranch Area of Las Vegas! I signed all the Title Papers on Tuesday (Which was the same day I graduated early from UNLV with a Bachelor of Science in Business) and just received my keys tonight.

Bring on the Cargo Bays and wish me luck!

For all of you living in the states and happen to be first time home buyers, I suggest taking a look at the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of $7,500 Dollar for Dollar. That combined with the depressed housing market makes for a great deal long term =)

Let me be the first one to say:

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Hope it holds it value well which realistically can happen coz things are way down in the hole. These are probably the best time to buy, especially if its gonna be your primary residence.

Congratulations on your graduation and buying your first house!

Whatever you do, don't mess up your credit! It's incredibly important nowadays, what with the sub-prime loan crisis and all.

Good luck!

Hey!!

That is fantastic news!!! Im super jealous, I've been looking to buy one too, but having a job in the airline industry is iffy right now... im afraid i'll lose my job, then be SOL when it comes time to pay my mortgage.

anyway, Good on you man! congrats!

enjoy your new purchase!

hmmmm.....

How much did you spend total?


Just curious.

Well congrats mate. Hope you will enjoy your house.

Congrats.Thats def a great achievement.
regds
MEL

Quoting Bravo45 (Reply 1):

Quoting Fridgmus (Reply 2):

Quoting Roadrunner165 (Reply 4):

Quoting B747forever (Reply 5):

Thank you for all the kind words! I am quickly finding out home ownership can be a blessing as well as a curse! As far as the resale value goes, I know I probably didn't buy at the bottom but I am pretty sure I am close. I plan on staying in the condo 5-7 years, so I'm not too worried about home prices right now.

Quoting Roadrunner165 (Reply 4): How much did you spend total?

Approximately $4000 out of pocket after down payment and closing costs
I put 3% down with a purchase price of $87,500

This condo last sold in August 06 for $210,000
Condo was built brand new new June 2002 for approximately $106,000

I'm planning on using the New Home Buyer Tax Credit to pay down some principal, repaint a few rooms and maybe replace the flooring in the bedrooms. We'll see what happens.

Luckily unlike some of the Short Sale properties here in LV, this condo was in relatively good shape with all the appliances included as well as no significant cosmetic imperfections.

Here's an AP story featuring a little tidbit about my experience:

Quote: Richard Reyes, a broadcast technician in Las Vegas, was among the homebuyers who wasn't put off by the financial crisis. The 21-year-old began looking for a home last month and recently signed a contract for an $87,000 condo, which last sold in 2002 for $102,000, he said. "When I saw the prices I did a double-take," Reyes said. "It's cheaper to buy than rent, almost." In addition to falling prices, Reyes said he was spurred to buy now because of a temporary, $7,500 federal tax credit for new homebuyers enacted this past summer. Still, Reyes has considered the possibility of a prolonged economic downturn and the risk he might lose his job like many other Americans. "I have thought about that and I'm continuing to think about that," Reyes said. "I was able to work out the payments to be so low where I'm reasonably sure I can get a different position, maybe making less, and still be able to afford the place."

Congratulations, National757!!!

I should have you contact my cousin. His mother died and left him a home that's PAID FOR. He complains all the time, considering the house a drag (it's a beautiful house). HE would prefer to rent. You're 21 and know the benefits of buying. He's 30 and clueless!!!

Anyway, you got a good deal. Wow! $87,000. Definitely a good deal.

Wow! That's cheap! And in Vegas? Damn, why am I still in Minnesota. I wanna move to Vegas, and that's a steal. Take lots of pics and post them here  

Quoting National757 (Reply 7): In addition to falling prices, Reyes said he was spurred to buy now because of a temporary, $7,500 federal tax credit for new homebuyers enacted this past summer.

How ironic. Let's put a tax credit in for those who buy houses, and then can't pay the mortgage! (Not saying that you can't.)

How many square feet, by the way?

I bought my condo back in '04, right before the prices REALLY skyrocketed here. I'm pretty lucky I did, too, as my upstairs neighbor paid $40,000 more than I did, and she earns much less than myself, and I right now and barely breaking even each month. I'm not sure how much the market value has fallen, though, as there haven't been any equivilant condos for sale for some time now.

Nice...I bet with all the foreclosures in LAS you can get some smokin deals on housing right now if you are in a position to buy.

Quoting National757 (Thread starter): Bring on the Cargo Bays and wish me luck!

I wish you all the best. Now your next big aggressive personal goal should be to NOT be in foreclosure at age 23.

Quoting Goldenshield (Reply 10): How ironic. Let's put a tax credit in for those who buy houses, and then can't pay the mortgage!

With the way banks have been hoarding cash and tightening up their lending standards, I think the number of borrowers obtaining mortgages they cannot realistically afford is near zero.

In my case the relatively low loan amount, employment history, excellent payment history and responsible use credit across many different credit cards was enough for me to obtain a loan without a cosigner.

Quoting Goldenshield (Reply 10): How many square feet, by the way?

1053 Square Feet

Quoting StasisLAX (Reply 12): Now your next big aggressive personal goal should be to NOT be in foreclosure at age 23.

Nah, I will wait till age 24   Thanks for the good wishes.

Quoting National757 (Reply 13): Nah, I will wait till age 24   Thanks for the good wishes.

Good work. What kind of a loan rate did you get?

Quoting Dougloid (Reply 14): What kind of a loan rate did you get?

6% Like everything connected with the housing industry it seems, it was great at the time but now rates are even better down in the 5.2% range.

There is even talk about rates going as low as 4.5% as part of another stimulus package, which is just plain ridiculous. If the depressed home prices and First Time Homebuyer Stimulus program aren't reason enough to motivate buyers, surely this low fixed rate proposal will provided it ever passes.

Well done...and so young!!

Piece of advice for you...maintain the place well, make renovations when needed (and you can afford them), and when it comes time to sell you may even make a profit.

Here in Australia first home buyers get a grant off the governments, usually , $7,000 which most people use for the deposit.

But due to this 'crisis' the government upped it to $14,000 for a home thats not brand new and if you build or buy a brand new home it's $21,000.


It's alot of money and a great helping hand for anyone wanting to buy, though house prices are still too high and hopefully they will drop a little more in the new year then i'll swoop in and buy my first home.

Quoting National757 (Reply 15): Quoting Dougloid (Reply 14): What kind of a loan rate did you get? 6% Like everything connected with the housing industry it seems, it was great at the time but now rates are even better down in the 5.2% range. There is even talk about rates going as low as 4.5% as part of another stimulus package, which is just plain ridiculous. If the depressed home prices and First Time Homebuyer Stimulus program aren't reason enough to motivate buyers, surely this low fixed rate proposal will provided it ever passes

That's about right for the amount you borrowed at the time you borrowed it. We bought our house in April and we put down 5 per cent and got a mortgage at 5.75. We're looking to refinance, the rate was briefly down to 4.25 early this week but like a fool I listened to my spouse and didn't make the call. Now it's at 5 per cent. If it goes below 4.75 we're going to refinance.

What's your electric bill like? All that a/c must cost a bundle.

It is a good feeling having your own crib, and all you gotta do is pay the mortgage. It's probably even better having the price come down to something approaching reality in your part of the world. We realized we'd been living in the same rental for 11 years, we'd paid the guy's mortgage all that time and he was not going to spend nickel one on it as long as we were there. Spending your money to improve your place is much more interesting because it''s yours.

We installed a 95 per cent efficient furnace during the summer and I'm looking forward to the next gas bill to measure the savings.

Congradulations. Good buy at a good time.

My buddy just bought a house where we went to college at in Michigan. He purchased it a few weeks ago at the price of $9,000! 2 story 3 bedroom 2 bath with back and front portch. It will take around $15,000 in repares for resale but it is mostly roof repare with some paint needing to be done. He is a home owner now just under 30 years old. He got to pay cash for it too which makes it better. Other houses are going anywhere from $15,000 to $35,000 in the town.

Allow me to be the skunk at the picnic in this thread.
Is it really such a great idea to be a home-owner at age 21?

What seems to make your deal so great is the low cost of money. What what happens when the mortgage rate goes up and you have to renegotiate?

Having a house kind of ties you down. If you change jobs a year from now, and move to another area, you have to deal with selling the house.

There are other expenses involved with home ownership like municipal taxes, house insurance, and utilities. I find that these things aren't insignificant, and even with our house paid for, the costs I mention above would probably preclude our keeping the house if we both lost our jobs and were facing long-term unemployment.

Both my wife and I know young people coming right out of college or university who had that "I don't want to pay rent" attitude. That is fine, but having a mortgage really cuts down on their disposable income. It is a little sad to see a young single adult so seriously committed financially.

I wish you the best of luck - I just hope everyone in your age group who considers this to be a smart move looks at all the angles.

Good Job! , I have a good feeling that the market in Vegas will be one of the first to revive and come back when things swing up again. I am from the Wynn model of thinking , this is America and we will come out of this stronger than before.

Quoting AGM100 (Reply 21): I am from the Wynn model of thinking , this is America and we will come out of this stronger than before.

And probably leaner for having shed a lot of useless fat.

Quote: There are other expenses involved with home ownership like municipal taxes, house insurance, and utilities. I find that these things aren't insignificant, and even with our house paid for, the costs I mention above would probably preclude our keeping the house if we both lost our jobs and were facing long-term unemployment.

Yup. I heard all kinds off yahoos telling me to buy over the last few years. Problem was that they were telling me "buy a house for the Bank." I'm almost thirty now, and have been a renter my whole adult life.

This doesn't bother me in the least, because in April, I plan on purchasing a drastically discounted townhome in Plano (those familiar with the DFW area know what kind of area that is) I will be able to do this, with my own money, because renting, and not being tied down allowed me to manage my own money more responsibly. I admit, I've gotten stupid lucky in the last few years (like the time I bought $25,000 worth of US Airways shares, at $1.98, & sold them at $9.10), but I've always had decent safety nets too (can we say WalMart!)

Don't get me wrong, it is great to own a home. But you really don't own it if you still have to pay a Bank. And since houses really aren't supposed to be investments (that's what actual investments are for,   ) if you are ever in the position to buy outright, that's the only way to go.

National, seriously, congrats. A nice home in Vegas is a truly enviable thing, and 1000ft/sq should be just fine for a young sinlge.
But if you have a chance to pay more directly to principal, do it. Who ever told you 3% down was a good idea is need of a serious beating. Even at 6% fixed, that Bank owns you now. I'd rather pay alimony.

FYI - I have been away on Vacation and have not had access to the internet. Did not mean to dodge the questions on this thread!

Quoting Dougloid (Reply 18): What's your electric bill like? All that a/c must cost a bundle.

Not sure yet but come July it will surely cost a bundle. Probably set the AC to about 75 to save some $$$

Quoting Dougloid (Reply 18): It's probably even better having the price come down to something approaching reality in your part of the world.

Absolutely. It was a bit disheartening to watch the price of homes appreciate so rapidly and knowing I would probably not be able to have my own place for a long time. Luckily home prices have fallen a bit closer to reality at the unfortunate expense of others including my own family living in Las Vegas.

Quoting Ronglimeng (Reply 20): Is it really such a great idea to be a home-owner at age 21?

Yes, for a mature person with stable employment. My friends often joke I'm 21 going on 40, so I feel I can handle the responsibilities that come with home ownership. Not to mention, I am willing to work another job to support myself if necessary although I do not anticipate needing to with my budget.

Quoting Ronglimeng (Reply 20): What what happens when the mortgage rate goes up and you have to renegotiate?

I have a fixed interest rate over 30 years. I shouldn't have to renegotiate when rates go up, should I?

Quoting Ronglimeng (Reply 20): Having a house kind of ties you down.

Definitely. If I had plans to more to a different state, I obviously would not have made the move. I'm pretty secure where I live and the type of job I have is not one that would be transferred to a different city, so I'm pretty secure in that I won't have to worry about my employment moving to a different city. I also do not anticipate changing jobs, although anything can happen so I do see your point, there is risk involved but then again there are risks with just about every aspect of life. I'm comfortable with the level of risk I have undertaken thusfar, otherwise clearly I would not have made the move.

Quoting Ronglimeng (Reply 20): It is a little sad to see a young single adult so seriously committed financially.

One mans sadness is another mans joy. Both my parents are around to see me become a homeowner and graduate College and there is no price or amount of disposable income that can replace that.

Quoting Ronglimeng (Reply 20): I wish you the best of luck - I just hope everyone in your age group who considers this to be a smart move looks at all the angles.

Thank you for your good wishes and your reality check. I too hope others that see this consider all the angles prior to making the move to homeownership, regardless of their age group.

Quoting QXatFAT (Reply 19):

Quoting AGM100 (Reply 21):

Quoting WN700Driver (Reply 23):

Thank you for the kind words. Paying off the principal is certainly at the top of my 'To do' list, right after replenishing up my 6-month emergency fund.

Quoting National757 (Reply 15): the depressed home prices

Hold on a sec, home prices aren't "depressed", they are correcting from the ridiculous 30%-50% a year bubble appreciation. In most areas, home prices are still way ahead of incomes. And until they come more in line with what a 30 year fixed mortgage costs, they will continue to fall. You can't base your mortgage payment on the neg-am option arm rate any longer.

But what is really holding the market down is seller greed. People heard their friends doubled their money on a house they bought in 2003 and sold in 2005 and now the current sellers feel entitled to their piece of the pie.

People have no problem losing their money on various unnecessary conveniences and luxuries, but if you suggest that they lose money on their house they take that as an insult. Real estate agents have been crowing for so long that home values only go up, people don't look at them as investments, rather as sure-thing appreciating assets. In actuality, they are neither.

A condo in a market such as Las Vegas which has dropped precipitously is certainly risky. You really have to do you due diligence not just on your home, but on the condo association and community in general. If too many people are upside down on their loans, they could decide foreclosure would be better than selling at a loss. People start getting kicked out, the condo association stops collecting their fees and eventually you could be screwed. Not trying to scare you, but that is the reality today. Also, realize that with the over saturated market, you may not see any appreciation for 10 years. Congrats and good luck.

Quoting National757 (Reply 24): Quoting Ronglimeng (Reply 20): It is a little sad to see a young single adult so seriously committed financially. One mans sadness is another mans joy. Both my parents are around to see me become a homeowner and graduate College and there is no price or amount of disposable income that can replace that.

Sad? If older folks had as much of a grasp on their finances, we wouldn't be in this mess.

Graduating college is great, but this "pride of home ownership" bs is another marketing ploy pushed by real estate agents.

Quoting WellHung (Reply 25):

Great post. I wish more people had used the principles you enunciate more often.

I cannot wait to move OUT out this state. However, I do wish you luck....

Quoting WellHung (Reply 25): People start getting kicked out, the condo association stops collecting their fees and eventually you could be screwed. Not trying to scare you, but that is the reality today. Also, realize that with the over saturated market, you may not see any appreciation for 10 years

Very true - and any "special assessments" passed by the condo HOA to pay for major capital projects (new tile roofing on buildings, repair massive plumbing leak in the "club house", repaving parking lots and painting lines in said lots, and replacing/disposing of the trees knocked down by a severe monsoon, etc) can really take a huge bite out of your ROI on a condo as well. Trust me, I know - all of the above "special assessments" took place during the 5 year period that I owned a condo in Scottsdale, AZ....

Quoting WellHung (Reply 25): Hold on a sec, home prices aren't "depressed", they are correcting from the ridiculous 30%-50% a year bubble appreciation. In most areas, home prices are still way ahead of incomes. And until they come more in line with what a 30 year fixed mortgage costs, they will continue to fall. You can't base your mortgage payment on the neg-am option arm rate any longer. But what is really holding the market down is seller greed. People heard their friends doubled their money on a house they bought in 2003 and sold in 2005 and now the current sellers feel entitled to their piece of the pie. People have no problem losing their money on various unnecessary conveniences and luxuries, but if you suggest that they lose money on their house they take that as an insult. Real estate agents have been crowing for so long that home values only go up, people don't look at them as investments, rather as sure-thing appreciating assets. In actuality, they are neither. A condo in a market such as Las Vegas which has dropped precipitously is certainly risky. You really have to do you due diligence not just on your home, but on the condo association and community in general. If too many people are upside down on their loans, they could decide foreclosure would be better than selling at a loss. People start getting kicked out, the condo association stops collecting their fees and eventually you could be screwed. Not trying to scare you, but that is the reality today. Also, realize that with the over saturated market, you may not see any appreciation for 10 years. Congrats and good luck.

Mr. Hung, you've got a good head on your shoulders there. I'm calling Mr. Obama right now to recommend you to some post that has clear thinking and a level head as part of the job description.

I've got a buddy who lives in Santa Monica (Hello, Lenore!) and she tells me of people throwing block parties when the first place on the block sold for $2 million.

There was plenty of pre history for this one. For those of us with long memories who could forget the runups and bubbles in California real estate in the early to mid eighties and the crash in the early nineties.

When I first lived in Long Beach in the early eighties me and the Dragon Lady decided we should look into buying a house so we went out to corona one sunday and looked at a development. The unit was $80k at the time and we figured with the commute we were better off renting and living five miles from work. The freeways are a bitch, any time day or night.

Fast forward to the implosion of the early nineties. I met a guy at Douglas who was losing his job and had been trying to sell a house in that very same development for two years. He'd bought it for $150k and had to sell it at a loss because he was upside down badly.