kurdt_the_goat
10th September 2009, 04:17 PM
Well this probably belongs in the "i need to vent" thread, but i think i need to do more than vent!
My wife and I have been renting for around 5 years - 10 mins from the city, 2 min walk to the foreshore. We decided to get a house after our rent went up quite a bit more than normal.
First we started looking at established, only to realise that because of the First Home Owner Grant, a million other people were also looking at established. We'd rock up to home opens with heaps of rabid hunters. Ultimately we'd be disappointed in A, B, C, D and so on with the house.. just so many variables to consider. The most disturbing of course being price, not that we can't afford a decent house, but that the price varies so much according to suburb. Tiny little unit in one suburb, 600m2 virtual farm in a different suburb, both the same price.
So we started looking at building, and on initial inspection it seemed easier, and we could get more/newer for our money. Then we realised there is virtually no land available in any of the areas even remotely close to the city. Finally we found a lot, and a home design that would be fine. We went to sign and realised the lot is Strata title, and comes with $1500 a year or more fee, and all the other crap that goes along with it. No worries, there's a green title lot in the same estate, just the shape is a bit odd. We speak to the builder and they can accomodate, so it's all looking good. Then the builder checks the restrictive covenant and the house is 25m2 too small for the lot according to those rules! This is where we're at now.. seeing if they can relax some of the guidelines to allow us to put a smaller house on the lot... or find a new lot, or build a bigger more expensive home. And no-one is returning my calls! I feel like i've got this extreme sense of urgency just to capture a bit more from the First Home Owner Grant, whereas everyone else involved is walking at a snails pace!
Or, just keep on renting like i never needed a bloody home in the first place! We have no kids for the moment and short term future - My immediate need for space is wholly derived from the amount of toy boxes overflowing in my wardrobe :)
I'm starting to question whether this is really worth all the hassle, i mean this is only the beginning!
My wife and I have been renting for around 5 years - 10 mins from the city, 2 min walk to the foreshore. We decided to get a house after our rent went up quite a bit more than normal.
First we started looking at established, only to realise that because of the First Home Owner Grant, a million other people were also looking at established. We'd rock up to home opens with heaps of rabid hunters. Ultimately we'd be disappointed in A, B, C, D and so on with the house.. just so many variables to consider. The most disturbing of course being price, not that we can't afford a decent house, but that the price varies so much according to suburb. Tiny little unit in one suburb, 600m2 virtual farm in a different suburb, both the same price.
So we started looking at building, and on initial inspection it seemed easier, and we could get more/newer for our money. Then we realised there is virtually no land available in any of the areas even remotely close to the city. Finally we found a lot, and a home design that would be fine. We went to sign and realised the lot is Strata title, and comes with $1500 a year or more fee, and all the other crap that goes along with it. No worries, there's a green title lot in the same estate, just the shape is a bit odd. We speak to the builder and they can accomodate, so it's all looking good. Then the builder checks the restrictive covenant and the house is 25m2 too small for the lot according to those rules! This is where we're at now.. seeing if they can relax some of the guidelines to allow us to put a smaller house on the lot... or find a new lot, or build a bigger more expensive home. And no-one is returning my calls! I feel like i've got this extreme sense of urgency just to capture a bit more from the First Home Owner Grant, whereas everyone else involved is walking at a snails pace!
Or, just keep on renting like i never needed a bloody home in the first place! We have no kids for the moment and short term future - My immediate need for space is wholly derived from the amount of toy boxes overflowing in my wardrobe :)
I'm starting to question whether this is really worth all the hassle, i mean this is only the beginning!