Not Reaffirming House - When to stop paying?

[lrprn]

I've seen lots of nice places renting for $900-1500/mo. $2200 is more than most people make in an entire month in this country.

DB, I'm sure that where you live, $2,200/monthly is a absurdly high rent. However, it doesn't mean it's high for every rental around the country, especially for house rentals.

Rent is very dependent on location and also on size (apartment vs. house), even within the same metro area.

Assuming that everyone has the same average rental costs as your own area is where you veered off the road here.

Before making these sweeping (and yes, judgmental) statements of yours, try doing a little research first. Ask Amy26 where she lives, then do a search online at rent.com or on other national sites that include data on average rents in that area. Then once you have reliable and objective data, you can say whether her rent is too high or not.

Depending on where Amy26 lives and the number of family members she has to house, $2K/month could very well be a reasonable rent. Or not......but before you jump to that conclusion and post that you think her rent is too high, find out first. It will increase your credibility here in the forums if you use more than your own opinion to back up your statements.

[debtmonster]

LOL I don't even know why I bother with you... you never listen to anything anybody says to you. Stop telling people what they "should" be paying for stuff and preaching that they have to move etc...

Because what I am saying is true and it bothers you just like when people were all preaching to me to get rid of my BMW.

You're spending like $2,800/mo. pre-tax to afford a $2300/mo. place. That's insane. Are you making like $9,000-10,000+ plus per month or something?

There were times when we were grossing $9,000+ per month and I was complaining over paying $1100/mo. P.I.T.I.

To play it safe, your rent or mortgage should never exceed 25% of your net income. If we all lived by this, we'd be better off. I wish the banks were more strict about what they would allow. They would have done me favors for years, even though I would have walked away mad. I would have gotten over it.

[Amy26]

Well its not just me he makes statements like that to everyone... I have problem with people stating opinions or what their experiences are personally but when you start telling people they need to move (which he's done in other posts) and they are crazy and that is insane and "2200 is more than most people make" ... He is not the end all be all to statistics and "most people" I know make way more than that a month.

This whole bankruptcy thing and living is about "living within your means" ... if your means allow some to pay one thing and some to pay another then that's their business.

[debtmonster]

DB, I'm sure that where you live, $2,200/monthly is a absurdly high rent. However, it doesn't mean it's high for every rental around the country, especially for house rentals.

Rent is very dependent on location and also on size (apartment vs. house), even within the same metro area.

Assuming that everyone has the same average rental costs as your own area is where you veered off the road here.

Before making these sweeping (and yes, judgmental) statements of yours, try doing a little research first. Ask Amy26 where she lives, then do a search online at rent.com or on other national sites that include data on average rents in that area. Then once you have reliable and objective data, you can say whether her rent is too high or not.

Depending on where Amy26 lives and the number of family members she has to house, $2K/month could very well be a reasonable rent. Or not......but before you jump to that conclusion and post that you think her rent is too high, find out first. It will increase your credibility here in the forums if you use more than your own opinion to back up your statements.

But that's like saying that because everybody else is jumping off of a bridge over there, it's okay if you do it, too.

I don't care if the rents are insanely high in an area. The salaries don't go up exponentially with it to justify the costs. So people are suffering unnecessarily. It boggles my mind why people would live in those areas. You could take a paycut and live elsewhere and have more money left over at the end of the month.

It almost offends me personally when people pay that much money. I don't know why it does, but it just does. If you want to pay for a psychiatrist for me, I will go.

[Amy26]

LOL That's where you are wrong! The salaries DO go up exponentially to justify the costs... I live near Washington, DC ... some of the highest paid jobs are here. I live here because I like it and I CAN afford it! Its none of your business why I live here or why I don't move and you shouldn't be offended by other people's actions... and you have no business telling the other posters how to live their lives either...we've had this discussion before and it never gets anywhere because you are too hard headed and think your opinions are facts.

[debtmonster]

Another thing, the weather is just as nice here in Florida as it is California. You can enjoy the same nice weather near the beach for cheap.

Here's an example of a nice cheap place. Look how this one overlooks the bay:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2150-San-Souci-Bl-Unit-C1102_North-Miami_FL_33181_1107797630

$1100/mo. for 1300 sq. ft.! Check the pics on that.

Granted I was paying the same thing to own a home for 1500 sq. ft. under air, but this is up on the 11th floor overlooking the city and the water. That's NICE!

If you could get a job in California making $50-80k/yr., I don't see why it could not be done here, MINUS the state income taxes and high cost of rent. Same great weather without freezing in the winter. It's a total WIN-WIN situation. There's a reason why there are so many people here from all over the world. They know a good thing when they see it.

[debtmonster]

LOL That's where you are wrong! The salaries DO go up exponentially to justify the costs... I live near Washington, DC ... some of the highest paid jobs are here. I live here because I like it and I CAN afford it! Its none of your business why I live here or why I don't move and you shouldn't be offended by other people's actions... we've had this discussion before and it never gets anywhere because you are too hard headed and think your opinions are facts.

As long as you have a 6-figure income to support that, I have no beef.

Good luck.

[lrprn]

It almost offends me personally when people pay that much money. I don't know why it does, but it just does.

Then you need to say that you don't like to see this amount of money spent on anything instead of accusing a member of paying too much rent when you know nothing of their circumstances. Think before typing. It is possible to do that, you know

If you want to pay for a psychiatrist for me, I will go.

You're on your own dime here, DB. I filed for bankruptcy too

[debtmonster]

You're on your own dime here, DB. I filed for bankruptcy too

C'mon, man. I know you make a lot more money than I do. I am a broke mofo! Hook me up with a few sessions! My posts on here will probably change after 6 weeks of therapy. Ya think?

[lrprn]

If you could get a job in California making $50-80k/yr., I don't see why it could not be done here, MINUS the state income taxes and high cost of rent. Same great weather without freezing in the winter. It's a total WIN-WIN situation. There's a reason why there are so many people here from all over the world. They know a good thing when they see it.

So, DM - go take your own good advice then. Let us know when you have your new California address, ok?

Whether you have figured it out yet or not, no one can stand a know-it-all because they always make you feel like your not doing the right thing, or it's not good enough, or smart enough, or whatever. Know-it-all's always sneak a last word in edgewise although no one asked for their opinion. They make it seem like there's something wrong with you, so instead of listening to the advice, you just react defensively. Know-it-all's are notorious for giving unwanted advice and often it doesn't really apply to the situation. So.....do you recognize yourself here, DB?

People will take your good advice a lot more often when you learn how to offer it in a non-judgmental way. You aren't there yet, but I'm optimistic that someone with your smarts can do it if they really want to. So.....do you want to change? Or do you get your fun 'poking the bear' and really don't care whether you help folks or not?

[debtmonster]

So, DM - go take your own good advice then. Let us know when you have your new California address, ok?

Whether you have figured it out yet or not, no one can stand a know-it-all because they always make you feel like your not doing the right thing, or it's not good enough, or smart enough, or whatever. Know-it-all's always sneak a last word in edgewise although no one asked for their opinion. They make it seem like there's something wrong with you, so instead of listening to the advice, you just react defensively. Know-it-all's are notorious for giving unwanted advice and often it doesn't really apply to the situation. So.....do you recognize yourself here, DB?

People will take your good advice a lot more often when you learn how to offer it in a non-judgmental way. You aren't there yet, but I'm optimistic that someone with your smarts can do it if they really want to. So.....do you want to change? Or do you get your fun 'poking the bear' and really don't care whether you help folks or not?

I am telling people to leave to California, not move to it. People don't like that cold weather up north, so you can live in California or Florida for the nice weather and beaches. 3,000 people per day move to Florida. Must be for good reason.

[hereforinfo]

Since when is Florida cheap? So we don't have state income taxes, but we more than make up for that in property taxes and homeowner's insurance. Maybe in the middle of the state in some podunk town the cost of living is more reasonable, but no one wants to live there in the sweltering heat, mosquito-infested wasteland far from the water. Not exactly easy to find a job and relocate to a state that has a 9% unemployment rate...

And really, how do you expect people to take any of your financial advice seriously when you admit that in the days following your bankruptcy filing you were charging gas and restaurant meals on your cards before they were shut down?

[debtmonster]

Since when is Florida cheap? So we don't have state income taxes, but we more than make up for that in property taxes and homeowner's insurance. Maybe in the middle of the state in some podunk town the cost of living is more reasonable, but no one wants to live there in the sweltering heat, mosquito-infested wasteland far from the water. Not exactly easy to find a job and relocate to a state that has a 9% unemployment rate...

And really, how do you expect people to take any of your financial advice seriously when you admit that in the days following your bankruptcy filing you were charging gas and restaurant meals on your cards before they were shut down?

Just because I have these problems doesn't mean everyone else does. Funny how there are FLOODS of people driving high end BMW's, Mercedes, Jaguars, Lamborghini's, Ferrari's and all sorts of nice cars here.

I was charging my gas and restaurant meals because I just finished paying a lawyer $3,000 for my bankruptcy and that completely wiped out my account. What did you expect me to do? I only get paid once per month, not several times per month like most people.

I don't have any issues with the mosquito's. Don't live out in the swamp. Live in the city like a normal person. The weather here is nice all year round. It's been raining all month so it keeps the temperature cool and not sweltering.

I was paying $1100/yr. for my property taxes. I know, that absolutely BITES to be paying that, but what can you do? Is there any states that don't charge property tax?

Don't do as I do... do as I say.

If Florida was so bad, this place would be a GHOST TOWN. That proves my point that what I am saying is fact. 6 million people in South Florida alone can't be wrong. If it were so bad like you're saying, peope would be leaving here in droves and moving to the north. Who wants to go up there, freeze in the winter, pay higher car insurance, high state and local taxes and all that.

It's all a wash anyway. You might as well just live here and enjoy the tropical paradise that so many people around the country envy.

I am just sitting back and enjoying it. I just wish I had more money. But who doesn't?

[hereforinfo]

I happen to live in Florida on the coast and like it. You totally missed my point, which is simply that it is not cheap to live here unless you live in the middle of the state. Your property tax when you lived in the middle of nowhere was peanuts! But in the desirable coastal cities in Florida property taxes are much higher and so is the cost of living. The mosquitoes are tolerable when you live in a beautiful place like this, but that cannot be said for the cheaper inner part of the state. And I disagree that it's cool here right now. Have you not stepped outside since March? Even after a rain, it's in the mid 90's and insane humidity. It is miserable right now, but of course in a couple of months it will be beautiful until the summer comes again. Regardless, it is not cheap if you want to live in a desirable area, and jobs are scarce. The loads of people driving BMWs, Mercedes, and Jaguars either make a lot more money than you or are living above their means. What's your point?

[debtmonster]

I happen to live in Florida on the coast and like it. You totally missed my point, which is simply that it is not cheap to live here unless you live in the middle of the state. Your property tax when you lived in the middle of nowhere was peanuts! But in the desirable coastal cities in Florida property taxes are much higher and so is the cost of living. The mosquitoes are tolerable when you live in a beautiful place like this, but that cannot be said for the cheaper inner part of the state. And I disagree that it's cool here right now. Have you not stepped outside since March? Even after a rain, it's in the mid 90's and insane humidity. It is miserable right now, but of course in a couple of months it will be beautiful until the summer comes again. Regardless, it is not cheap if you want to live in a desirable area, and jobs are scarce. The loads of people driving BMWs, Mercedes, and Jaguars either make a lot more money than you or are living above their means. What's your point?

My point is that there's obviously money to be made here. Maybe I'm not doing it, but there's a TON of people on the highways I see every day who must be.

If you can afford to live on the water on the coast, then you've proven my point. You're obviously banking it here. If you can do it, I'm sure a few hundred thousand other people could move here and do it, too.

Not everybody needs to live 300 feet away from the ocean. What's wrong with cities like Weston, Plantation, Pembroke Pines, Coral Springs, Tamarac, Miami Lakes, Doral, Miami Shores, Davie, Boca Raton, Parkland, Coconut Creek, Sunrise, Cooper City and much more. Those are all affordable places to live for most people. If you want to go to the beach, it's usually a good 20-30 minute drive from most any of those cities.

If you want to overlook the water, there's cheap places. I already posted this example:

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/2150-San-Souci-Bl-Unit-C1102_North-Miami_FL_33181_1107797630

Let's see you find a place like that in California for that kind of money. GOOD LUCK!!!

So it's not all that expensive to live here. Look at places in New Jersey, Virginia, New York or Maryland. Now THOSE places have some expensive places to live and on top of that, you pay state taxes up the wazoo!!! NO THANKS!!