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Ask the Readers: Should We Buy Our Dream House?
Published on - January 14th, 2011 (Modified on - January 15th, 2011) (by J.D. Roth)
What happens when a great opportunity comes along, but you don't quite have the resources to take advantage of it? That's what Greg wants to know. He and his wife have found their Dream House. They think they can buy the place — but only if they're willing to take on some short-term debt in addition to the mortgage. Greg wants to know if this is a smart move. Here's his story:
My wife and I are in our late twenties, no kids (yet), both safely employed and living very comfortably with a combined monthly income of around $5,000 after taxes. We currently have about $28,000 in student loans, and plan to pay them all off within the year. The original amount was $37,000 six months ago, so we've been making quick progress with them. One loan is in deferment while my wife is in school, another requires $80 a month for the payments, and the one we are aggressively paying off has no monthly payment due until 2014 because of our extra payments. Basically, we only need $80 a month to satisfy our loans for the next two years. We have no car payments, credit card debt, or anything other than the student loans.
Everything was going as planned until two weeks ago we found a house we absolutely loved. We've checked it out, and aside from minor cosmetic things, its move-in ready. It's a foreclosure with an asking price around $136,000 (houses are cheap in the Houston area!). We'd plan to stay in the area a minimum of ten years, if not longer.
Given our situation, is it wise to scramble to get the minimum amount necessary to buy this house? We hadn't planned to begin saving up for a house for another six months. Last week, my dad offered us a monetary gift to cover the down payment. We have the ability to pay for inspections, closing costs, insurance and everything else (about $7,000 total, assuming the seller won't cover some of these costs), but it might mean wiping out our small savings and taking on some short-term debt. We'd also have to pay about $1,600 to break our apartment lease, but at least that can be spread out over three months.
Moving so quickly without any heavy financial preparation was not how we envisioned buying a house, but we don't want to risk losing what amounts to our Dream House. Since it only recently came on the market, we don't know if it will be something we can wait on or not.
Being the committed debt-haters that we are, the minor (non-mortgage) debts we'd have to incur to buy the house hopefully wouldn't last very long anyway. Worst case scenario puts our monthly house/tax/insurance payments well within the range of affordability for us too. Our current loans would go on hold for maybe six months while the minor debt is paid off, then proceed at a slower pace due to the $1200 a month we'd be paying for housing instead of the the $600 we currently pay.
If you were in my position, what would you do? Jump on the chance for a Dream House? Or take a more financially conservative approach and risk losing out on it? Any and all opinions would be much appreciated!
This is a tough call. Folks like Dave Ramsey would say, "Don't do it." Ramsey would argue that Greg and his wife should first repay all of their student loan debt and then save enough for a substantial down payment. (Or even enough to pay for the house in cash.)
I'm not nearly that prescriptive. Absolutely, the prudent financial choice is to wait. Dream Homes are problematic — dreams change, and Dream Homes are often more common than buyers believe. Plus, when you have to scrape money together to buy a house, you leave yourself vulnerable to unexpected disasters. By exercising deferred gratification, Greg and his wife could reduce their debt and/or build enough savings to make a substantial down payment.
That said, personal finance is as much about emotions as it is about money. And heaven knows, Kris and I have made a pair of impulse home-buying decisions:
- In 1994, we bought our first home. We didn't really have a reason for buying a house; it just seemed like the adult thing to do. A mortgage broker crunched the numbers, told us what we could afford, and we started shopping. We didn't shop for long. Within a week, we'd found a house we liked. Two days later, we'd made an offer and had it accepted. Looking back, we rushed things, but it turned out okay because we bought less home than we could afford.
- In 2004, Kris and I bought our Dream House. We hadn't intended to move, but when one of Kris' co-workers brought in a sale flyer for an old farmhouse, we acted quickly. Within 48 hours, we'd made an offer (and had it accepted). In retrospect, this was a poor financial decision. On paper, we could afford the place, but in reality, my debt-load made things tough. If I could give my younger self advice, I'd say, "Don't do it!" Things have worked out for us, but they could easily have turned sour.
If Greg and his wife are willing to unwilling to pass up this opportunity, they should at least take steps to mitigate the possibility that things will go wrong.
- Take out a small mortgage with a low interest rate. Banks will grant mortgages with housing-expense ratios of 33%. That is, they'll let borrowers spend up to 33% of their gross (pre-tax) income on housing, including taxes and insurance. But what's good for the bank isn't necessarily good for you. Greg and his wife can make things easier by trying to keep their monthly expenses below 25% of their gross income.
- Make debt reduction a priority. If they buy this house, Greg and his wife have to be willing to make some short-term sacrifices: cheap vacations, a reduced restaurant budget, and so on. They have to give up a lot of the little everyday pleasures in order to attack their non-mortgage debt. All purchases require trade-offs, and big purchases require big trade-offs.
- Build a big emergency fund — ASAP. Speaking from experience, owning a home is expensive. One rule of thumb is that it costs 1% of the home's value every year for maintenance and repair. This seems accurate to me. Greg and his wife should work hard to create a home repair fund, one that's separate from their everyday emergency fund.
What do you think? Should Greg and his wife jump at the chance to buy their Dream Home? Even if doing so means carrying more debt than they'd planned for a few years? Or should they wait until they know they're financially prepared? Share your personal experience so Greg and his wife can make an informed decision!
Update: This has been a great discussion. Thanks for contributing. Here's a response from Greg, answering many common questions. (And here's another.)
This article is about Ask the Readers, Choices, Debt, House and Home
The warnings about the additional hidden costs of home ownership are valid. When we bought our home 10 years ago, we spent at least $500 per month for the first 2 years on something, mostly repairs and stuff that everyone would say needed to be done -
stuff like: the washer and dryer and fridge that we didn't own before we moved in.
Surprise! the hot water heater in the house is rented from the gas company. Choose to not continue renting and buy a new one.
Water pressure valve fails – must repair in order to have water flow to the house
Turns out the gutters are failing (wasn't raining during the house inspection), new gutters needed.
9 months after we bought the house the roof leaks. The company that had provided the "5 year roof guarantee" is no longer in business – new roof needed.
Dishwasher starts leaking water – new dishwasher needed.
Some months we made upgrades to the house or purchased furniture, but seriously, the amount of things we needed to fix or replace in that first two years was incredible.
And a house in foreclosure is likely to have accumulated some deferred maintenance, won't have the declarations of the prior owners/tenants regarding known problems with the house so you'll likely be discovering these things even in a home that seems "move-in ready".
I'd wait. There are lots of dream homes out there. It's possible that this one will still be out there when you are ready to buy!
52As a HUD-housing counselor who gets to see things go wrong all the time, I also urge caution. When people are stressing because a first time home buyer credit is ending soon, interest rates are at record lows, or the house of their dreams comes up for sale, I tell them the right time to buy is when everything is right for you.
Other houses will come along that are also wonderful. And although you said you "checked it out" I wouldn't trust anything but a very thorough home inspection to make that decision.
That said, people often respond with their hearts instead of their heads. You can sit down and make a list of all the worst things that could go wrong if you buy this house now–loss of a job, needing to move suddenly, something major turns up wrong in the house.
Are you able and willing to take on the risk if you know the bad things that could happen? If so, then go for it. No one (that I know of) has ever died from an impulsive real estate deal. Just make sure you're willing to live with the consequences if something goes wrong.
If not, wait.
Count me in the "wait" crowd.
Like @Louisa, you don't address the issue of children. Can you afford the house on one salary? Even if you both planning on working after children, circumstances may change. When my second child was born, she had a medical issue which required either my husband or I to stay home for 6 months. Thankfully we were able to swing our mortgage on one salary for that time.
I've found that there's always another great home out there, if you keep looking.
Good luck.
Do it! If you can afford it, why not? The interest rates have never been lower, and you won't regret it. You guys can afford it. Plus, you can now itemize on your taxes which is great! Just run the #s and see what your real monthly payment will be and go from there. Home prices are pretty steady so you don't really have a risk or losing money unless things get really really bad, but then we are all screwed. Oh, also, if you are religious, pray about it and see how you feel
As someone who bought a foreclosure a few years back because it screamed "dream house," I can understand the emotions that go behind purchasing what seems like a dream house at that point. But, two years down the line and more the wiser, I can honestly say that even writing out all the expenses on paper, there are always surprises, and not to mention not only is your monthly rent the only thing doubling, but expenses too. AND a few months later, you could run into a much better foreclosure house with other things you now realize are lacking in your dream house and needing less cosmetic work and at a lower price.
If you can get your monthly all inclusive mortgage (with homeowners insurance, taxes, etc) closer to the $600 you are currently paying, then that would give you more free cash to sail through the other costs of owning a house. Plus you are also going to need to furnish the house, etc etc.
I think you are better off sticking to your original plan of saving for a house upfront and having a solid emergency fund, especially since it sounds like starting a family is in the works for you….that in itself should give you pause. Keep shopping, and with an open mind for something along the lines of what you are currently paying in rent.
I wouldn't do it. I bought a house for basically zero down and regret not saving up at least 20% down. It's crazy how much of my monthly payment goes to interest instead of principal or escrow. Sure, I get a tax deduction on that interest, but it doesn't make up for all that money that is being thrown away (I'd have been much better off living in my apartment and "throwing away" a little money while saving up for my down payment).
Check out an amortization calculator for your prospective loan, then pick your jaw up off the floor once you see those interest payment.
As my dad said, 'Never love anything that can't love you back."
Don't be in a hurry! Never buy until you have done your homework. If the house is a great deal, then someone who has done their homework would have bought the house pronto, so if it's on the market for more than a week, it's a deal that can be had again soon.
The term 'dream house' is a bit loaded (as many have observed). Chances are that other houses will be available that meet the 'dream house' criteria unless it is truly a 'one of a kind' house.
Also, be sure to look at things like the school district and the specific schools (especially the elementary) you are zoned to. When we bought out house, I failed to research the particular elementary school we are zoned to. Now we have considered moving (among other things) to get to a better elementary. This site http://www.greatschools.org/ was helpful for that.
Having said that, I see no financial reason why you shouldn't buy a house (if you have done your homework). The real estate climate is good. Chances are that we are near the bottom of the crash and buying now could very well be an excellent financial move.
But (and it's a big butt)…one MUST do one's homework!!!
Although it might be emotionally difficult, I would wait. You are only looking at the cost of buying the dream home, but inevitably owning that new home is going to have a bunch of short term expenses. Moving, painting, fixing things, maintaining the yard, utility bills. All these are expenses that could go up or cause unexpected expenses.
Another house will come along. You are in a major buyers market and that is not going to change for a few years. Give yourself the chance to start off right, taking on only your new mortgage as debt.
I would say no. I doubt that you would be unable to find a similar home 1 or 2 years from now for the same price.
Proceed with caution. Your situation can change at any moment, sometimes in ways you never could have anticipated. As a previous poster said, it's rare to be 100% ready, but "scrambling" shouldn't be part of the process either. And whenever you do buy – spend whatever you need to for a good home inspection. That's one area you should absolutely not skimp on.
Wow. I just have to say that this post is uncanny. My fiance and I just faced a VERY similar decision. Difference is that we have a bit more in savings, and rent isn't nearly so low in NH.
I have to ask, would you even be considering buying a house if you hadn't peeked at the market? Part of avoiding impulse spending is avoiding exposure to temptation to begin with. We played around with the idea of a house before we could afford it, but didn't go to any showings until we were pre-approved for financing.
If you DO decide to go for it here is what I would try: make an offer, but make it contingent on the seller covering 3-5% towards closing costs (whatever you need to close the gap). Ours was also a foreclosure and Freddie Mac did this for us. Banks don't like to hold onto property.
Also, set your closing date for 2-3 months away (2 is standard, I think). The cost of purchasing a house is spread out over that time, and you will have $3000-$4500 to play with if you only make minimum loan payments in that time.
And if all heck breaks loose and you lose your job(s), break the agreement and let your deposit go (not to be confused with the down payment).
Going forward, I would suggest putting more of your paycheck towards savings. It's hard to wait, I know. I hate my red ink with the passion of a thousand burning suns. But a solid emergency/savings fund is far more protective to your way of life than zero debt.
A "dream house" is just how you've described it–a dream.
The best decisions are made consciously; consciousness is the antithesis of dreaming.
In the book, The Paradox of Choice, author Barry Schwartz urges readers to "anticipate adaptation."
Humans are adaptive creatures by nature. Within a few years, your happiness will be consumed as you discover things you don't like about the new home; therefore you will develop the concept of a new "dream home" and begin the plans to find it, replacing the previous one.
If you can envision yourself growing tired of this dream home, and still want to buy it, go ahead. Just be sure that the purchase does not jeopardize your financial well-being, which can then erode at other areas of well-being (i.e. personal relationships, career).
Every decision is a new opportunity to learn about yourself…
For those who pointed out property taxes and insurance expenses, the writer is projecting a monthly housing expense of $1,200 on a $136,000 house with a down payment. He must be including taxes and other escrows … or making payments to a loan shark.
NO house is move-in ready. It may appear to be, but it's not. Even brand new homes have issues (often times more than an old house). You will want and need to do things to make it "home", and the cost of those things will always compete against other priorities (paying off debt, building savings, oh and kids!). Just be realistic about this, and be patient. There will always be a good house out there for you if this one doesn't work out. Really, there will be. This is the voice of experience talking.
65Greg, thank for sharing your situation.
Many people have written that it is not wise to rush a purchase, whether it's a house or a necktie. So find a way to turn off the feeling of being rushed.
You write that you don't want to "risk losing what amounts to our Dream House." Remember that that this purchase takes you from a position of less risk to more risk. So the risk is not in losing the house, the risk is in owning the house.
You are thinking about about doubling your housing costs ($600 to $1200), and that is just considering the payments. The cost of a roof or HVAC replacement, or repairs after a storm can eat through savings many times over, and you said you would be starting homeownership without savings.
"Safely employed" and "no kids (yet)" are two significant assumptions that can shake your positive financial outlook. Factors in your control (e.g., you or your wife may decide to stay home with a new child, or private education vs. public education) and factors out of your control (e.g., job loss) can have a tough impact on your monthly budget.
Finally, this decision is a good chance for you and your wife to evaluate how you communicate about money. There will be many times ahead when you will want to, or will have to, spend significant amounts of money. Financial stress takes a toll on a marriage that won't be repaired by living in a great house.
Don't do it!!!!
You aren't going to look back in five years and say, man I really wish we bought that home.
You may in fact look back in five years and say, what on earth were we thinking jumping into home ownership with no savings and all that debt!
Dream homes are a myth. You will move in and realize there really isn't enough closet space, or you would have preferred an east facing dining room.
Look ahead. When you are on firm financial ground, you will be much more sure about your decision to buy a home. You will be confident. You won't have to ask a financial blogger if you should or shouldn't pull the trigger. You will know its a good decision for your family. And at that point, when you are ready, I am positive another "Dream Home" will be there, and you will breathe a sigh of relief that you didn't buy the first one you found.
There are lots of dream houses out there. It sounds like this decision is pure emotion for them right now. That's a definite sign to wait!
One of the best pieces of advice I got when buying my house was "There's no such thing as a dream home until it passes inspection." Once upon a time my husband and I found what we thought was a perfect house for us – our first – and the inspection quickly revealed a crack in the foundation – which could only be repaired by ripping out the side yard and patio (about $20k extra later) – which happened to be the two things we loved most about the house. We realized that once you took off the patio and junked the yard, the house was pretty common looking and not what we wanted. This young couple hasn't even had time to consider what about a house is really important to them. How could they know it's a "dream house" yet?
Frankly, unless this house is something REALLY unique and special, this isn't a dream home – it's a temptation home. The one that makes you clarify whether you're a risk-taker or an intelligent-planner in these matters. The one you walk away from and begin thinking "it was nice, but in truth, I'd really like a different size of kitchen now that I've had time to think about it". If this were truly a "dream home", the timing on purchase would be as right as everything else. The fact that the timing is all wrong for them personally when measured against their other goals should be the most weighing factor. They aren't ready. They know they aren't ready. They said they aren't ready. And they're trying to talk themselves into being ready.
Let it go. Continue planning intelligently and the right house will come along AT THE RIGHT TIME.
I live in Houston. There are no one-of-a-kind homes in this price range here, unless it really has some serious repair issues.
How do I know? I've looked at dozens of homes in the Houston area for "fix-up-flip" purposes and have done it exactly twice; this "one-of-a-kind" just doesn't pass my experience or smell test.
Best of luck, but I would be very cautious in this environment, particularly given the low financial resources of the questioner.
I know what it feels like to think that you're passing on something that is such a critical part of your future. However, getting out of debt is an even bigger part. The problem is that once you get the house, then the need to have kids comes on strong, a bigger, safer car for the kids comes next, and trying to get out of debt becomes even harder when the wish list keeps growing.
One of the first tenets of home-buying is to never let yourself fall in love with a house. It's a recipe for paying too much.
It appears to me that the poster is being overly optimistic. They have a take-home income of $5,0000 – or $60k. They have paid off $9,000 in student debt in 6 months, but think that they can easily pay off the final $28,000 in one year? That's half of their entire take-home pay just for the student loans. Plus, he notes that some of the loan is already in forebearance while his wife is in school.
They absolutely should not buy this home! What if his wife becomes pregnant and has to take maternity leave (unpaid)? What if one of them loses their job? Also, housing prices are expected to continue to fall so there should be no hurry to buy now.
If it's a one-of-a-kind home, in a great location, buy it. $135K mortgage on $5000/month take home is very manageable, your payment will be around $1000/month. Also, you'll be taking advantage of good interest rates now–it looks like they are still below 5%.
I would advise you to wait. Not only did I notice the maintenance expenses that several people have mentioned when I bought my first home, but there are also more spending temptations involved in buying a home. Not only are you buying things that you all of a sudden need to maintain your house and yard, but you are tempted to buy landscaping items, curtains, blinds, furniture, paint, lighting, fans, appliances, new accessories that match the house's color scheme, and the list goes on. It is not worth adding the financial strain, even if it is only for 6 months to a year. My experience has been similar to what others have said in that you will find more than one dream home in your area.
My first reaction was re: "both safely employed"…WHO, in this day and age, is "safely employed"? You can lose your job in a heartbeat, you could get sick…Your monthly combined income isn't that high either, although maybe it's high for Houston.
You guys are young too—you should sock away as much money as you can now, before you have kids. You said your housing expenses would double. Shoot, if you think you can handle that, then put that $$ in savings for the next 6 months or more and then you'll have emergency savings.
We bought what I thought was my dream house and then within 6 months, we were separated and now I'm handling this dream house's mortgage on a single income. It ISN'T pretty or fun, esp with home values decreasing constantly.
What's a dream house anyway, as people have already commented?
Also, having a house is a lot of work. I know someone who bought a house with her sister a year ago and this year she finds out she to replace the whole heating system, for like $10K. If something unforeseen happened, even if was something "minor" like having to replace the refrigerator, or whatever, would you be able to swing that once your belts are so tight?
Trust me: WAIT. Houses are great but are massive headaches. And now people talk about getting rid of the deduction for home mortgage interest some day? Property taxes go up every year. There is so much to think about.
Just Wait, guys.
I suspect they've already decided to buy it, they're just looking for reinforcement for the already made decision. However, I will point out two things to keep in mind:
1.) I know many people who find the "perfect house" and the deal falls through for whatever reason. I know of no such case where they never find an equivalent (usually better) house later. Not once have I heard anyone lament a deal fallen through years later on a "dream house" that didn't have some other special value (like a family history).
2.) The most unhappy people I know for long term (not just short downs like after a breakup or illness) are unhappy due to money. And every one of them has a mortgage on the very high side of acceptable for their income.
Especially now, when houses seem cheap, it's easy to be rushed into buying. While a good deal is great, every time I've rushed into a decision because it was a good deal with a clock ticking I've regretted it. Every time I've gotten where I want to be, then said "Now I'll sit tight and wait for the perfect deal" I've been much more satisfied and made better decisions.
The people saying "Do it! You can afford it!" have clearly never heard some of the disasters described on the Dave Ramsey Show. Even if this situation isn't exactly a disaster waiting to happen, it could very easily be a "very tight budget" waiting to happen. I mean, just listen to what some of the other readers here have said. Like the woman who found out she was pregnant the day they moved in and that child had special needs. It can and does happen all the time.
Don't buy unless …
Your monthly mortgage payment is the same or less than your rent.
You move in without having touched your emergency fund.
But better yet, ask the parents to gift the down payment money to you to help pay off your student loans and move toward future homeownership with a big monkey off your back.
I would say the responsible thing to do would be to wait. However, that being said, I think that it really can depend on the neighborhood. It was said that houses are cheap in the Houston area at $136,000 for a foreclosure. Is that well under market value? If so, by how much? If it's in an amazing, popular neighborhood where houses never go for less than $200,000 (just as an example), it may be worth it if you can put up with the stress of the extra debt load. And there will be stress, guaranteed.
That's what my husband and I did. We bought our first house for $120,000 in a very popular neighborhood where a majority of the houses go for $200,000-$400,000, and the cheapest you can usually find is $160,000. It wasn't a foreclose, but a fixer-upper, so we bought it and put some work into it. Now we can be almost complete assured (there's always a chance) that we'll never be underwater and will even have significant equity in the house.
But we were looking to buy, and had our finances ready for the move. I can say for certain that if we hadn't been ready, we wouldn't have bought that house. Neither one of use would have wanted to deal with the additional financial pressure.
Another vote for "Wait!".
Greg, you have no down payment and no emergency fund. If 5K a month really is a lot of money, you will have no problem saving up a down payment and emergency fund in the next year or two while paying less aggressively on their student loans.
My parents are shopping for a "dream house" in Houston right now. They have fallen in love with a place many a time in the last 6 months. What's the worst that can happen if you don't buy this house? It's not like it's the last house that you'll ever like. What makes it so unique?
Now think, what's the worst that could happen if you bought this house? I have my home purchase horror stories (spent upwards of 10K on repairs my first year in my house, things have mellowed to ~4K a year now). What happens when your wife graduates? Is she staying with her current job? What happens when/if you have babies? These people going through foreclosures right now, don't you think they started out with the same optimism?
80"Life is like a box of chocolates,….".
I am a senior mortgage consultant with a small community bank in central Ohio with 22 years of home lending experience.
A foreclosure sale can be quite tricky, so be sure to interview your lender. That's right, interview your lender! make sure the person who is handling your loan has experience in foreclosure sale transactions. I have seen this type of deal take months due to the current owner/lender being so overwhelmed with the amount of properties owned that they are grossly inefficient.
As far as whether or not you should try to purchase the property is your decision, but please put your emotions aside and look at this as a business deal. Would you do it if it was not your dream home?
Also, most banks that sell foreclosed homes will not do any repairs or pay for any portion of your closing costs, so start asking some questions if you are wanting any sales concessions from the seller.
Another pitfall of foreclosed properties is that the property itself my not qualify for certain loan types. If the property needs repairs prior to the lender approving the loan then you are in a no win situation with most loan types. The seller/bank will not usually make repairs or even allow you to go in and make repairs prior to you owning the home, and your lender will not close on the loan until the repairs are made.
Good luck to you, but please do a little more homework on the property, the owner, and your lender.
I am in the camp of waiting on the house.
Actually when we were buying our house we gave a pretty good offer but a builder came around and beat our price. After we reached the max ammount we wanted to spend on it we called it quits. Turned out the builder realized that he wouldn't be able to make a profit on the deal and backed out (losing his 11k earnest money deposit) allowing the house to go back onto the market 6 months later. Since housing prices had fallen even lower we offered 50k under our original price. The better part was because of those 6 months we were able to save an even larger down payment.
So my advice is to wait on it, save up, and another oportunity will pop up, maybe even for the same house.
Someone earlier mentioned unexpected housing expenses, which reminded me of all the ones we were hit with. I normally keep these memories locked deep inside a deep dark place in my mind.
gas line to house: not under warranty
roof skylight leak: warrantied, but $50/copay
2 water heaters
car accident
dishwasher and associated flooding
a/c and associated smoke
sprinkler system and associated resodding
sinks and toilets and associated water bills and water damage
weather and associated damaged fence
Just to annoy the folks who hate other people plugging their blogs, here's a link: http://nicoleandmaggie.wordpress.com/2010/12/06/the-homebuying-can-be-expensive-post/
I like links and plugs, so long as they're relevant. I can't be the only one who does. If you don't like folks plugging their stuff, then don't click! Free disposal costs!
My vote is to wait. Your values and ideals in a house may change once you have children. I've really learned that location is far, far more important than the actual walls you live within. Walls can be moved, porches can be added, but sitting and praying for more kids to move onto your block doesn't get you far. Having children and owning a house really invests you into a neighborhood far more than renting.
My husband and I never wanted to be house poor. We've always bought less than we could afford. And none of the houses we bought were love at first site but I grew to love every one. Our current house seems the most challenging to love right now but it was the only house in the neighborhood we wanted and we're slowly making it ours and learning it's quirks.
Waiting until you're more financially secure will give you the flexibility to make a better choice, move towards a better school or better job, and survive a downturn.
If you decide to go for it, be sure to factor in what my husband and I call the "Home Depot bill." Even brand new houses need regular maintenance and supplies. Move-in Ready is really just a prettier way of saying Not A Fixer-upper. It doesn't mean there will be no expenses related to making the house your home.
Don't buy this house now. You don't have enough money put away for broken furnaces, leaky roofs, babies on the way, etc. An empty bedroom seems to draw pregnancy like a vacuum.
How about getting a second job and saving that money before buying a house. Hard work to make your dream come true is old-fashioned, but very sound advice.
Why not create a dream home folder or scrapbook? Put a lovely picture of this dream house on the first page, and continue adding pictures as you come across them.
Having bought a house before I could actually afford to do it, I would strongly recommend that they do not buy the house. In addition to the higher monthly housing expense, owning a home has a lot more small costs that constantly nibble away at your income, not to mention the big ones that you need to be saving for (new roof, furnace, a car etc.)Pay off your student loans and make sure that you have at least $5,000 in cash above and beyond what you'll need for down payment and closing before you buy. You'll be glad you did.
Bad Move
These guys are young. We all were at some point, and I get the desire and urge. But a dream house at age "late 20′s" with no kids is likely different than a dream house at age 35-40 with kids.
And sorry to burst the bubble, but a $136K home isn't a dream home. it's a house. built by someone else.
So what they covet is to simply buy something someone else made. How is that a dream, and how is that coveted.
I get wanting something you made, or created. I get the pride and pleasure or crafting something, or designing something yourself. But simply buying something someone else made and then placing a "dream" label on it. Dumb. Like a car. People think nice cars are a symbol. They are. They symbolize that anyone with 40,50,80 or 100K can buy and drive the exact same thing.
Now if you built it yourself, restored a 1966 Mustang or a something that makes sense.
Keep renting at half the cost. Take the dad's "generous gift" and apply it to debts. Take the additional $600 not spent buy conuing to rent and pay off the rest of the debts. Then look up in six months and be debt free, and realize there is another "dream" house, becasue there is always another one.
88First of all, they need to re-read the fine print on their lease. Texas allows for tenants to break a lease with $0 penalty for purchasing a home. Texas places a higher value on homeowners than renters (no state income tax, majority of funds come from municipals that charge property taxes). So that would kill the $1600. Just be prepared to have short term housing in case closing gets pushed back since they'll be giving 30 days notice.
Second, $136k foreclosure in Houston is probably ~3,000+sf 3/2/2 in a good suburb with great schools. So if they have kids, they're okay there, too. They're looking at a mortgage payment of $1360 at the very worst. If their circumstances change significantly that they need to move, the house rental market in Houston is pretty good, they could use it as rental property. I seriously doubt it's a one of a kind home, though, Houston isn't exactly known for their alternative housing.
Those incidental costs associated with going from renting to buying (appliances, utility deposits, home & yard upkeep)would be in addition to their $7k saved up. If they're only spending $80/month on debt repayment and they take home $5k, they could conceivably do it, they'd just be house poor for a few months until they get things stabilized again.
I have mixed feelings on this, and I actually changed my mind halfway through reading it, plus I agree with what Kris said.
My 51% says no. Life should be a little bit spontaneous and fun, sure, but it's rarely wise to get caught up in the thinking that anything is a once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity, must act now.
I think the clincher for me is that, sure, they can afford it BUT, if I read it correctly, it basically doubles their monthly housing expense, more or less. That's alot of money to be spending on something that, a week or so ago, they didn't even know they wanted.
Keep living in the inexpensive apartment, get rid of that debt, save aggressively while you are comfortable with your dual incomes and little expenses. As you mention, you "don't have kids (YET)" [caps mine], and speaking from a similar experience (I'm hardly older than you), if/when you do have children, your needs and outlook will likely change. Maybe one or both of you will need to be closer to work (or daycare) than you previously anticipated, maybe you'll want a different school district, maybe you'll want a more family-oriented community, maybe one of you will be surprised that you want to stay home, or you'll be surprised that you want to keep working. You just don't know yet; you CAN'T know yet.
Considering this, the downside here is two-fold: 1)You're spending more, saving less, when you don't really need to and while there's a clear advantage to building up more resources at this point in your lives; and 2) You don't realize that you'd be running the risk of having to move all over again, unexpectedly, in a couple of years.
And for what? There will be other houses, trust me. You're doing great right now, stick with it.
For the record, my wife and I were almost in your exact situation–DINK, no kids, renting a very cheap apartment–everyone told us we were crazy, throwing away our money, ought to buy a house. Our incomes were basically similar, a little bit higher, but the same idea.
And a few years later, after our first child was born, we did buy our house. In the community and school area of our choosing. With a 75% down-payment. The 30-year mortgage we used for the remaining 25%(rates weren't all that different) only took us about six years to pay off. And the flexibility now is amazing.
Keep your costs low now. If you can pay off $38k in debt in a year, you can save, what $76k two years later to put down on a new dream house, right? That's a full HALF of the cost of the house–50% down. On a 30-year-loan, your monthly payment would be something like $400–less than the current rent on your cheap apartment.
Wait a little bit, and you'll have your dream house soon, and you'll feel even wealthier and more secure when you're living in it.
It's very easy to get wrapped up in the emotion of buying a house. But it's only a "dream home" for your current state in life. What looks like a great house now may be different in five or ten years from now. Perhaps one of you will change jobs and now the commute is too long. Or perhaps you have kids and it now feels too small or the flow doesn't work.
I would side with the Dave Ramsey side of things here. Pay off your debt and save up a good size down payment. You're going to want a good chunk of cash when you move in to pay for things like moving expenses, painting a room, having the carpets cleaned, tools and materials for the upkeep of the yard and house.
Nothing ever goes as smoothly as you expect, it's always nice to have some extra cash laying around to help even out the bumps along the way.
Totally agree that it is the long term horizon that counts, along with low fee investment vehicles. Demographic trends have benefited the baby boomers in the equity markets, and now we are entering a new tipping point phase in their demographic needs which will affect all of us during the next 20 years.
Don't do it. My husband and I did something similar in 2004, and I had a blog for several years called "Nightmare on Elm St" about everything that we found wrong with our "dream" house (yes, it is actually on Elm St.). Probably another $100k in personal savings and ill-advised HELOC later, it is more the house of our dreams, but we've had two kids since then and our needs have really changed. If I could do it all over again, I would not have bought this house. Wait until you can afford something and then shop. There will be plenty more dream houses, I promise.
A (not "The") dream house is a function of how long you've been looking.
Kris and @27 nailed it. Kris noted the exception: when the supply may really be 1. Otherwise, as you see more houses while seriously looking, your standard will go up.
I've owned three houses (currently living in the 3rd), and the "Dream Home" is a myth, sort of like Prince Charming for grownups. There will always be another house out there to fit your needs. If you're not financially ready, that dream will quickly turn into a nightmare. Take your time.
My husband and I were in a very similar situation about three and a half years ago. We jumped on a house that we fell in love with, a 90 year old Craftsman bungalow, built by hand by an architect who went on to do great things in our city. We loved it, and even though we weren't planning on it, we bought it.
Huge mistake. Medical bills came up, we still had debt from the past, we didn't have the full down payment so we had to take on extra debt beyond the mortgage. It took us over two full years to get out of the hole, a very stressful two years.
If I could go back in time, I'd slap the younger version of my husband and myself right in the face. Tell them to snap out of it and be patient. No house is worth the amount of stress that comes with pulling the trigger too early.
Most if not all of you home owners may agree that your first home is never your Dream Home. Regardless what you may think or feel prior to buying your first home.
I would think you may want to consider buying with the notion that you are investing in a home not buying your dream house.
I would probably say "don't buy it." It's seems like a quick, emotional decision is being made here (see comment #35). Were they in the market for a home at the time or was it a something they just happened across? If it's the latter case, they really need to think about whether or not this is really the right time for them to purchase.
I'm also curious about Kris' point of whether or not it's a one-of-a-kind home, but it doesn't sound like it from the post. All things considered, it seems like making the home purchase might severely hamper their ability to deal with debt.
I'm nowhere close to being a financial expert, but here's my two cents…
It sounds like you'd probably be fine if you bought the house, so long as there aren't any big life changes in your near future.
That being said, personally I don't think I'd take on such huge stress, risk and responsibility for a dream home at this point. Why not? Because there will ALWAYS… ALWAYS… be a bigger, better and cheaper dream home down the line.
I say wait until you can afford it with minimal stress, extra savings and no debt, then find something even better than this home. You'll enjoy it so much more.
As someone who works in this field and frequently sees first time buyers jump into properties, I can only say: think lonnnnng and hard about this choice. As Kris recommends, unless this is ONE of a kind home, there will be other properties. There always are, especially in this market.
There's no rush usually. Even a sharp increase in mortgage rates wouldn't raise their payments much – assuming 20% on the property, their monthly PITI would only go up $60 if rates went from 5% to 6%.
That said, I don't believe all debts need to be paid off. If they can put down 20%, then they'll avoid Private Mortgage Insurance. They could increase the sales price by $7,000 to cover all their closing costs and keep their emergency fund safe and avoid taking on short term debt. They'd pay interest on the financed closing costs, but it's an option that often is great for first time buyers.
Not to make this overly complicated, but the robo-signer debacle could also come back and bite them if the person who was foreclosed on somehow gets the keys to the house back through a legal action similar to what's been happening in MA. Slim chances of that and I hope it doesn't start happening too frequently.
I'm pretty sure the OP knows they shouldn't do this, but I think they're fishing for SOME justification in these comments.
I think they should do what will give them the least amount of stress.


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Roughing It: Tent Bedrooms
Ok ok, so we know that none of these tents can actually be considered roughing it, but that's what we typically associate with tents and camping. All that dread gets thrown out the window when we look at these beautiful tent bedrooms and we just want to close our eyes and pretend we're sleeping in them right now!
We've sent up our camping tent in the living room before with a mattress and the luxurious sheets, blankets and pillows from our bed and it was an amazing experience. It was a mini vacation for a night and while we were in that tent with it zipped up and the lights off — we could have been anywhere. We've been itching to take it one step further and erect a tent from sheets and bedding around our actual bed (just for fun) and after looking at these inspirational tent bedrooms we think we're ready for it!
What do you think of these tent bedrooms? Would you want one in your home?
• Romantic Outdoor Bedroom by Chelsea Fuss
• Justina's Valentine's Day Fort
• White Silent Night
• Beautifully Rustic Camping
• Dream Tent Bedroom
Image credit as linked above
18 Comments
Cute! The first one reminds me of the "You Jump, I Jump Jack" episode of Gilmore Girls, haha.
When I was 17, my parents allowed me to set up a tent in the back yard and sleep there every night. I set up a stereo, and it was one of the most awesome summers. Thanks for reminding me of it with this post.
I immediately thought "Billy Madison" when I saw this post. Anyone else?
I love this entire idea and especially picture no. 4. But then my brain kicks in and says, "whoa, dust allergies".
I thought of the Subaru commercial with the honeymooning "just married" couple, spending their wedding night in a tent. Which I'd love to do.
I can't wait until my nieces are old enough for me to build forts with them!
@HernandoHouse - love that episode!!
I would do this if I had a big big yard.
Love this idea. I always dug the one from "The Holiday" - Jude Law's character's 2 girls have such an amazing tent in their room - so sweet. Here's a link to that one: http://embracethepretty.blogspot.com/2010/03/indoor-camping-girls-tee-pee.html
Sigh. I always wanted to live with the Bedouin as a child.
Any of these tents would suffice.
I have a huge unfinished attic, and I just figured out how to use that space!!!! The meditation 'room' I'm picturing in my head right now is amazing, and I'm fighting very hard NOT to call of work so I can start it!!!
@HernandoHouse- Yes!!! She was meant for Logan. I'm still bummed that Rory didn't say yes.
These would also make an excellent impromptu guest bedroom in our backyard, so it wouldn't look like we're just sticking our guest in a tent, but in a peaceful retreat instead :)
Wow. These look so beautiful. Number 2 is sort of like the ultimate grownup blanket fort.
Looking at these reminds me of when I was just a kid and my friend and I would go camping with her brother and dad. There was a girls tent and a guys tent. Before we left for our camping trips we would draw up pictures of the interior of the tent and how we wanted to lay it out (it was a two person tent). We would make decorations to hang and talk about the feeling we wanted to create. The outcome was nothing like these beautiful tents, but we had fun... because tents are fun.
I love these, although all I can think when looking at (2) is the house fire that is about to happen when a spark jumps from that fireplace.
I am so doing this. Thanks for the awesome post.
I love the look of a tent bedroom with vaulted ceilings. If I still have vaulted ceilings when I have kids, they will get the "lost boys" treatment a la "Hook." I love this look so much! It very well could be why I love feeling like I'm in a cocoon when I sleep.
First, I would love to say that I am excited to see people talking about Gilmore Girls! Geez, I miss it. And I love that Subaru commercial! So romantic!
Anyway, these tents are absolutely lovely. I especially love one and four. I can't wait to create something like this some day, out in the country. Love.
How about a feature on Safari style tents? This is a gorgeous one I stayed in last October...it was pure bliss...and pretty close to perfection..


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How the Sharks won the Currie Cup
We take a look at some of the crucial moments which paved the way for the Sharks' run to Currie Cup success in 2013.
New coaching staff: Former Sharks and Springbok captain John Smit took over the reins as the Durban-based outfit's new CEO in April and two months later he fired John Plumtree as director of rugby. Ex Springbok centre Brendan Venter, who previously had stints as director of rugby with London Irish and Saracens in the Premiership, replaced Plumtree while Grant Bashford and Hugh-Reece Edwards guided the team for the rest of the Super Rugby campaign. However, Brad MacLeod-Henderson was then appointed as head coach for the Currie Cup campaign. He was also the forwards coach and worked alongside Sean Everitt, who was the new back-line coach, and Venter.
Opening round defeat: The Sharks' Currie Cup campaign got off to a dreadful start when they suffered a 32-30 loss to Griquas at Kings Park in Durban on August 9. They started the match with young players in Sizo Maseko (right wing), Brynard Stander (flanker) and Edwin Hewitt (lock) in the starting line-up and several other inexperienced players on the bench. However, with experienced heads like Jacques Botes, Odwa Ndungane, Butch James, Charl McLeod and Jean Deysel also in their ranks the 2012 runners-up were expected to kick off their campaign with a victory in their backyard. Griquas had other ideas, however, and secured the win through a last-minute try which Nico Scheepers converted.
Beating the Golden Lions in Durban: Many enthusiasts questioned the decision to get rid of Plumtree after that defeat to Griquas. The Sharks needed a win in their next match to silence their critics, and they did just that by beating the Lions 33-25 on August 16. It wasn't easy though and they only secured victory thanks to a try from new full-back SP Marais - who joined from the Kings after Super Rugby - with six minutes left before the end of the match.
Losing to Western Province in Cape Town: After their narrow victory over the Lions, the Sharks travelled to Bloemfontein where they secured a narrow 18-15 win over the Cheetahs before beating the Blue Bulls 34-18 in Durban the following weekend. With three out of four victories, they headed to Cape Town full of confidence, and keen on avenging their 25-18 loss to the defending champions from last year's final. But WP had other ideas and beat the Sharks 25-19 at Newlands in Cape Town on September 7.
Beating Griquas in Kimberley: The loss to WP was a big setback as it ended a three-match winning run for the Sharks. Their next match was against Griquas in Kimberley on September 14, who apart from beating the Sharks in their opening clash were also competitive at home throughout the competition. The Sharks fought back after trailing 24-12 before claiming a 25-24 victory thanks to a try in injury time from Wiehahn Herbst.
Thrashing the Cheetahs in Durban: It's funny how a single point can make a difference to an entire season. Griquas' season only got worse after that defeat to the Sharks - they were eventually relegated from the tournament - while the men from Durban issued a warning to the other teams with a superb display before beating the Cheetahs 50-26 in Durban the following weekend. The hosts crossed the whitewash seven times in total with Lwazi Mvovo leading the charge with a brace of tries. Other tries were scored by SP Marais, Tim Whitehead, Keegan Daniel,Cobus Reinach and Heimar Williams.
Edging out the Blue Bulls in Pretoria: The Bulls were battling to stay in the race for the play-offs when the Sharks faced them at Loftus Versfeld on October 4 while the Sharks were involved in a tussle with Western Province to secure the top spot on the table. With so much at stake it was always going down to the wire and Butch James was the Sharks' hero when he landed a penalty in the 79th minute to secure victory. This after Francois Venter had scored the game's only try midway through the second half and the Sharks were forced to play with 14 men twice after experiences flankers Jacques Botes and Jean Deysel both spent time in the sin bin.
Return of the Springboks: Pat Lambie, Tendai Mtawarira, Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marcell Coetzee were all included in the matchday squad for their final league match, against Western Province, after returning from duty with the Springboks during the Rugby Championship. These players - especially Lambie and the front row - gave the Sharks a boost at the right time ahead of the semi-finals.
Losing to WP in Durban: Top spot on the table was at stake when these sides met at Kings Park on October 12. In wet and windy conditions, the men from the Cape got the better of the Sharks for the third successive time and clinched a 17-13 victory. Deon Fourie scored a try for WP and Keegan Daniel for the Sharks, and Lambie, who came on as a second-half replacement, missed two crucial penalties in the closing 12 minutes which would have secured victory for the hosts.
Lambie strikes form in the semi-final against the Cheetahs in Durban: Lambie returned to the starting XV for the semi-final against the Cheetahs and made up for poor goal-kicking in the loss to WP by scoring 23 points via a try, four penalties and three conversions. Heimar Williams and Jacques Botes also got five-pointers in the victory as they prepared to take on WP at Newlands in Cape Town.
Bismarck du Plessis cleared of stamping The Springbok hooker was cited for allegedly stamping on Free State Cheetahs flank Pieter Labuschagne in the win over the Cheetahs and their was a nervy wait for everyone connected to the Durban-based outfit. The player, his team-mates, Sharks coaches and supporters all breathed a collective sigh of relief when he was cleared of the charge with advocate André Oosthuizen ruling that the contact Du Plessis made with Labuschagne was accidental.
Their win over WP in the final: WP went into the final as favourites and still unbeaten but they were comprehensively outplayed and suffered their first defeat in a home final in 74 years. It was a fantastic all-round effort and clinical display against their hosts who were favourites to defend their title in front of their home crowd. Lambie repeated his semi-final heroics with another 23-point haul, via five penalties, two drop-goals and a conversion and Charl McLeod capped a superb showing by scoring two tries. The coaching trio of Venter, MacLeod-Henderson and Everitt deserve special praise for breaking down WP's much-vaunted defence which rarely comes off second best, especially at Newlands.
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The everything homebrewing book : all you need to brew the best beer at home!
Beechum, Drew
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Beechum, Drew
Adult Nonfiction TP577 .B385 2009
Summary: There's no place like home for brewing beer. In this book, you learn the secrets of the master brewers--and how you can brew you own beer yourself. Beginners and more experienced homebrewers alike will benefit from the expert tips and fresh ideas in this easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide. With this book, you learn how to: Choose among barley, hops, and malts. Master the chemistry of homebrewing. Take the appropriate cleaning and sanitizing steps. Adapt the best recipes to their personal tastes. Enter (and win!) beer competitions. Featuring 100 delicious recipes, this guide is all you need to ferment endless brewing possibilities. Cheers!
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Review by Tiffany Jow
Comprised of items from Sharon Kivland's personal archive of French magazines, postcards, advertising leaflets and objects from a variety of time periods, the artist copied, re-worked and embellished each, tying them together with a narrative that strives for seamlessness but is constantly cut short or interrupted altogether. The resulting works, titled Je suis malade de mes pensées (2010), dissect memorabilia from periods of enlightenment through a contemporary lens. Kivland's execution is more amateur than professional, yet is consistently genuine, imbuing the collection with a kind of childlike candidness on the realities of modernism.


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PUMA Running News Archive
March 2012
Faastest IndianMarch 02, 2012
Mumbai, a city that never sleeps and never waits for anything! Speed is synonymous with the people of the city with everyone in a hurry to make it to their next appointment. Everywhere you look, you see someone moving fast to hop on the train that is about to depart, grab that rickshaw before someone else gets it or that spot in traffic before it evaporates like magic.
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PUMA India launches the Creative Factory to custom design sneakersNovember 30, 2010
Welcome to our little shoe making studio where you can design your own sneakers. PUMA gives you the material and the iPad and you choose from a range of colours and fabrics to create your truly one-of-a-kind kick! Place your order once you like your virtual shoe and pick it up from the PUMA store 6-8 weeks later.
Meet Our Ambassadors: Narendra Kumar AhmedNovember 25, 2010
October 2010
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We had a so much fun with PIMP YOUR SOLE that we are taking it up a notch and bringing it to 22 stores across India.


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We have a bedroom for our 3 granddaughters. I have 2 twin beds, but a third one would be too crowded. This piece works perfectly as sitting area and it's easy to unfold when a third bed is needed. The pink color blends with the decor I have in the room. The girls where home for Christmas and loved it.
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Web site was very helpful and descriptive. Measurement were correct and a big selling point for me. Box is very large and unit is pretty heavy. Plan on getting a helper to assit you. Very easy assembly once it is out of the box. Highly recommended for a study or small second bedroom used as bedroom/office for overnight or weekend guests. Sofa is very comfortable.
Carol the bargin hunter from San Diego
Lived up to advertisement. Easily converts from couch to sleeper. Is stylish as sofa and comfortable as sleeper. Love the storage area to store bedding. Have cats and dogs and fabric is easily cleaned. Am extremely satisfied.[...]. Would definetly buy this brand of furniture again and deal with the Sleep Sofa Store.
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Homeschool Mom from Nashville, TN
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'Advertised Paranoia' exhibit at the King Center
Brian Bo, founder of the Mini Prophets, is showcasing his collection of wall hangings in the Harris Gallery of the King Center for the Performing Arts.
This 12-piece show, called "Advertised Paranoia," is a series of mixed-media collages.
Open to interpretation, they are a study on the effects of advertisements.
The exhibit will run through Sept. 4, and can be viewed by ticketed patrons attending King Center main stage performances.
There will be a reception and public viewing, which will be announced at later date.
The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne.
For more information, please contact Brian Bo at (321) 501-9005.
Platinum Coast Chorus
The Platinum Coast Chorus offers vocal training at all rehearsals for women ages 16 and older, while entertaining audiences of all types through Brevard County.
The chorus, a smaller ensemble or chapter quartets are available to perform for various functions, including luncheons, dinner parties, socials, weddings, singing telegrams, fundraisers and other community events.
For performance scheduling, contact Barb Tamaccio at (321) 259-8605.
Weekly rehearsals are Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Wuesthoff Hospice Administration Building, 8060 Spyglass Hill Road, Viera.
For membership information, contact Kathy Ellis at (321) 259-0020 or visit www.platinumcoastchorus.com.
Brevard Young Performing Artists Competition
The Space Coast Pops Orchestra completed its 16th annual Brevard Young Performing Artists Competition recently with a luncheon serving the parents and friends of the competitors who performed in the competition.
Competing were eight pianists, three harpists, three violinists, (one also on viola), two vocalists, one marimba, one trumpet and one flute. Also attending were the board of directors of the POPS Orchestra.
Jody Greenwood, volunteer worker with the Pops, served as mistress of ceremonies.
The six finalists performed their selection of the composition they had performed before the judges the previous day.
Every one of the 19 contestants (one consisted of two brothers performing together on a four-handed composition) had appeared on Saturday before three professional musicians who served as judges of each performance.
Following their final performance, the winners were announced.
In first place was Jonathan Newman, age 16, who played the marimba and won $500.
In second place was Nathaline Germain, age 16, who played the piano and won $300.
In third place was Luca and Dante Valdivia, age 11 and 9, who played a four-handed selection on the piano and won $200.
Three honorable mention competitors won $100 each. They were: Rachel Ho, age 15, playing the viola; Jennah Moulton, age 16, playing the harp; and Clement Li, age 18, playing the violin.
For more information, call (321) 768-6289 or (321) 632-7445.
Surfside Players 2012-13 season
Surfside Players of Cocoa Beach has announced its 2012-13 season schedule. It is its 53rd season.
The Mainstage plays will be:
. Now through Aug. 12: "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," by Clark Gesner (musical)
. Sep. 14-30: "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," by John Bishop (farce)
. Nov. 2-18: "La Cage Aux Folles," by Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman (musical)
. Jan. 11-27, 2013: "Same Time, Next Year," by Bernard Slade (comedy-drama)
. Feb. 8-24, 2013: "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do," featuring the music of Neil Sedaka (musical)
. March 8-24, 2013: Love, Sex and the IRS, by William van Zandt and Jane Millmore (Farce)
The Second Stage plays will be:
. Oct. 19-27: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (film with shadow cast)
. April 10-19, 2013: "'Night, Mother," by Marsha Mason (drama)
The Surfside Playhouse is at 301 Ramp Road, Cocoa Beach.
For more information, call the box office at (321) 783-3127 or visit www.surfsideplayers.com.
Titusville Playhouse summer show
For its summer show, the Titusville Playhouse Inc. will present "The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen's Guild Dramatic Society Murder Mystery" by David McGillivray and Walter Zerlin Jr. and directed by: Mary Ann Jameson.
The show will run through Sunday, Aug. 5, at 301 Julia St., Titusville.
This play within a play takes place in the fictional town of Farndale. The women of the Guild Dramatic Society, are proud to present a murder mystery of the highest degree. Anyone might be the killer, and anyone may be the next target. The only problem is, the ladies can't seem to get their "act" together.
The five basic characters (the "townswomen" and a guy) switch into all the roles in a manic script that makes chowder of Agatha Christie's favorite plot devices.
Ticket prices are orchestra $16 and balcony $14, with no discounts and a ticketing fee of $1.95 per ticket.
Online ticketing is now available at www.Titusvilleplayhouse.com.
The box office is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and one hour before show times.
For more information, call (321) 268-1128.
Call for musicians
The Central Florida Winds and Central Florida Chamber Winds have announced a call for musicians.
Rehearsals begin again on Sunday, Aug. 5 for Central Florida Winds.
Openings exist for clarinet, trumpet and percussionists.
Information and applications are available online at www.cfwinds.org.
Florida Highwaymen paintings featured at museum art show
Art show enthusiasts will enjoy Florida Highwaymen paintings and more at the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science Saturday, Aug. 18 from 6-8 p.m.
The event will also feature the works of local Florida artists and special appearances from some of the original Highwaymen artists.
During the 1950s to 1980s, the "Florida Highwaymen," a group of 26 African-American artists, embarked on a journey to paint and sell brightly-colored illustrations of the natural Florida landscape.
The Highwaymen often traveled on weekends and out of state to sell their art work.
Cost is $25 and will be available for purchase at the door. Light refreshments will be served.
The Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science is a not-for-profit organization located in Cocoa.
For more information about this event, call (321) 632-1830.
Editor's note: Hometown News is always looking for arts-related activities and events in the North Brevard area. Please send your arts information at least 10 days in advance to firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Flight of the phoenix
LaFevers, R. L.
Children's Fiction LA FEVE
LaFevers, R. L.
Children's Fiction LA FEVE
What other readers are saying about this title:
Emily Lloyd said:
A chapter book series I can wholeheartedly recommend to folks who say "We finished and loved Magic Tree House. What next?" Like Magic Tree House, it involves travel, missions, and adventure; the reading is a little bit more challenging, but not too much (perfect for kids who have finished MTH); and there's a friendly ratio of illustrations to text.
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Signpost (Weber, Utah), 1991-05-291
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VOLUME 51. ISSUE 92 WEDNESDAY. MAY 29. 1991 I HE IGNPO Weber State University Ogden, Utah L Purple haze . WEBER STATE giaduates have reached the proverbial sunset of their University experiences. For a look back on the year as it comes to a close, se-2 the special section in today's paper. Part three of "Sign-Off ":. CHRISTINE RASMUSSENWf SIGNIKX7 examines student achievements and lists the names of candidates for graduation. Weber math department questions petition rate Professors call 70 percent class failure misleading By Lorin J. May News editor of The Signpost Members of the Weber State Math Department feel that a petition protesting a 70 percent failure rate for Math 105 is based on misinformation, making the course seem much more difficult to pass than it really is. "We're not happy with the passing rate ... but the 70 percent failing rate figure is not at ail true," said math professor and reme-(See PETITION page 3) News 2 Student loans can bring problems for some Entertainment 12 "What About Bob" offers plenty of zany hijinks 1. f t H. -w - .;-LT - .i?-? "(at. v.--' i 3 v . V - t V i a -4 JIM SAWDtYfHf SIGNt K)SJ OGDEN'S PATRIOTISM was on display during a Washington Boulevard parade Monday, which thousands attended. Ogden welcomes troops in grand style By Joyce Zabriskie Senior reporter of The Sgnpost Fireworks in the Dee Events Center welcomed home the men and women who served in the Persian Gulf as part of an Ogden Memorial Day celebration. Mayor Scott Sneddon welcomed Governor and Mrs. Norman Bangerter, Senator and Mrs. Orrin Hatch, Congressman and Mrs. Jim Hansen and Congressman Bill Orton to Operation Desert Salute. In a telephoned message from President George Bush, he said, "This will be the scene of your celebration. All of the waiting is over. I wish I was with you." Bush asked the audience to stop and think about the men and women of Des ert Storm. "Remember every veteran who has served, let today be a homecoming for all vets. Welcome home," he said. Sneddon said that he was grateful to the troops, their families and the people who stayed home and offered their support to those serving in the Persian Gulf. 'This entire program was a labor of love by a lot of people," he said. (See SALUTE page 7)
Object Description
|Signpost (Weber, Utah), 1991-05-29, Vol. 51, No. 92
|Weber State University
|Associated Students of Weber State University; A generous grant from the Utah State Library and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
|Weber's current student newspaper, the Signpost, first appeared on September 29, 1937. For two years prior to that time, campus news was disseminated via announcements posted on a bulletin board known as the "Signpost". As a result, the masthead of the first issue of the paper itself featured a rudimentary wooden sign with the title spelled out in rustic-looking letters. Over the years the paper has been published continuously, though the look, size and style has changed several times.
|Date Original
|College student newspapers and periodicals; Weber State University
|Digital Format
|Publisher Digital
|Stewart Library, Weber State University
|Date Digital
|University Archives LD5893.W55 S5, Stewart Library, Weber State University
|Digital Identifier
|Rights Management
|Public Domain. Courtesy of University Archives, Stewart Library, Weber State University.
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text: "This is my favorite thing in the episode. On one hand, we're setting up the fact that Cheryl is crazy and maybe her brother does need to take control of her. So she hears this music that no one else can. But the payoff of the joke is when Cecil introduces Captain Murphy: The music plays, we go to a close-up, and then Cheryl goes, "Oh my God! Please tell me you guys heard that!" So yes, she's crazy, but also, guys, CAPTAIN MURPHY!!!" — Executive Producer Matt Thompson on Cheryl's craziness during 'Sea Tunt'.


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Gallery: BMW's Art Cars head to London
Seventeen automotive works of art are currently parked up in a Shoreditch NCP. Here are the pics...
Posted: 25 Jul 2012
Robert Rauschenberg, 1986
"Taking the first step was extremely difficult. It was like being alone in a room with a beautiful virgin" - Robert Rauschenberg


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Water, Sodium Methyl 2 Sulfolaurate, Disodium 2 Sulfolaurate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Leaf Juice, Jojoba Leaf Extract, Retinyl Acetate (Vitamin A) (Vitamin A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) (Vitamin E), Grapeseed Oil, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzophenone 4, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance, Violet 2.
Ensure that pump is securely fastened to the bottle. Then turn nozzle clockwise a quarter turn to unlock. Press nozzle to use.
As with any soap avoid contact with eyes. In case of contact, flush with water.
STORE FEATURES: We stock and ship Genuine, new and manufacturer direct products. We don't sell used, expired, knock offs or copies.


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Good Questions: Marble Surface Protection?
Hello AT,
God I wish I'd known about your site before embarking on a gut-renovation of my studio apartment!
I'm freaking out about my new vanity top, which is made of the most beautiful piece of marble I've ever seen, but is already getting weird watermark-looking spots on its beautiful shine. It's black with yellow & wite veins running through it, and was mined from under some mountain in Italy....
[more below]
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
Link To All Good Questions
I didn't think I'd have to get all anal about taking care of it, but the little spots it's already gotten have made me resort to wiping it down to a polish each and every time I use the sink, and not even a soap-dispenser is allowed to sit on its surface - which is defeating half the purpose of having a vanity top!
This obsessiveness is so not me, but I love the thing and god knows I spent enough money on it, so I want to keep it looking beautiful. Any advice on what cleanser to use or a polish to use that would protect it well enough for me not to have to buff it down every friggin' time I wash my hands?
THANK YOU!!! Rolf
Dear Rolf,
We are not experts in this, but we are contemplating getting a marble kitchen counter as well, so we've been studying up. All our info comes from Stone Source's website and these links:
Maintenance Product Recommendations
Interview with a Maintenance Expert
You can read for detail, but, in short, you are going to have to keep after your beautiful stone to some extent because it will always be more susceptible to staining, BUT if it is properly "impregnated" and conditioned, you should be fine. This sealant step should have already been done, but - if it hasn't - you can do it yourself.
Anyone else??
21 Comments
black marble is a real bitch to get stains out of, and I'd looooooove to know if anyone comes across a product that works well on it. my family has a gorgeous black marble coffee table that was serviced the last time by a company that did maintenance for banks! I'd rather a spot cure....
my sink is old white marble and I just go with the patina, not a polished look. doesn't sound like the way you're going with this bathroom tho . . .
This is a bit off the topic, but I have been very heavily exploring the idea of getting a marble or onyx coffee table and had some related questions. First, the hard to clean issue mentioned here - how would white or brown emperador marble stand up to takeout meals and spilled wine?
Second, a sourcing issue; if I don't want to splash out $3K for my dream table (the Saarinen oval coffee table in emperador), does anyone have ideas for where I can get marble/stone cut to order here in this city? (I was thinking about getting a steel square Parson table base and putting a slab on top.) A wide range of choices beyond the standard white/black would be key. Any thoughts would be very welcome!
You should try a heavy duty sealer like Stonetech Bulletproof sealer (www.stonetechpro.com). It will seal the marble and prevent water and oil staining. It is used with great success for kitchen countertops, so it should hold up even better in a bathroom application.
i have a gorgeous small oval marble dining table and I use it for everything including warm pots, wine glasses, etc. with no problems. it does have a slight discoloration in one area but it's only visible when i bend down to clean it, and anyway, i'm not finicky. so it's definitely possible! you should get one!
It's a beautiful marble - looks like it could be Michelangelo.
I had a stint as a Sales and Marketing Director for a very large Stone Countertop Fabricator and learned a few things while I was there. I second Diego on getting a sealer. Unfortunately, all stone is porous and none is maintenance free. The sealer will need to be reapplied on occasion.
Marble, in particular, is especially porous and fragile - prone to staining and scratches. Black stone whether marble or granite has been known to have issues with water stains or "clouding". There are all kinds of methods for stain removal. The best method will depend on whether the stain is acid, water, or oil based. A lot of times "clouding" is caused by moisture trapped below the surface of the stone that can simply be "torched" out. If you decide to have a stain professionally treated - the source of the stain will be invaluable to individual treating it. I highly suggest some research at the following site: www.stoneadvice.com.
You may want to check this site out for a reputable fabricator near you: www.marble-institute.com
Just because they are an MIA member doesn't make them reputable - check with friends, designers, the BBB, etc - to be sure.
I hope this helped.
Seal, seal, seal! Good sealers for stone: Naturel, which comes as waxy chips that you dissolve in warm water, and which can be used on floors as well as counters and walls. And Craftsman Marble Polish (or Italian Craftsman..., I don't remember), which can only be used on surfaces you don't walk on. The Craftsman polish does a good job hiding scratches and some lighter-color stains. It darkens and evens out the very worn black marble in front of my fireplace. Use it often.
I once purchased a good poultice for removing stains from marble, but it was a long time ago. It might have been from from the Hard-To-Find-Tools catalog. The whitish stains on your marble do sound like moisture got under the sealer. (Pretty vanity area, btw.)
I have a limestone vanity top now, and had a marble one previously. I do advise that you not keep a soap dish on any natural stone, since moisture gets under it and will stain (and sometimes etch). It looks like you have a Dornbracht fixture, or similar. Dornbracht's Tara wall-mounted soap dish is nice. (I have one...full disclosure.)
Thanks for your thoughts! Despite the issues with this (very lovely) bathroom vanity I felt stone would at least be more durable than wood (after having had many alcohol and nail polish-related incidents).
Plus increasingly I'm finding a glass coffee table to be too cold; a richly veined piece of marble like the one shown here or in the table I'm trying to emulate (now linked to my name) provides a great organic touch.
When I was shopping for kitchen countertops, my "stone" guy steered me away from marble, because it is actually a "soft" stone and can become damaged too easily - I went with granite instead. But for a bathroom sink (where you're not using, say, knives, so much), I imagine there has to be some sort of sealant that can protect the surface from staining.
A little off-subject, but about marble and kitchens, the worst problem is what happens when you drop something heavy on the stone...like a canned good or a pot. The crystal structure of the stone actually changes in the bumped area. So in a carrara marble, you get opaque spots in your otherwise translucent stone. And if you spill orange juice or other acid and don't get it wiped up immediately and thoroughly, your stone is burned.
Eek, the table you linked to your name is drop-dead gorgeous. You will be unlikely to find such a large piece of the onyx or agate (and it's exceedingly expensive). However, onyx tiles are a big thing now, in case you were willing to do a tile top.
Keep the weight of the thing in mind, though. Coffee tables often need to be moved. I have a marble-slab kitchen table that weighs more than 300 pounds. It's a big pain. Literally. Marble somehow becomes krypton when it's cut into slabs.
I have inherited a coffee table with an Italian Marble top. (White with gray & black running through it)
The problem is the previous owner used a lot of spray furniture wax. Now of course it has an ugly build up. Is there anything I can do myself to remove & restore this top or will this require professional help?
I have a old Italian Marble coffee table, with stains. I have tried many clearners but none have work, I think the stains are from food and drinks.
Do you have any product that might work for me ?
We just purchased a marble vanity and the surface seems uneven/marred in areas. Most of it shines and looks smooth when you look at it from an angle, but some areas are dull and not reflective. Is this the kind of defect which will polish out with a sealer??
First, in the anticipation of aquiring the slab which I desire, I had not thought of possible problems that may lie ahead,and happening upon this site has brought to my attention a few things that may very well save me a ton of headaches..Thank you! That said, after several hours of searching, I'm getting a bit discouraged..Might there be some kind soul who knows where I might be able to get my hands on a slab of black marble, with gold "iron pyrite" veining at least 6' 2" X 2' ? ..Thanks bunches for any help!
Duane Hannah
Please visit www.drytreat.com and you would find solution for you problem. I met these guys at one of the "Inside Outside" shows in India. Am quite convinced on their product details.
If natural stone is not cared for/cleaned correctly it can get damaged. This page gives direction on how to care for natural stone products (www.YourVanityTop.com/Care.asp)
Good luck!
P.S. That is an amazing top you have!
H0w do I get rid of water stains on black marble
You can protect your marble by sealing it. Just like what I've did on my floor I did saltillo sealing and see it looks new.
Marble is over coddled, let it get gnarly, it only adds to the charm in the long term... IMHO. Once you get a couple good marks, a few good rings of stain, you'll only appreciate the inalienable rights of stone even more.
First you probably don't have stains but rather etching
or hard water marks. these can be removed easily with a Marble Refinishing Kit from Brightstone. The Marble Refinishing Kit contains specially formulated polishing crèmes and all the accessories to manually and effectively remove etching, watermarks and glass rings.
Having the kit around all the time will be the best thing you can do. Periodically you can perform spot removal when you get the water marks.
Keep abreast of the many new products coming to market to keep marble and granite looking good. Unfortunately both require routine maintenance including sealing and polishing on a regular basis. Use a product that imparts not only a shine but a good surface protection as well. http://buildsitepro.com/


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Ani-gunyah (WELCOME/HELLO)
The Wonnarua people are traditional landowners in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales. The Corporation is currently developing a map to define the traditional boundaries of Wonnarua country, based on written and oral historical records.
The current board members of the WNAC are Laurie Perry, Sandra Miller, John Lester, Arthur Fletcher, Tracey Skene, Sharon Edgar-Jones, Richard Edwards and Dean Miller (Laurie Perry is on leave of absence from the Board while he is fulfilling the CEO role).
While the board members manage the Corporation, the Elders are paramount in guiding the Wonnarua Nation.
Their wisdom and understanding of the Wonnarua is highly respected by all members of the Nation.
Are you making use of the WNAC health and education funds?
WNAC has funds available to help reimburse Wonnarua people's health expenses which are not paid by Medicare or health funds. Support with many education expenses are also provided. For access to the relevant forms, click the following links:Get health application form. Get education expenses form.
To continue to the Wonnarua National Aboriginal Corporation website, click outside this box or the x button below.


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Mark Bell's PowerCast #29 | Team Squats at SPF March Madness
Silent Mike and Jim McD recap last weekend's meet and recall some favorite stories from earlier episodes while waiting for Mark Bell to show up. Near the end of the episode, they receive a message from Mark…but what they hell does it mean? To be continued… Also, check out the team's squats from this weekend's meet.


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Student health insurance: A good idea?
Your college-aged kid can stay on your plan -- but it may not provide the right coverage. Now's the time to check.
But if your student is leaving home for school, now's the time to ask about what your insurance company provides. Ask how much you'd be responsible for if your son or daughter were hospitalized while at school.
"That's your biggest vulnerability," says Amy Danise of Insure.com.
Ordinary illnesses, such as the viruses that thrive in college dorms, can wind up costing a bundle as well. A student health plan might be the answer -- but not necessarily.
Obviously not every family has insurance. According to "Survival guide for the uninsured," more than 60 million U.S. residents had no coverage for at least part of 2010 (the most recent year for which statistics are available). Of the 19-to-25 age group, 41.7% had no insurance during that time.
But you may be able to get coverage for your student either through a college, individual or short-term plan. Costs and coverage vary, so you'll need to weigh your options carefully.
Better coverage, higher prices
The Affordable Care Act has meant changes for student health insurance plans, according to U.S. News & World Report. Among them: increased prescription benefits, free preventative care and higher maximum-coverage caps.
But that means higher premiums. For example, the health care plan at Towson University in Maryland runs $1,590 per year. Bethany College in Kansas dropped its coverage entirely rather than raise premiums to $2,000 per year, U.S. News reports; previously the plan cost $455 annually but provided a maximum of $10,000 in benefits.
An individual health insurance plan may be cheaper than a college one, since students are generally "young and healthy and can get a good rate," Danise says.
Another option is short-term health insurance, coverage designed for "transitional" situations. It typically lasts six months; usually it can be renewed for no longer than 36 months, according to Danise. (Post continues after video.)
Look for quotes on sites like eHealthInsurance.com and StudentHealthPlan.com. Coverage could cost as little as $150 a month.
That sounds like a lot to someone who's already borrowing or whose family is struggling to pay in cash. But, as noted, a college health plan may cost more.
No one expects to be injured or get sick, but things happen. Fifteen years ago, my daughter became critically ill at college and was hospitalized for several months, including nearly two months on life support.
Fortunately, our health insurance plan included catastrophic coverage. If she'd had only a student plan, we'd probably still be paying off those bills.
Paying out of pocket for illness or injury could derail your college plans entirely. Opting out of insurance -- if your school will even let you -- is not a good idea. Don't risk it.
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Professor Samuels at SXSW: Black in America/Silicon Valley, the Aftermath
You may remember the debate that broke out around CNN's Black in America 4 Silicon Valley doc last year—a "war of words" between the show's producers and interview subject, tech blogger and investor, Matthew Arrington. The show itself made quite a splash too. The conversation it sparked over diversity—or lack thereof—in Silicon is still being hashed out.
This year at SXSW, Studio 20's own Professor Jason Samuels, producer of the documentary, took part in the panel discussion: "CNN's Black in America / Silicon Valley: Aftermath."
"Attending SXSW was a great opportunity to connect face-to-face with many people I admire in the digital journalism space," says Samuels. "To my surprise our Black In America documentary panel was standing room only. The documentary continues to resonate far beyond my expectations in terms of impact and awareness. In essence it has forced an industry to look in the mirror."
Samuels was joined on the panel by his colleague CNN anchor/reporter Soledad O'Brien, and several of the documentary subjects and participants of the New Me accelerator project, Hajj Flemings, Hank Williams, and New Me co-founder Wayne Sutton. You can listen to the full audio of the discussion on the SXSW event page.