Are you a homeowner?

Question

If so, at what age did you buy your first home? How many houses do you own? Do you have acreage?  If not, do you plan to buy a home? What do you imagine your first home being like?

Lliam · Accepted Answer

I bought a condo in Long Beach, Ca. when I was 30. I sold it several years later.

I got married when I was 42. My wife and I lived in Redondo Beach and then San Pedro, near the Palos Verdes peninsula before we started looking for a house. But even small 1950s era homes on small lots in SoCal were overpriced, so we checked out northern California.

I wanted an acre or two so that we could grow some veggies and maybe have a couple of chickens.

I asked for a transfer to NorCal and got it. We moved in 2000. Once there, we looked and looked. Finally we saw a sign in a really nice rural area. It said 30 acres $80,000.

The acreage is beautiful oak grassland that goes from the road to the crest of the hill. We scoped it out and found a lovely location for a house about 2/3 up the hill with an amazing view. We researched the cost of developing it and decided to buy it from the owner for $80k out the door.

We had to put in a 4/10 of a mile long driveway that switchbacks up the hill to a very large house pad. We put in a well that pumps into a 2500 gallon tank on the hill above our house and gravity feeds our water to us. We put in a great septic system, a propane tank, and a grid-tied solar voltaic system, a 1600 sq ft, single story house, a steel, two story, two and a half car garage, a small orchard (18 trees including 7 citrus) surrounded by deer fencing, a drip irrigation system, gardens, raised beds, walkways, and large porches on the front and back of the house.

It turned out really nice but maintenance of the yard can be a bear.

Thankfully, we're below snow line. Our house seems high up because we can see for miles, but it is actually only 600 above sea level. It has never snowed here.

Most of our property is undeveloped. It's like a nature preserve with deer, wild animals (no bear or mountain lions), different kinds of birds including turkeys and lots of quail.

It's a really nice rural area with horse and cattle ranches, farms and vineyards. No apartments or housing tracts. There are goods and services very nearby. Two fire departments are within five miles. We are 20 minutes from lovely cities (two up the mountain at 2500' and two in the valley at 60'), and we are an hour away from large cities. There is a river a mile away and there are lots of lakes.
Oh, and we have zero risk from floods or earth quakes. Like all of California, there is fire risk during the summer, but our house is well protected and we have fantastic fire fighting services including airplanes and helicopters in our area.

We've been here now for almost 21 years. We love it.

JacobJordan · Accepted Answer

I own 7 homes. Well technically 6 working on the 7th still. 7 countries. Each is on a fairly large chunk of land. All bought when I was 27-30 (I am actually 39 can't change my display age or at least I don't know how) size is about 15-20 hectares per property I think. Might be slightly larger

Apple1996 · Answer

Nope and I'm thankful for that. I'd rather just rent so I'm able to move around and travel

Screenwriter · Answer

I've bought two homes in my lifetime. They are within 10 blocks of each other and 11 blocks from the house I grew up in in Uptown New Orleans.

New Orleans is a funny city. Neighborhoods can change across a few blocks. First house was cheap, cheap. 30K in 1989. It was move-in. High ceilings, built at turn of last century, single shot-gun house with a small front yard and nice backyard with a big tree in it. Small... 30 by 130 lot. 1100 sq feet

But miserable neighbors drove us to an apartment and in 18 months we found another home four blocks away: A double 40 x 137 lot. Has a small income apt in the rear. 1600 sq ft house with 300 sq foot apartment. Enough yard to grow a 75 foot cypress tree in the front and a narrow garden out front and in the rear raised bed gardens, a celeste fig tree and a satsuma orange tree.

Paid 80K for this in 1994, but had to do a lot of interior renovation. invested about 150K over the years for new roof, floor sanding, painting, moving the kitchen and still have two bathrooms to make accessible. So another $35K to do that and other upgrades. Maybe by the end of next year I can start on this.

House was paid for after my dad's death when I was 55. I plan to age in place: it's a one story, and leave it to my only child, my son. If he can't afford to keep it, as long as the water isn't lapping at my front steps, he can likely sell it and live somewhere else if he so chooses.

A home is usually a good investment if it's well built and is in a good location. Mine has appreciated well over the 29 years I've owned it and will likely be the source of the second mortgage or loan I get for my final renovations.

NathanDavis · Answer

yes... most of my "savings" are invested as property, so there's a more small-size, medium-size and the rest is lands

I don't really have "my house" yet because I do think "that one" I'll get it one day but with someone else so it would be actually "our house" you know, for a family...

so, the places I have now I see them more as property that won't lose value... except for the one that is actually one of the houses in which I grew up, which now I own... and the older I get the more I get attached to it... lol, the sentimental value, and I think we're going to keep it in the family and for future generations, even if I not my children but someone in the family will have it next

Smashingdoozy · Answer

I own a home in Southern California bought it when I was 24 (first home). It's a 3 bedroom house, with a small yard. Currently tenanted below market value by a lovely couple and their new born baby whom I get lots of adorable pictures and updates about ☺️☺️

IslaTheWitch · Answer

A few properties across Europe (minus having family from different places :D) with the land.

I don't remember when I owned my first property... it's somewhere in the documents, and I don't have any specific plans like building a house.

DeeDeeDeVour · Answer

I was 25 when I bought my 1st real estate property, a small multi-unit income-earning complex.  I now have 8 homes in 4 different countries.  All of them are already paid off.

LiamJHayden · Answer

1. Yes 2. Did not buy, inherited both. (only child of two only children so both sets of grandparents' houses). I have purchased over a dozen rental units. 3. Acreage? Not in OC.

FreyaRed · Answer

Real estate is an inflation secure investment. My parents bought houses and agri land before EU was even a topic, now it pays off. I've got my piece of cake with 18.

Miristheiss · Answer

Yes, we are on our 2nd home now. Our first home was a cape cod about 1400 sq ft. Our current home is a ranch with basement and covered deck. It is about 2,700 sq ft.

MysticDevice · Answer

I bought a house at 22 in 2017. Nothing fancy by any means. Its on a half acre lot in a suburb. Looking to upgrade soon as the house is worth WAY more than I owe so I can make a tidy profit if I don't screw it up.

Still-alive · Answer

Sadly i am not. i would love to someday though. This housing market is ridiculous right now

DJB72 · Answer

Yep. Doing some maintenance and want to move out of the city so I can clear the last of my debts and live off grid. Owner for about 15 years

NYCQuestions1976 · Answer

I've got a house and an apartment. Eventually (in a few decades), I'll either sell the house or pass it down, and enjoy my retirement in the apartment.

RedInnocent68 · Answer

I want to say the first was before 30 and am on in my fourth now (always living in, none investment). Although I also have an acreage that’s just raw land.

Anonymous · Answer

We have 3 investment properties generating income.  We live on a 3 acres over 3000 sq ft. house.  all paid in cash.  we have plans to do more in RE investment…

Dargil · Answer

If so, at what age did you buy your first home? 24 How many houses do you own? Do you have acreage? One. Half acre.

Siri137 · Answer

Yes, a homeowner. No mortgage, no rent! Perfect.

jarkitor20 · Answer

Yes I've owned a home for a few years now It's 3200 sqft and I'm not sure about acreage

dolemite58 · Answer

yes I am, I purchased my home last year before the interest rates went up so i got lucky

worldscolide · Answer

I bought my home almost a decade ago.. Paid it off in under 3 years.

exitseven · Answer

Yes , I own a primary residence and also a vacation home.

douride2 · Answer

I own my home free & clear paid for it years ago. It sits on 3 acres of forested land.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, and I was fortunate enough to inherit it.

Jerre · Answer

I only own one house, where I currently live

Nikki1989 · Answer

I have never wanted to be trapped into living somewhere, so homeownership is not for me.

Kelly6 · Answer

I own 3 houses

electromagnetic · Answer

Yes, I own a home in 3 countries

Anonymous · Answer

Never owned one and never will do seeing that I'll be taken away by the elites if I was to try

Joshydavid25 · Answer

Nope... Maybe one day..

Iron_Man · Answer

Yes, I am a homeowner

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Nope. Hopefully next year though I will. 🙏

LavLavLuv · Answer

Yes 🏡

cherriibly · Answer

Nope

Carly2005 · Answer

I am not.

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