Here vs. There: The homebuyer’s dilemma
I don’t know what’s causing it — maybe this whole quarter-life crisis thing just manifests itself it different ways for different people. Whatever the case, I’ve found myself watching shows like Flip This House and This Old House and thinking I want that.
So what’s a guy to do? I’m surrounded by home-related banter (my boss just bought and is renovating a house in North Park) and “For Sale” signs left and right. But alas, the more I research the situation the more I realize that it’s going to be a while before I own a home, especially here in San Diego.
What does $239,900 get you nowadays? That depends on where you live. In Southern California, it doesn’t get you much: a roughly 600 square foot condo-conversion (i.e.: apartment). But the same amount of money in Milwaukee gets you an entire house. Spend half-a-million dollars, the average home price in San Diego county, and you can get yourself a mansion overlooking Lake Michigan!
I love living where I do now. Not the actual apartment, but the area. I love being able to walk to the grocery store, the bank and a kick-ass sushi place. But eventually I want to have a roof over my head that isn’t attached to 15 other units. I’m tired of worrying if I’m being to loud for the neighbors next door, or below me, or 20 feet across from my front door. I know it’s just one of those things that will eventually happen, but sometimes playing the waiting game really sucks.