Don White wrote:
"Dan" wrote in message
...
Don White wrote:
"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On 11 May 2007 19:08:55 -0700, wrote:
I told her we'd settled on a price and had gotten a realtor to draw up
a contract. I thought she knew I was totally serious. In the past,
she had few qualms about taking risks,in fact I married her because
she was a risk taker. This sudden bout of the "what ifs" completely
puzzles me. But you know, its just like the saying, "Women marry
hoping to change their men, men marry hoping their women do not
change."
Now she says, "I dont want to do anything that might jeapordize our
home in any way" which baffles the hell outta me. Whats the use of
having equity if you arent going to use it as leverage. I think that
having my own business for years has made me very casual about large
sums of money and about risk in general. Her profession of being a
public school teacher has emphasized low risk behaviour and covering
her ass at all costs (I am not sure we want this type of people
teaching our kids).
I feel like I got blindsided on this and am too embarassed to call the
seller back right now. Even though it was my wifes issues, I should
take blame for not reading her correctly. Sometimes the buyer has
problems they did not consider.
Yep, you had a communication failure. Lots of women don't like liens
on their home. Men too, and I'm one of them. Age has a lot to do
with it too. What younger people call leverage older people call just
plain debt. A lienless home is a real ace in the hole, but it's hard
to play it except on a real good hand. For many that hand can only be
replacing or improving the house.
--Vic
After paying a mortgage bi-weekly year after year, I was happy as hell to
retire the mortgage about seven years ago. That's also why I keep my old
low mileage mini-van... it was paid for 8 years ago. You can always go
back into debt when the mood strikes you.
You bought into that bi-weekly game? What did they charge for the
"service"? It's well known that you can add $100, $500, $1000, or
whatever you want to your principal payment every month for no charge and
accomplish the same goal without fees. These bi-weekly payment "services"
charge a fee based on their creative advertising when the simple reality
is that you can do it yourself.
As for remaining debt-free, do you expect to outlive your minivan? Chances
are that you will have to replace it.
I don't recall any 'fee' for the priviledge of paying bi-weekly. That must
be an American thing.
As for my vehicles, when my 3 year lease is up on the 2006 Ford Ranger in
March 2009 I hope to have enough loonies & toonies saved to put a good down
payment on a Toyota Highlander.
It's a scam from 3rd parties and your own mortgage company. I get a few
"offers" each year. They illustrate the huge savings if you pay
bi-weekly - which ultimately results in one additional principal payment
every year. For that "service" they charge a fee. Here's one example...
http://www.realestateabc.com/loanguide/biweekly.htm
If you did this on your own, as anyone can, you accomplished the same
thing for no additional charge. Most people will add an additional
principal payment to their monthly mortgage check with the same results
and fewer checks.
The Highlander is nice. Also check out the Acura MDX or the Honda
Pilot. They are made in Canada and have a decent tow rating.