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Semi-retired person lending qualification question

I got laid off last year (administration-related) and have been working very part time on and off for my previous employer. So my income has been paltry; I've been busy traveling and managing my money . I have solid savings and a great credit score and am a former homeowner. I am looking for a full-time job again now but am not panicked. I have not been in this position before (low income, high savings, looking for housing) and am wondering how it might go with lenders. I can put down a substantial deposit and may try financing a relatively modest portion. Any experience/advice with this? submitted by /u/Camille_Toh [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/1vwc1mt/semiretired_person_lending_qualification_question/
Recent posts

Torn on chimneys fix before listing

Hello, we are currently in preparation to list our house within a month or so. We had our relator come out and recommend some fixes prior to listing and we've taken care of most of them. However, we have a few items still hanging and wanted additional inputs. House estimate: $280k Repairs done so far: - Septic aerator and pumped - $1760 (aerator just died this month of course) - basement leaks - $2197 (includes 10 year transferable warranty) - storm door replacement - $157 - mold remediation - $32 - hornets nest removal - $20 - landscaping - $1781 (we had an above ground pool that was removed and needed a lot of dirt to be filled in) - carpet cleaning - $179 - tree branch removal - $1500 (widow maker from a bad resent storm) - hvac tune up - $198 - tub reglazed - $850 (it's a toothpaste green tub that was redone before and started chipping bad, also the main bath so it needed done) All-in - $8674 Remaining items: Driveway - concrete driveway, very large and is ro...

Plot + Build: Using a staged construction loan to build a home without tying up heavy capital. Does this make sense?

Hey all, After speaking with several banks, I’ve decided to buy a plot and build a custom small house over a 3-4 year timeline using a staged construction loan. Here is the financial breakdown and structure I’m setting up: Land Plot: €50,000 Construction Budget: ~€200,000 Total Project Cost: ~€250,000 I’m contributing 20–30% of the overall project cost out-of-pocket, paid progressively on a percentage-of-completion basis over the 3-4 year build horizon. The bank is funding the project in staged tranches tied to engineering progress checks. I get a 2-year grace period during construction, paying interest-only on the outstanding drawn amounts (working out to around 50% of a full installment for the released capital at any given point). 30-year amortizing term, though I plan to make extra principal contributions and pay it off earlier once built. By funding via staged completion draws, I avoid tying up a massive lump sum of cash for down payments upfront. Building from scratch thr...

Too early to sell?

Husband and I bought a house with cash (325K) in late 2024 in a small town. My job is here. Husband’s PT but his job is also here. House is lovely, community around it is eh. Nice part of town, but it’s one of those things of not fitting in despite efforts of ours to try and do so. Small town life may not be all it’s cracked up to be. We are near a larger city which we visit frequently and feel more “at home” in. We don’t want to make any sudden moves because this could get exhausting/expensive really quickly. We’re looking to move eventually, but what are the risks of putting a house on the market, for example, in the spring of 2027? As a buyer, would you balk at a short turnaround time from the house last being for sale in 2024? submitted by /u/elegant-deer19 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/1vvkjav/too_early_to_sell/

Purchase land owned by my own HOA?

I live in a small HOA, 50 homes on a cul de sac. The HOA owns a strip of land 50 feet wide behind all the homes on one side of the street. It’s a buffer zone between us and the neighborhood one over. No one is really interested in the HOA- the board is me and one other guy. The only shared space is the entry to the neighborhood and some street lights. Very minimal maintenance. I would like to explore buying this land behind my own home. But it feels like a conflict of interest- if the HOA owns it and I’m co-president, can I just sell it to myself for $1? submitted by /u/bondsman333 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/1vuzuhb/purchase_land_owned_by_my_own_hoa/

Tips to save money while renovating house

I am renovating my house which was built in 2000. I am planning to turn it into a homestay and I'm trying to cut corners as much as I can without tampering the quality. I have hired a contractor but I usually buy the raw materials myself. If anyone who has built/ renovated a house before can give me some tips on how to save some money as its my first experience and I don't want to spent much of my dads money. submitted by /u/Interesting_Run_4569 [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/1vuehhs/tips_to_save_money_while_renovating_house/

Those who bought a house that made them house poor, how’s it going? Would you do it again?

Buying would leave me with about $100 a month after the mortgage and living expenses. Rent here is brutal too though. One of the places I’m looking at is in a student area, so I’d probably rent out a bedroom to ease the load. Not really asking whether I should do it, mostly curious how people who did make this choice justified it to themselves at the time. submitted by /u/reconcilepast [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/1vty3vl/those_who_bought_a_house_that_made_them_house/

Bathroom remodel before listing or let the next owner decide?

We're planning to list our house in Clearwater early next spring, but we're debating whether to update the primary bathroom first. It's dated but everything works. For anyone who's sold recently, did remodeling beforehand actually pay off or would you have listed it as-is? submitted by /u/SammuelNash [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/1vtudxy/bathroom_remodel_before_listing_or_let_the_next/

Real Estate Agents - part time?

I have this crazy idea at the age of 55 to become a real estate agent. I only want to do it part time while keeping my full time, salary earning job. Is that feasible? Are any of you doing this part time as a side hustle? Is that doable? Also, if you don't mind, are you brining in good money doing it part time? submitted by /u/Representative-Mean [link] [comments] source https://www.reddit.com/r/RealEstate/comments/1vtr39v/real_estate_agents_part_time/