Affordable houses in USA

[wendypoh]

Ariel Castro, 52, a school bus driver was charged with four counts of kidnapping — covering all three captives and the daughter born to one of them while she was held — and three counts of rape against the three women.

See this is the house that this school bus driver owned in USA. This is a bungalow with 4 levels including the basement and attic, and a garden and backyard. This same house would cost close to a million dollars in major cities in Canada and Australia. Another reason why to immigrate to USA where houses are affordable.

 

[neddy]

3. Not interested in Kidnappers house.

2. The build quality of the house look cheap, just look at the windows.

1. It is the land which is valuable. In Perth Australia, I can build a quality starter 4 bedroom house for less than $180,000. It is the land that is expensive.

Eg.

Look at this house, built on a narrow lot like the Kidnapper's house.

• Over 176sqm of living area and 217sqm of total area
• Your choice of modern or traditional elevation
• Galley-style kitchen complete with 900mm stainless steel oven, hotplate, rangehood with tiled splashback and large pantry
• Rear loaded design with central living areas leading to a large courtyard
• Large master suite with walk in robe and fully appointed ensuite
• Stylish bathrooms with semi-inset vanity basins, mixer taps and glass semi-frameless pivot screen doors
• Dedicated home cinema
• Double lock up garage with remote control door and secure internal access
• Solid double clay brick construction
• 25 year Structural Guarantee

Bonus : 31 course Raised ceilings & Caesarstone kitchen benchtops!

http://www.celebrationhomes.com.au/home-design/brighton

 

[wendypoh]

More examples of affordable houses in USA.

5 bedroom, 3 bath house, $84,000

4 bedroom, 3 bath house, $142,000

 

[wendypoh]

These are brand new houses in USA. Compare the prices to a major city in Canada which costs $1 million and $1.7 million respectively.

Brand new house in USA, 4 bed 3 bath, $249,900

Brand new house in USA, 6 bed 4 bath, $299,900

 

[eatshitndie]

wendy,

it's all about location, location, location. it depends on where you wish to live. if your budget is usd100k and you don't need a high paying job or run a brisk business, you can hang around and do nothing like a shotgun-wielding welfare recipient in the podong countryside of utah, montana, wyoming, oklahoma, kansas, nebraska, the dakotas, or even in a suburb in motown detroit. cum to the bay area, and you'll have a sticker shock, unless of course, you're checking out the murderous hood in oakland. :p

 

[wendypoh]

These brand new homes in USA are less than $500,000. The same house would costs an average $1.7 million in Vancouver or Toronto, Canada.


Brand new house, Bay Area, California, 4 bed, 3 bath, 2 car garage, 2,236 sq.ft., $324,880

Brand new house, Bay Area, California, 3 bed, 2 bath, 2 car garage, 1,869 sq.ft., $335,000

Brand new house, Seattle, Washington, 5 bed, 3 bath, 2 car garage, 2,554 sq.ft., $310,990

Brand new house, Seattle, Washington, 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2 car garage, 1,899 sq.ft., $272,950

Brand new house, Chicago, 4 bed, 2.5 bath, 3 car garage, 2,940 sq.ft., $260,950

 

[eatshitndie]

These brand new homes in USA are less than $500,000. The same house would costs an average $1.7 million in Vancouver or Toronto, Canada.

there are some places near the bay area that are selling new homes for less than usd500k. but they are 50 miles or more inland east of sf. richmond, hercules, san pablo, antioch, martinez, pittsburg, brentwood. not exactly desirable communities.

 

[wendypoh]

For sure, property prices are expensive in the Bay area. It is like comparing a property in the Orchard area and Bueno Vista area (assuming Bueno Vista properties is half the price of those in Orchard area, if not substitute a cheaper suburb) in Singapore. Or comparing a property in False Creek area and Marpole area in Vancouver. A person who currently own property in the Orchard Road property, then certainly go for the over $500,000 homes in the prime district of the Bay area, while a person who own property in the suburbs of Singapore can easily afford a home less than $500,000 in the suburbs of the Bay area.

Even for that matter, why bother even to go to San Francisco? It is one of those more expensive cities in USA like New York. There are plenty of decent cities in USA where you can get a brand new big house for less than $250,000 or $300,000 on the high side. Those really rural places, you can buy a nice big new house for just $100,000.

 

[The_Hypocrite]

For 250 to 300K USD its also a good price compare to Australia. AUstralia to get something decent is 500K,,,and interest is 5 to 6%,,,if the USA interest is as low as Singapore,,,than 300K USD loan is not too hard to service...

 

[wuqi256]

there are some places near the bay area that are selling new homes for less than usd500k. but they are 50 miles or more inland east of sf. richmond, hercules, san pablo, antioch, martinez, pittsburg, brentwood. not exactly desirable communities.

Had a chance to buy a property in SF, didn't go for it as parents wasn't able to fit in. Started asking to go back on the 3rd day right until the end. When they were back in SG though, it was totally different but by then i already dropped the deal. Years later started asking about SF whenever i go there.

 

[wuqi256]

Some good sites to start looking:

http://www.trulia.com/
http://www.zillow.com/

 

[wuqi256]

Expensive area but has its plus points:

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/449-E-Mc-Kinley-Ave-Sunnyvale-CA-94086/54770490_zpid/

 

[eatshitndie]

Had a chance to buy a property in SF, didn't go for it as parents wasn't able to fit in. Started asking to go back on the 3rd day right until the end. When they were back in SG though, it was totally different but by then i already dropped the deal. Years later started asking about SF whenever i go there.

sf real estate market now is incredibly hot. during the housing bust, a brand new 2 bedroom condo facing the embarcadero was going for usd500k (a steal). now that same condo is selling for usd900k. many purchases today are with cash. even in "drive-by shooting" oakland, condos are being snapped up with full cash payments. it's near impossible to get a single family home with a yard in sf without cash down of more than 50% of its value. depending on condition, they're mostly over a million. still "cheaper" than new 3 bedroom condos in sg. there are still some good buys in the south bay for less than a million.

 

[eatshitndie]

Even for that matter, why bother even to go to San Francisco? It is one of those more expensive cities in USA like New York. There are plenty of decent cities in USA where you can get a brand new big house for less than $250,000 or $300,000 on the high side. Those really rural places, you can buy a nice big new house for just $100,000.

finally, wendy is posting opinions and making some sense. for retirement, there's no need to be in sf or near the city. for example, nearer to yosemite national park in merced, large homes can be had for less than 200k. a good old historic victorian with turrets, porch, 5 bedrooms, basement and a large yard is going for 399k. any large victorian in great condition at that price anywhere is considered a steal.

 

[nato33]

Are sinkholes part of the package?

 

[eatshitndie]

Are sinkholes part of the package?

for any solitary homes in the middle or nowhere or on a slope or hill or near one, it's important to hire a soil engineer to check soil that foundation is resting on.

 

[neddy]

How is the build quality of the houses?

 

[wuqi256]

sf real estate market now is incredibly hot. during the housing bust, a brand new 2 bedroom condo facing the embarcadero was going for usd500k (a steal). now that same condo is selling for usd900k. many purchases today are with cash. even in "drive-by shooting" oakland, condos are being snapped up with full cash payments. it's near impossible to get a single family home with a yard in sf without cash down of more than 50% of its value. depending on condition, they're mostly over a million. still "cheaper" than new 3 bedroom condos in sg. there are still some good buys in the south bay for less than a million.

Lets see how things goes, i may yet get one there for investment, etc.

 

[neddy]

For 250 to 300K USD its also a good price compare to Australia. AUstralia to get something decent is 500K,,,and interest is 5 to 6%,,,if the USA interest is as low as Singapore,,,than 300K USD loan is not too hard to service...

The land prices in Australia is a "ponzi" with the local council planning the accomplice. If you select the Perth mortgage belt (45min to 1hr from CBD), the land prices are less than $200k, and you can build a decent house for less than $400k.

Next year will be very interesting since the resources boom is peaking this year. The question is "when" and not "if" Australia finally join USA and the UK in the financial crisis.

 

[eatshitndie]

How is the build quality of the houses?

depends on state, county and zoning regulations. for example, in california, single family homes (homes with a land parcel) are required to be designed and built complying with codes that take earthquakes into consideration. electrical and fire safety codes are also very stringent in such home construction as most if not all homes are woodframed, although walls can be stucco or sheetboard. new homes in the suburbs with 4 or more bedrooms are very well built. 3 to 4-story condos and multi-tenant apartments are not subject to the same stringent codes used for single family homes. these are typically signed off by the town or city engineers with a faster block permit process, with little or no site inspections. new townhomes and single family homes are inspected for code compliance during construction and before they are put on the market for sale.