[Magdalen] And the rent increase is...

[Molly Wolf]

I would add that purpose-built dream houses are often hard to sell.  And building a house is incredibly stressful; it would be particularly hard on you, Scott (constant rapid-fire decision-making, plus the need to be tough on contractors) and would drive StY's perfectionism into mania.  Don't do it. Honest.  

I've owned and renovated four houses and I'm only a homeowner because I have the equity to be mortgage-free.  And I love this house, although the current renovations (turning the front porch into a screen porch, are taking FOREVVVERRRR (although it's going to be so worth it!)

Find an apartment with its own washer/dryer.  It's possible.

Molly

The man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -- Mark Twain

> On Jul 12, 2017, at 10:44 PM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> My thought exactly, Jay--even before I saw your response.
> 
>> On Jul 12, 2017, at 9:43 PM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> On Wed, Jul 12, 2017 at 9:28 PM Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> ...for the year starting Oct. 1...
>>> 
>>> ...drum roll, please...
>>> 
>>> approximately 1.7 percent.
>>> 
>>> Whew! Needn't worry about that one anymore. I do want to buy a house (but
>>> my partner puts up obstacles to doing so), but it's good to know that until
>>> then we're not being robbed. There are ever more apartments going up in our
>>> neighborhood, and I think supply is getting ahead of demand.
>>> 
>>> The obstacle my partner keeps putting up is the desire to build a house
>>> rather than buy one. I have environmental concerns about building, and my
>>> head explodes at the thought of that whole project: not building it
>>> ourselves, but making all the decisions: I'll be pushing for a house that
>>> meets our needs but is then quite sell-able; he'll be pushing for a
>>> quirkily designed monastic priory. So basically we'll never get a house
>>> that way.
>>> 
>>> I fantasize about finding one of the better homes in a much less expensive
>>> town, with a room that will make a splendid monastic oratory but can be
>>> other things as well.
>>> 
>>> I still wonder how old I'll be before I have a home that contains an
>>> always-available washer and dryer.
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Scott R. Knitter
>>> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>> 
>> 
>> You guys need a mediator if you are serious about a house. No fantasizing,
>> no arguing.  Someone who can put it in realistic terms and help both
>> parties see what is needed.
>> 
>>> 
>>>