Am I FOMO-ing or am I making the right choice?

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by massnative71

Radon can occur in any house of any age. They haven't used asbestos in houses for decades.

Asbestos was never really banned in the USA.
https://www.asbestos.com/mesotheliom...gislation/ban/

"Only spray-applied asbestos and these six products are banned in the U.S. All other uses of asbestos, such as automotive brake pads and gaskets, roofing products, and fireproof clothing, are legal."

It's still allowed but in very low amounts. The major concern is if it is friable. It's still in many commercial and governmental buildings and products. I've seen a stage in a elementary school have a theater curtain filled with it. One wrong move of a level and it it crashed down would create a plume to evacuate the area. Lead is very dangerous, especially to children yet we need it as a shield against radiation in dentistry.

You have to consider when things are toxic sometimes disturbing containment can actually make things worse. For example if you dreaded up the Housatonic river in the berkshires those PCB's technically could move downstream to the Hudson and pretty much poison off waters on some of the most expensive properties in the country (manhattan). There's a complicated plan to get rid of the contaminated soil
https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/1...erkshires.html


Radon is still part of inspection tests.

"Id have bought another Matrix except Toyota stopped selling them in the U.S. I also would have gone up a trim line and gotten AWD."

Toyota matrix is also a Pontiac Vibe

My point about a new house is there's a bit of a difference between buying from a builder (say Toll Brothers) vs another person.

[fabfan84]

You're really limiting yourself with the new construction. There isn't very much of that in this area and what there is, is extremely expensive. And if it turns out that prices do drop (whether a 'bubble' or not), those will be the first to fall. I would think hard on whether that's a must-have or just a nice-to-have.

[Johnduh]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

That's just nuts, but I believe it.

Good friends of mine are selling their house in Reading. They've owned it 11 years and fixed it up well, but it had some flaws similar to what you've listed. In prepping to sell and clearing out the house, he made a list of repairs he figured he would have to make to sell.

Realtor basically told him not to bother at all as in his particular neighborhood, the house will sell the first weekend, over asking, and likely with contingencies waived. He's deciding to take his realtors advice and let it ride.

House will be listed later this spring. Curious to see what happens.

Would not be surprised that it will go over $25K asking. We have considered Reading, but a little too far for us granted it has better schools, but RE tax is high and utilities are high as well.

[Johnduh]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

First car was a 1992 Mazda 323, then a Toyota Matrix, now a Subaru Crosstrek. I'd have bought another Matrix except Toyota stopped selling them in the U.S. I also would have gone up a trim line and gotten AWD.

I maintain my cars impeccably and get a lot of years out of them! Buy the lowest trim line, buy new and take perfect care of them. It's worked this far. I think my Crosstrek will be my last car (I've had it 3 years, 27k miles, and am 68 and retired).

Wow, sounds like that Subaru will be in great hands! Nice job!

[Johnduh]

Originally Posted by fabfan84

You're really limiting yourself with the new construction. There isn't very much of that in this area and what there is, is extremely expensive. And if it turns out that prices do drop (whether a 'bubble' or not), those will be the first to fall. I would think hard on whether that's a must-have or just a nice-to-have.

I guess it comes down to a little bit of both.

[mdovell]

I'm not totally against new construction. Make no mistake we need more houses. But sometimes it's just simplier to have something already made. Water lines, sewer lines, electric, telecommunication etc are already in place. I would tend to argue if a new home sits there and isn't sold after awhile people will ask why it isn't sold. Whereas if it has a actual tenant or occupant that it means it validates the idea that some think it's vetted. It's almost like a relationship. If someone is single and never had a relationship and say...50 or 60 the likelihood of finding someone else gets slimmer.