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jonnyjewst
So far, a crib is the only definite purchase I am making. Some unisex outfits here and there. She is only 4 months pregnant, should I be buying the drawers playpen, carseat, booster and all that mess now? Or should I wait?
Answer
I would spread the purchases out over the next few months. There's no need to rush out and buy everything at once, plus it can get financially crippling! You really only need a crib and 2 sheet sets, change table which is sometimes good to get the kind that have the drawers down the bottom and the changer on top. The best car seat you can afford, again sometimes its a good idea to get the infant to toddler reversible kind so it lasts longer. And a pram is usually a good idea too! I would wait with the playpen for now and get an electric baby swing instead and there isn't a need for a booster till the baby is much older. Don't forget a baby bath too and if you buy gender orientated outfits just keep the receipts and return the ones you don't need. That way your baby won't just be dressed in yellow and white for the first couple of weeks!
Something I also did when buying baby accessories was to get one thing a week like a packet of nappies,wipes,dummies, bibs or baby bath when I did the grocery shopping. I waited until something was on special then bought it and spread the cost over 6 mths rather than getting all that stuff at once at the end. You don't notice the cost so much then and the baby's room starts to fill up with all those things really quickly which is nice for mum to be!
best of luck and congrats!
I would spread the purchases out over the next few months. There's no need to rush out and buy everything at once, plus it can get financially crippling! You really only need a crib and 2 sheet sets, change table which is sometimes good to get the kind that have the drawers down the bottom and the changer on top. The best car seat you can afford, again sometimes its a good idea to get the infant to toddler reversible kind so it lasts longer. And a pram is usually a good idea too! I would wait with the playpen for now and get an electric baby swing instead and there isn't a need for a booster till the baby is much older. Don't forget a baby bath too and if you buy gender orientated outfits just keep the receipts and return the ones you don't need. That way your baby won't just be dressed in yellow and white for the first couple of weeks!
Something I also did when buying baby accessories was to get one thing a week like a packet of nappies,wipes,dummies, bibs or baby bath when I did the grocery shopping. I waited until something was on special then bought it and spread the cost over 6 mths rather than getting all that stuff at once at the end. You don't notice the cost so much then and the baby's room starts to fill up with all those things really quickly which is nice for mum to be!
best of luck and congrats!
Made an offer: Is this house worth losing over $6k?
Me
My wife and I submitted an offer on a home yesterday afternoon following a second showing yesterday morning. It is a 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath, 2-car garage home in a well-to-do community in Hillsborough county New Hampshire, listed for $269k. It is immaculate beyond belief and completely move-in ready: Granite counters, electric cooktop, double convection ovens, hardwood throughout the ground level and a beautiful built-in. It also has central AC and a generator. There are 1,200ish sq ft on the ground level and another 500ish sq ft of finished space in the basement (that cannot legally be a 3rd bedroom) including a finished laundry room and closet and a mostly-finished room that is plumbed to be a future 3/4 bath.
Eight hours after offering full asking price with $8k in concessions, we received a counteroffer stating that the sellers "needed and wanted" to walk away with $267k, meaning we'd need to up our offer by $6k to $275k if we wanted our concession. They also rejected paying for a $385 home warranty plan (no big deal - our agent writes them standard into all her offers).
Even though we're only talking about $6,000 or $35/month, it feels like it would put us in dangerous financial territory in terms of us overpaying and potentially being "stuck" in this house later on. $269k already felt like a stretch but we were willing to do it because it is completely move-in ready. As nice as the house is, though, it is a 2 bedroom house selling for $269k in a neighborhood with 2 other houses having 3 or 4 bedrooms both selling for $279k. The 3 bed house is absolutely out of the question (it's a "flip" and we found evidence of water damage and mold), but the 4 bedroom is in very nice condition, has over 2,000 sq ft and a pool. It would just need heavy decor updates because the lady who owns it is about 50 years older than us.
We also find it fishy that the sellers just happen to need the exact amount on my mortgage pre-approval letter, not to mention the fact that the seller's agent is telling us there were multiple showings yesterday when the sellers left only one "information sheet" on the desk and 4 pairs of shoe booties in the entryway (they're a little OCD, I think). and seemingly left with no diaper bag or anything else for their infant and young toddler when they were likely to be gone at least 4 or hours for these 11am and 1pm showings (we arrived early and they were leaving when we got there). The home has been on the market since June/July and there has been no recent price change.
So with all this said, we have made peace with the likelihood that we will not be buying this house. Before we pass on their counteroffer, though, it would be nice to get some opinions. Is this house worth losing over $6k?
We have only "officially" been in the market for a week but have been monitoring listings for a couple years. During that time a handful of really great houses have come and gone but we weren't in a position to buy. This is not our dream house. Just a nice one that needs little to no work. We were not intending in buying a 2 bedroom.
Thank you very much Equality. Just FYI and everyone else's, we will not be growing our family. We have a teenage daughter (who has her eye on the basement) and that's all we're planning on.
Answer
Lovely as it sounds - 2 bedroom homes are hard sells. Keep that in mind for if and when you decide to sell in the future. You don't say if you plan on having children - but if you do - a 2 bedroom house is going to get "too small" very soon after. And even if you don't have children - 1200 square feet seems a bit small anyway. Any buyer looking that has children looking to buy a house will not consider a 2 bedroom.
As it does sound lovely with all the upgrades - 1200 square feet, 2 bedroom - with children - will become too small for you - if you do have children in the future. As evidenced if - as you say - they are a young couple with an infant and a toddler. 1200 square feet becomes too small for a single person after awhile - Much less all the toys and paraphernalia that children have. And will be too small for any buyers - with children - should you decide to sell in the future.
Also, sellers should have never seen or been told what your pre-approved limit was. Their agent told you what they "needed and wanted". Which should make no difference to you. It's what you guys "need and want" that matters as this is the biggest, most important - and spendy - decision you will ever make.
Did they come back with a counter in writing? Or are you just being told this? Your offer stands if they did not counter in writing. Do not agree to anything verbally. Whether it's them saying it verbally - or you. And if they counter in writing - then you either sign/agree to it or you walk away. That's how it works.
As a former real estate agent and buyer of about 7 houses over the years - I can tell you that you should never spend at the top of the pre-approved amount. That makes one what is called "house poor". Just as you should never max out a credit card. One should not spend all one has to spend. Sure you will own a lovely home - but with all the expenses of owning a home - it gets to be just a lovely burden.
If this is your first home buying experience - my suggestion would be to lower your sights a bit. Don't go for the top of the pre-approved amount. That is an amount that the bank thinks you can afford - based on numbers, ratios and all that - but it's what I call Monopoly money. Looks good on paper but reality will show that it can - and will be - a stretch financially month after month after month. As well as my experience has shown 2 bedrooms can be a liability when one wants to sell in the future. As evidenced by what you said that they have an infant and a toddler. So this house is too small for them already - they are sorry they bought a 2 bedroom and if young - likely need more money to get into something bigger. Most buyers - these days - want an office or a den or a bedroom for each child or a guest room or TV room or whatever... so keep that in mind in your long term plans. One may think they will never sell - apparently this couple thought so. But circumstances change. And possibly yours will too - in 5 or 10 years.
But bottom line - remember - what they "need or want" is no concern of yours. Don't let any emotions like that take over common sense. Spend what you are comfortable with - and I say again - that should not be the top of your credit limit.
Buying a less expensive - easier to sell in the future - and doing your own upgrades - even gradually over time - can be fun and may be best for you right now.
Lovely as it sounds - 2 bedroom homes are hard sells. Keep that in mind for if and when you decide to sell in the future. You don't say if you plan on having children - but if you do - a 2 bedroom house is going to get "too small" very soon after. And even if you don't have children - 1200 square feet seems a bit small anyway. Any buyer looking that has children looking to buy a house will not consider a 2 bedroom.
As it does sound lovely with all the upgrades - 1200 square feet, 2 bedroom - with children - will become too small for you - if you do have children in the future. As evidenced if - as you say - they are a young couple with an infant and a toddler. 1200 square feet becomes too small for a single person after awhile - Much less all the toys and paraphernalia that children have. And will be too small for any buyers - with children - should you decide to sell in the future.
Also, sellers should have never seen or been told what your pre-approved limit was. Their agent told you what they "needed and wanted". Which should make no difference to you. It's what you guys "need and want" that matters as this is the biggest, most important - and spendy - decision you will ever make.
Did they come back with a counter in writing? Or are you just being told this? Your offer stands if they did not counter in writing. Do not agree to anything verbally. Whether it's them saying it verbally - or you. And if they counter in writing - then you either sign/agree to it or you walk away. That's how it works.
As a former real estate agent and buyer of about 7 houses over the years - I can tell you that you should never spend at the top of the pre-approved amount. That makes one what is called "house poor". Just as you should never max out a credit card. One should not spend all one has to spend. Sure you will own a lovely home - but with all the expenses of owning a home - it gets to be just a lovely burden.
If this is your first home buying experience - my suggestion would be to lower your sights a bit. Don't go for the top of the pre-approved amount. That is an amount that the bank thinks you can afford - based on numbers, ratios and all that - but it's what I call Monopoly money. Looks good on paper but reality will show that it can - and will be - a stretch financially month after month after month. As well as my experience has shown 2 bedrooms can be a liability when one wants to sell in the future. As evidenced by what you said that they have an infant and a toddler. So this house is too small for them already - they are sorry they bought a 2 bedroom and if young - likely need more money to get into something bigger. Most buyers - these days - want an office or a den or a bedroom for each child or a guest room or TV room or whatever... so keep that in mind in your long term plans. One may think they will never sell - apparently this couple thought so. But circumstances change. And possibly yours will too - in 5 or 10 years.
But bottom line - remember - what they "need or want" is no concern of yours. Don't let any emotions like that take over common sense. Spend what you are comfortable with - and I say again - that should not be the top of your credit limit.
Buying a less expensive - easier to sell in the future - and doing your own upgrades - even gradually over time - can be fun and may be best for you right now.
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Title Post: What should I buy for the baby before it's born?
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Rating: 92% based on 925 ratings. 4 user reviews.
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