While our government is trying to figure out if it is going to take the promised retirement package away from the troops, I find myself thinking about our future plans.
I helped a dear friend find a house these last few months. So many homes, and so much research. She introduced me to Zillow a site that lets you look at many aspects of a home and the area. It often had better information then the Real Estate site. I looked up a few areas my husband and I have thought about moved to when her retires in a bit over 6 years. Of course the prices in MA are much higher than some others, not as high as here in MD though, AZ had some nice ones. So many things to think about. If the government makes it so my husband can not collect retirement till age 65 and that it would be much lower than it is supposed to be now I am not sure we could manage a home in one of the more costly places.
We want to put 20% down on a home, and go at it the Dave Ramsey way, but would that even be possible if retirement changes so much. It is not that my husband does not plan on working after his military time, it is just that we had plans for him to follow me around so I can have my time out in the working world. I think we need the retirement money in case I can’t manage everything as we plan.
Do we buy a new home that is already built very green with eco-friendly materials or do we buy something older that has had time to off gas and try and put in solar and other things to help us reduce carbon foot print. Cost really does need to factor into this.
Plans… so many people have great plans and the banks and economy have helped to make a mess of things. People are running to the rescue of places like FHA Streamline Refinance because unlike most places FHA takes only about 25 days. I am glad people have some place to turn but should they have to do that? They worked hard and now are suffering. Will that be us in 10 years? I hope not, but I can’t predict things. All those people using the low FHA rates had the best of intentions I am sure when they got their mortgages. I want to make the wise choices in home planning but the times are scary. I think I am going to look more closely at AZ and homes there and come up with a plan B for our home dreams.
Wishing all our friends who are trying to keep their homes, who just got new homes, and those still waiting to close the best of luck. I think your all very brave and I hope your plans all work out.
