I think I got a job.
I applied at Home Depot a few weeks ago. Today I got an email from Home Depot that asked me a few questions.
Then I got another email 10 minutes later that said I have been selected to be hired, and I should be there tomorrow at 2:00 in the afternoon for new employee orientation.
OK... I will see what happens.
13 dollars an hour, 24 hours a week. It will get me out of the house a little bit.
I'll see what they say.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
DoughlessUnless that young man, or woman, has $60,000 of cash or equity in other properties, a properly run US commercial bank would not give him financing.
I bought my first property right out of high school and had the money for the down payment. That was a big mistake as I was to find out later when I bought the rest of them with no money down. When I went to buy my second property, the banks would not help me out with a mortgage. I was somewhat frustrated by this and as with all things in life started reading and educating myself on creative financing. I went to a mortgage broker that said no problem and I got mortgages through private lenders. All legal, all above board, and cheaper than any bank. I remember the broker setting me up with a deal with a little old lady that had won a lottery. She was sharp as a tack and was delighted to help a nineteen-year-old out. She died a few years later and the estate got the balance of the mortgage back, but not before I sold the building. Low-interest rates mean the world is awash in money. But you need to be prudent.
The only time I ever had a vacancy was when I planned to renovate a suite. Don't tell Lastspikemike, but I did all my own work. Who needs sleep anyway.
You need to study things like vacancy rates or you can get into trouble. Vancouver (back then) was the perfect storm for a young real estate entre-manuer as my friends would call me. Small growing towns are the best place to look, and it is important to study what the economic base is of the area. Anywhere old people flock to is usually sound as they do not like to move until age requires it.
Went to the Dentist which is a ways away because she is a good friend and it is worth the drive. The office is in a small very nice mall. It is an area where lots of seniors live and the mall was just full of them just sitting there, some were sitting in front of the lottery booth playing keno. I sure hope that is never me. Fortunately, I have a hobby that can take me into old (er) age. If I can't have a layout I will try to keep building models, it beats sitting like a zombie in the mall.
Done my third cup of coffee, time to go put the top back on the truck to get ready to move the Daughter back to University next week.
Bringing up the rear.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
SeeYou190Thanks Douglas. I was going to try to make all those points, but I never could have worded the explanation as well as you did. House prices run right in parallel with what expected rental income can be. There is not a gold mine, but for large well-footed investors, there is opportunity.
Yep, unless there are temporary...temporary...supply and demand sorts of things going on. Which could be the case where you're at.
But typically the rents will tend to equal mortgage payments plus expenses unless you have capital invested to bring the mortgage debt level down. It nets out to where the investor makes a return on his $60,000 down payment over the long term, by the value of the house appreciating and by the renters making your mortgage payment for you. And by having a good/honest maintenance man that doesn't bleed you dry. Best to have some handyman skills as to not have to hire out every blasted problem the renter finds...or causes.
I like SW Florida because it actually reminds me of central Nebraska where I grew up. Not the water of course, but central Nebraska has very sandy soil and is very flat.
The flatness, sand, and somewhat low growing foliage takes me back 40 years ago, driving my 1974 Dodge Charger with blazing hot vinyl seats on a 93 degree summer's day in Nebraska. To me Florida = Nebraska = the freedom of being a 17 year old kid on summer vacation. Not kidding.
- Douglas
York1 I agree about Thunder Mountain. It is a neat setup. Here's one of the few photos that doesn't have kids or grandkids:
John, that is a great picture of Thunder Mountain.
I have all kinds of great pictures I would love to share, but my girls seem to be in every single one of them! I am sure people would get tired of pictures of them.
DoughlessBut that would raise his mortgage payment, incurr mortgage insurance expense, and cut his monthly cash flow margin pretty thin.
Thanks Douglas. I was going to try to make all those points, but I never could have worded the explanation as well as you did.
House prices run right in parallel with what expected rental income can be. There is not a gold mine, but for large well-footed investors, there is opportunity.
BATMAN$2000.00 a month? Off the top of my head, the monthly mortgage payment would be around $1300.00. If I was a young man I would be buying them up like hotcakes. That's what I did right out of high school here and was off to the races.
I realize the Diner isn't a place to get to serious, but before any young man gets any ideas.....
Unless that young man, or woman, has $60,000 of cash or equity in other properties, a properly run US commercial bank would not give him financing.
If you assume 100% financing of a $300,000 purchase price under rental property lending terms, that mortgage is about $1,500. Add in RE taxes of probably $300 per month, insurance in hurricane country of $50 per month, and the mortgage insurance a responsible lender would require for the lack of downpayment, and a reasonable amount set aside as a maintenance reserve, that pretty much adds up to the $2,000 per month rent an investor would be receiving.
In order to make a clear margin between rent vs mortgage payment, the buyer would have to get the mortgage down from full $300,000 to about $240,000..
So that high school kid, if USA commercial bank financed, would have to follow safe and sound lending practices and bring $60,000 of his own cash to the transaction. (Unless its the years 2003 to 2007 when banks might make a 110% loan and lend him $320,000, LOL). In 2021, maybe a bank would do a 90% investor loan and he only needs to bring 10% down, or 30 grand. But that would raise his mortgage payment, incurr mortgage insurance expense, and cut his monthly cash flow margin pretty thin.
Mike, thanks for the bacon and for the neat BNSF history. I hadn't seen that before. We sit on one of the BNSF double mainlines for coal from Powder River. Lots of coal trains, but not a lot of other types of cars.
Kevin, I agree about Thunder Mountain. It is a neat setup. Here's one of the few photos that doesn't have kids or grandkids:
York1 John
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad:
When it opened I was starting 8th grade in Gainesville, just a couple hours away. It was an awesome attraction, and it has sure stood up well over time. The first year it was open I think we visited Walt Disney World at least four or five times.
The scenery was designed by a prominent model railroader, off the top of my head I think his name was Olson. It feels like a big model railroad. Zipping through the dinosaur ribcage at the end of the ride was a perfect touch.
All my girls have ridden Big Thunder with me, and this attraction, like all of Walt Disney World has been the anchor of so many great memories.
DoughlessI couldn't imagine living anywhere else. Gotta be within 10 minutes of two full service grocery stores; fifteen minutes within 3 big box hardware stores, preferably. Not to mention 5 minutes from any EMT unit.... Flat yard. Flat streets. Easy to walk and ride. I like habitable terrain. Dramatic scenery is pretty in pictures, but its suitable really only for trains and not really humans.
I am 100% in agreement Doug.
I can go visit the scenic vistas of North America any time I desire.
Knowing where to get my own food and water NEVER crosses my mind. I can pay other people to do that for me.
Within 15 minutes of my house I have four Publix grocery stores, four other supermarkets, two Walmart Super-Centers, a Super Target, two Home Depots, Lowes, and an Ace Hardware. Lee Memorial Hospital and Cape Coral Memorial Hospital are each less than ten minutes away. A fire station is about a mile away and there is an EMT ambulance literally stationed at the entrance to my neighborhood.
Not to mention, in three hours I can be at nearly any of the world famous tourist destinations, enjoying the Miami nightlife, snorkeling on a reef, eating at some of the best steakhouses in the USA, on a ferry to Key West, or riding dirt bikes in Crooms.
The only thing I need to concern myself with is which Publix to go to.
No one loves to see dramatic terrain more than I do, but none of it makes me want to live there. 90% of it makes me glad I do not live there. I cannot imagine waking up and needing to do the same thing every single day just to live in the wild. I have entertainment choices from professional stage productions to world famous touring bands anytime I want within an easy drive.
Conventions, concert tours, travelling stage productions... they ALL come to several venues in Florida. I can do anything I want.
I also have infinite choices. I can find a favorite restaurant, favorite Publix, favorite anything. I don't need to go anywhere because it is the only choice in town.
Pretty in pictures, but it is brutal and unbearable for any length of time.
Good morning, IT"S RAINING! YEAAAA! Welcomed wetness.
Visiting the Dentist is the order of the day, just for a cleaning. The hygenist is from China, beautiful and an absolute delight. She was an actual Dentist in China but has not qualified to practice here yet so she is a hygenist in the meantime. She will absolutely be my Dentist when she does.
SeeYou190BATMAN I wonder what I could rent them all out for Just short of $2,000.00 per month. The high rents are what is driving up the prices right now. The 3BR house across the street from me has three couples sharing the rent.
$2000.00 a month? Off the top of my head, the monthly mortgage payment would be around $1300.00. If I was a young man I would be buying them up like hotcakes. That's what I did right out of high school here and was off to the races.
Bear, keep those photos coming, it helps to see them when we can't hop on a plane and go somewhere.
Heartland Division CB&QBrent.... Did I see snow in one of your photos? Cool. .... Nice picture of the train on a trestle.
It's an old photo Garry, we don't have snow here at this point in time, the temps are still in the high 70s(f). It is a fair trek to the mailbox and one I thoroughly enjoy. I usually only take one dog with me and when I decide to go I ask "who wants to go get the mail"? Then it is a herd of Golden Retrievers going pick me, pick me. Often I will take the scenic route and end up finally passing the mail panel a couple of hours later on the way home. At the start of the mail run, the dog runs up ahead, stops at the fork in the trail, then slowly moves towards the trail that is the long way. They are not dumb.
That photo of the BNSF train on the trestle is a coal train heading back to the Powder River Basin from Roberts Bank coal terminal. The photo is at Ocean Park B.C.
Here it is again a few seconds later. I was trying to take a photo of my truck and this train photobombed it.
Time to get productive, all the best to all.
Good morning ....
Kevin ...... I was saddened as I read your update about your Sister In Law. Prayers continue. ... Sorry, I'm not interested in moving to Florida although you would most likely be a very good neighbor.
John York 1 ..... I agree BNSF has some interesting predecesser railroads. Most of my HO models are those railroads. I model before the BN merger, and so I have nothing lettered Burlington Northern and nothing lettered BNSF. ...... Nice picture of grandkids.
Mike .... That is a lot of bacon.
Bear ..... I like the pictures of NZ trains.
Brent.... Did I see snow in one of your photos? Cool. .... Nice picture of the train on a trestle.
Ed ..... Your photos have trains in beautiful locations.
Mike .... Too bad about the noise your parents had at their house near Kalamazoo. It would be annoying.
Everybody .... Have a nice day.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
York1One railroad now has some pretty neat railroads in its history:
https://www.bnsf.com/bnsf-resources/pdf/about-bnsf/History_and_Legacy.pdf
Whoa! Top of the page! I'll offer John's favorite breakfast for everyone. Might need a tad more bacon though.
Mike
Good morning, diners. It's time for breakfast, my favorite meal of the day.
I've lived in all three types of areas -- large city, small town, and isolated country. I'd probably prefer small town. It still has things you need, you can drive to a city for things you want, and it's only several hundred yards to woods and trails for the nature sights.
Big Thunder Mountain! When we were at DisneyWorld several months ago, we hit it at the right time. We rode Big Thunder, got off at the end, and walked right back to ride it again. No lines!
I went with the grandchildren three times in a row, and then sat out as they went again. Here they are wanting me to hurry up and run with them to the start again:
Hope everyone has a good day. It's time for me to head out and cut grass.
One railroad now has some pretty neat railroads in its history:
SeeYou190 Anybody want to move to SW Florida and live next to me? This house just got listed for $285,000.00 which means it will probably sell for about $300,000.00 once bidding is done. -Kevin
Anybody want to move to SW Florida and live next to me?
This house just got listed for $285,000.00 which means it will probably sell for about $300,000.00 once bidding is done.
Rich
Alton Junction
That house at that price is bread-and-butter USA. There are many retired folks from the midwest who would snap that up. Its what they have now.
It looks like any 5 year old (IOW new) house that's been built in any suburb or small city in the USA. You can find that same house for that same price in Springfield MO, Cedar Rapids IA, Ft Wayne IN, just about any midwestern city or any suburb.
I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
Gotta be within 10 minutes of two full service grocery stores; fifteen minutes within 3 big box hardware stores, preferably.
Not to mention 5 minutes from any EMT unit....
Flat yard. Flat streets. Easy to walk and ride. I like habitable terrain. Dramatic scenery is pretty in pictures, but its suitable really only for trains and not really humans. IMO, the prettiest places to live are the places that have been developed by Man and groomed. Like a well maintained subdivision.
But I tend to find modesty desirable.
SeeYou190The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
SeeYou190Update on my wife's sister
BATMANI just hope I can grow really old out here in the peace and quiet. Living armpit to armpit in the city would do me in faster than anything.
NorthBritA bridge for TF.
My daughter's new soccer team had a scrimmage last night, so my first opportunity to see how she will fit in and just what skill level the new team is. I'm proud to say she will fit in fine and if the season goes anything like this scrimmage did, she is going to be a valuable asset to the team. Her team put up seven goals, with my daughter tallying three of them!
Have a good day guys!
A bridge for TF.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning Diners. Tea and toast please, Chloe.
A cloudy day. Will it rain?
Kevin. Dawn was asking about your S.I.L. Thank you for the update. Our prayers to you and your family.
Brent. Nice picture of the forest. Reminds me of where we used to live in the heart of North British Railway land. Having to do a 30 mile journey to do shopping.
The pictures of floods that have been posted. Glad I wasn't in Dawlish when this happened.
Dawlish in 2020
Thoughts & Peace to All who Require.
SeeYou190Anybody want to move to SW Florida and live next to me?
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
BATMANI wonder what I could rent them all out for
Just short of $2,000.00 per month. The high rents are what is driving up the prices right now. The 3BR house across the street from me has three couples sharing the rent.
There are way too many people moving to Florida too fast, and housing shortages are throughout the state.
Every year more homes are owned by investment groups, and fewer and fewer are occupied by homeowners.
hon30critterSeeYou190 This house just got listed for $285,000.00 which means it will probably sell for about $300,000.00 once bidding is done. That means that I could sell my house here in Canada, move to Florida, and pocket about $450,000 Cdn. in the process! None the less, I think I'll stay in Canada. Dave
Even with the difference in the dollar, I could buy 14 of those if I sold my shack. I wonder what I could rent them all out for. I noticed that the area is only 2 to 3 metres above sea level, the way the planet is heating up Kevin better learn to tread water.
I would be nervous living there. I like to be able to be self-sufficient. I can step out the front door and bag dinner from the front step if need be. There is plenty of good fishing within a short walk as well. Plus all the clean freshwater I would ever need. I am more than 30 minutes from Costco and that's too close for me. They're closing in.
I just hope I can grow really old out here in the peace and quiet. Living armpit to armpit in the city would do me in faster than anything.
Here is my street. I walk out the door and into the forest and can walk for miles without seeing a soul. Just me and the dogs. Too silent to be real.
hon30critterNone the less, I think I'll stay in Canada.
There are a lot of Canadian retirees that have Winterhouses near me. None of them are year-round residents, but as far as I am concerned, you are welcome to be the first.
Railroading in Florida 1980-Present:
The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in September, 1980.
Update on my wife's sister, because a couple of concerned people have asked.
She was moved to Hospice care a couple of weeks ago, but she has remained with us. She is not recovering, but she is no longer considered to be in her final days.
She is not recovering from the strokes, and her heart is in bad shape, but her kidneys are working again. She can alse breathe on her own with no assistance.
She should be moved into a long-term care facility. However, since she has Covid-19, none will admit her that have available space. So, she is stuck in the Hospice facility, but they cannot provide the care she needs.
This whole thing is really taking a terrible blow to my niece. She is trying to keep herself together, but it is extremely difficult.
I don't want to go on about this, because the realities of the situation will break forum rules. Two jabs with a needle, and none of this would have happened.
The World Is A Beautiful Place.
SeeYou190This house just got listed for $285,000.00 which means it will probably sell for about $300,000.00 once bidding is done.
That means that I could sell my house here in Canada, move to Florida, and pocket about $450,000 Cdn. in the process!
None the less, I think I'll stay in Canada.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
SeeYou190 BATMAN Google Earth shows an empty lot, is the house new? The house was built in 2017. The Google views of my house are very old. The street view shows my yard the year after the bad drought. The satellite view still has my blue Mustang in the driveway and the shed that was removed in 2015. -Kevin
BATMAN Google Earth shows an empty lot, is the house new?
The house was built in 2017.
The Google views of my house are very old. The street view shows my yard the year after the bad drought. The satellite view still has my blue Mustang in the driveway and the shed that was removed in 2015.
There is no Knight standing guard, so disappointing.
BATMANGoogle Earth shows an empty lot, is the house new?
Google Earth shows an empty lot, is the house new?
Good Morning,
A lot cooler here this week with a high of 65F today. We are now upto about 5" of rain for the month with more to come on the weekend.
My wife has had the heart skipping issue for many years and has had stress tests, the monitor, etc., but they can't find the problem. She had a birthday yesterday but it didn't go as planned. We were going to do a takeout from our favourite restaurant as she can't handle any people nearby since covid, so we can't even go on their patio. I got in some nice wine, picked up a cake I had ordered but she stayed in her room all day. I haven't seen her since yesterday morning for a couple of minutes. Covid has really knocked her for a loop. We are vaccinated and 76% of people over 12 here are too but with Delta it isn't as good as it sounds.
Stations sounds good for Sept. We have a couple here but I don't do photos. I'm sure there are pictures on the net of our Union Station.
No plans for today other than keeping the bird feeders full, changing bird bath water and putting out food for the squirrels.
CN Charlie
Hello everyone. I've been away for a bit and can't believe how much catching up I have to do. For those not doing so well, I hope things turn for the better soon. For those doing okay, I hope they stay that way!
Cheers fellas!
I've got a pacemaker for my heart now. I've had it for about 2 1/2 years. I don't like the way my heart is managed by a machine. I got a new cardiologist a few months ago who actually listens to me and can make adjustments to the pacemaker to make it perform better.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Good morning, diners. It's already been a busy morning, so I need some more coffee.
I'm excited about September's diner -- I love train stations. I will have to find some pictures.
Another BNSF photo from the 2019 flood at Plattsmouth, NE., where some tracks cross each other:
Yesterday's plans turned into being more work than I thought. I changed the blades on my lawnmower. It was not easy getting the old blades off. My Honda has a double blade system, and the bolts were a pain to get off.
Then, when I put the new blades on, the torque wrench was not working correctly. The bolts are now on very tight. I finally finished in time for happy hour. I think next time the blades wear out I will just buy a new mower and let someone else worry about getting those bolts out.
Have a good day, everyone.
Mornin'
Between a rock and a hard place:
Beneath the sandstone cliffs by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Through a rock and a hard place:
Threading Tunnel 29 by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
And let's wrap up with a bridge or two for TF:
Montana Rockies Daylight by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Summer at Tuscor by Mike Danneman, on Flickr
Such beautiful vistas —
Cheers, Ed