Husband Annoying Me

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you do walk up stairs be prepared to:

- never want to leave your house
- order all of your groceries via amazon. Pea pod, door dash, etc
- have a hard tome selling later. No one likes stairs that’s why the price is so low.

+1. Op, what is your budget? I personally would go with the most expensive one. It sounds like a lot but it's a nice area and worth the convenience. You will have a harder time trying to resell a walk-up. There is a reason that the owners bought your top choice at $615k and are now selling it at $770k. People will pay for the convenience of an elevator, attached heated parking, and a rooftop deck for entertaining.

OP here. Our budget is $800,000 but he wants to spend less. We have one car that my husband uses. We live in the same neighborhood and there are two grocery stores within walking distance. I think my first choice is the best option, but I would go with the less expensive second floor walk-up over the third floor walk-up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you do walk up stairs be prepared to:

- never want to leave your house
- order all of your groceries via amazon. Pea pod, door dash, etc
- have a hard tome selling later. No one likes stairs that’s why the price is so low.

+1. Op, what is your budget? I personally would go with the most expensive one. It sounds like a lot but it's a nice area and worth the convenience. You will have a harder time trying to resell a walk-up. There is a reason that the owners bought your top choice at $615k and are now selling it at $770k. People will pay for the convenience of an elevator, attached heated parking, and a rooftop deck for entertaining.

OP here. Our budget is $800,000 but he wants to spend less. We have one car that my husband uses. We live in the same neighborhood and there are two grocery stores within walking distance. I think my first choice is the best option, but I would go with the less expensive second floor walk-up over the third floor walk-up.

Get him to agree to your top choice. I think it's the best choice.

[Anonymous]

Do not do the 3rd floor walk up. You’re letting the pendulum swing all the way in the opposite direction and there is no compromise. Either keep looking for a better mutual fit, or, go with the 2nd floor walk up for less. You’re still going to hate it, but not as much as you will abhor a 3rd floor walk up. My mother had a 3rd floor walk up and hated it after a month. We tried to tell her. She didn’t listen.

Go higher than option #2 on the second floor but not as high in price as your first choice. That’s where you ZOPA is. You don’t want an infant carrier on your arm, and a kid, with backpacks, school projects, work tote, cold blustery wind drowning out your curses under your breath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, if you do walk up stairs be prepared to:

- never want to leave your house
- order all of your groceries via amazon. Pea pod, door dash, etc
- have a hard tome selling later. No one likes stairs that’s why the price is so low.

+1. Also keep in mind that you will have other things besides child related things to carry up on a daily basis such as work bag or carrying daycare required things with you as well. Seriously have your husband tryout the logistics as others have mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not do the 3rd floor walk up. You’re letting the pendulum swing all the way in the opposite direction and there is no compromise. Either keep looking for a better mutual fit, or, go with the 2nd floor walk up for less. You’re still going to hate it, but not as much as you will abhor a 3rd floor walk up. My mother had a 3rd floor walk up and hated it after a month. We tried to tell her. She didn’t listen.

Go higher than option #2 on the second floor but not as high in price as your first choice. That’s where you ZOPA is. You don’t want an infant carrier on your arm, and a kid, with backpacks, school projects, work tote, cold blustery wind drowning out your curses under your breath.

OP here. The good thing about the second floor walk-up is it's only one flight ( two set of 8 stairs) up, because the entrance stairs are leveled with the first floor as opposed to the ground floor. I would still prefer the convenience of an elevator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do not do the 3rd floor walk up. You’re letting the pendulum swing all the way in the opposite direction and there is no compromise. Either keep looking for a better mutual fit, or, go with the 2nd floor walk up for less. You’re still going to hate it, but not as much as you will abhor a 3rd floor walk up. My mother had a 3rd floor walk up and hated it after a month. We tried to tell her. She didn’t listen.

Go higher than option #2 on the second floor but not as high in price as your first choice. That’s where you ZOPA is. You don’t want an infant carrier on your arm, and a kid, with backpacks, school projects, work tote, cold blustery wind drowning out your curses under your breath.

+1. I know two couples that live on second and third floor walk ups. Both said it was a pain with kids. They also have a tough time finding a nanny because most were not willing to walk up all of those stairs with a baby in tow. Keep that in mind if you plan to hire a nanny.

[Anonymous]

Why did you marry someone who is a complete idiot?

[Anonymous]

Husband is 100000% correct on soending less.

IL is an absolute blackhole of horrible finances. The state has a pension crisis to the tune of a $200 billion dollar liability. The entire state of IL will go bankrupt soon. IL will keep increasing taxes. People right now are also fleeing IL en masse to escape the dire situation in IL. I would sink as little as possible into property, because you'll face increasing taxes and a big threat for a property value that may collapse in the future as the fiscal situation in IL continues to worsen. Husband is absolutely right to spend less. Keep looking to find something else for a lower price .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why did you marry someone who is a complete idiot?

For the same reason you were probably born one.

[Anonymous]

Make a list of non-starters for you and your DH. It must have:
- Zip Code xxxxx
- Elevator
- 1500 sq ft
- 2 full bathrooms
- lots of light
- modern remodel or new build
- heated garage for Chicago winters
- gym, pool, tennis
- security/concierge?

You want the $700k property, he wants $400k; look for something with all of your features $450-650K.

If you’re going to go with steps, would you consider a house? I’m not familiar with the Chicago market, but it looks like there are many options for cute SFHs in your range.

16 steps one way are 13 steps too many

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make a list of non-starters for you and your DH. It must have:
- Zip Code xxxxx
- Elevator
- 1500 sq ft
- 2 full bathrooms
- lots of light
- modern remodel or new build
- heated garage for Chicago winters
- gym, pool, tennis
- security/concierge?

You want the $700k property, he wants $400k; look for something with all of your features $450-650K.

If you’re going to go with steps, would you consider a house? I’m not familiar with the Chicago market, but it looks like there are many options for cute SFHs in your range.

16 steps one way are 13 steps too many

ETA: my suggestions obviously aren’t requirements for you, just examples of things to look at should you both go back to the drawing board

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make a list of non-starters for you and your DH. It must have:
- Zip Code xxxxx
- Elevator
- 1500 sq ft
- 2 full bathrooms
- lots of light
- modern remodel or new build
- heated garage for Chicago winters
- gym, pool, tennis
- security/concierge?

You want the $700k property, he wants $400k; look for something with all of your features $450-650K.

If you’re going to go with steps, would you consider a house? I’m not familiar with the Chicago market, but it looks like there are many options for cute SFHs in your range.

16 steps one way are 13 steps too many

Not OP but live in Chicago. Most houses in that area in their price range will be gut jobs and older homes with tons of problems. It sounds like they want something with less maintenance. OP said their budget is $800k. His pick is also $575k, not $400k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make a list of non-starters for you and your DH. It must have:
- Zip Code xxxxx
- Elevator
- 1500 sq ft
- 2 full bathrooms
- lots of light
- modern remodel or new build
- heated garage for Chicago winters
- gym, pool, tennis
- security/concierge?

You want the $700k property, he wants $400k; look for something with all of your features $450-650K.

If you’re going to go with steps, would you consider a house? I’m not familiar with the Chicago market, but it looks like there are many options for cute SFHs in your range.

16 steps one way are 13 steps too many

Not OP but live in Chicago. Most houses in that area in their price range will be gut jobs and older homes with tons of problems. It sounds like they want something with less maintenance. OP said their budget is $800k. His pick is also $575k, not $400k.

Aah, thanks for correcting my oversight. If it were me, I would try to find something between $575-675K that had an elevator before caving to the 2nd floor option w/ the 16 steps. It would be my absolute last choice. Hopefully she can find something! Is the location negotiable Op?

[Anonymous]

Op, how about some of these options?

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2242-W-Lawrence-Ave-60625/unit-201/home/160453921

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/60618/type-condo-townhome-row-home-co-op/price-na-700000/sby-2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, how about some of these options?

https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2242-W-Lawrence-Ave-60625/unit-201/home/160453921

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/60618/type-condo-townhome-row-home-co-op/price-na-700000/sby-2

Not OP, but I love that first property!

only thing is that the ask is very close to the original 700k that her DH didn’t want. OP should really know what the true hard stop is for him with price, and why. And if there are any concessions they could make to stay closer to 700.

Maybe she doesn’t stay at home, or takes part time work, postpones large purchases, they don’t upgrade the one car they have, or agree to skip vacations and dining out for a period of time to bank $x in an account. Or maybe it is a matter of investing money into a re market that he is concerned about, I don’t know. But it would be helpful for OP to know what can be negotiated even within the marriage.