Michael

I understood what you were trying to say but I was just pointing out that a bedroom can't be called a bedroom unless it meets certain requirements. In the last place I lived, there were townhouses with two large 500+ sq. ft. master bedrooms and a nice sized room at the top of the stairs and it was advertised as a two bedroom home. I wondered why and finally realized that the room at the top of the stairs didn't have a window. This was the most expensive floor plan in the complex but was also the only floor plan that was not advertised as 3 bedrooms.

Mr Weeze

Realtors here list them as whatever they can get away with calling them on HAR. We've seen correct listings as well as things being called bedrooms without any closets, rooms being counted twice, etc.

ChocolateBabz

One of neighbours had their house listed with something like 7 bedrooms but when you looked at the photos on HAR they had counted rooms with an arch in between the space as 2 separate rooms, I think they had also listed their media room as a bedroom, as you say they will make up any old crap to get you through the door.

Michael

That sounds like Texas. They don't like government regulations.

Weeze

Don't mess with Texas. Especially not on Go Texans day.

Michael

Oops, sorry. I didn't know it was such an important day.

Bob

Those people lied

sybil580

L&Gs
Just as we are on the topic of housing can anyone tell me what the typical interest rate is like? for standard variable (or whatever they call it there) and for a fixed mortgage with a deposit of 25% (or 10% or 15% or any other)? if you dont know the exact numbers can you give a ballpark figure please.
Thanks

Mr Weeze

3.5% with 20% down fixed is typical right now as long as it is <417,000. Not sure on ARM (adjustable rate mortgage)

Bob

Ball park figures won't apply though because you don't have any credit history.

If the company doesn't organise it, you'll more than likely need 20% down, probably more.

Thing is, it really is a bad idea to buy in the first year unless you've already lived in the area, not just because of the mortgage/insurance issues, but because it is so much more expensive to sell a place here, which unless you have a greencard, is all very risky.

Englishtart

I would definitely second Bob's point about buying, we did it twice, in two different States,(one was Texas) not only did we hate the area after we had lived there for longer than a month, but we lost money on both sales too! Much easier to rent at first, you will have time to get to know the area, quite possibly find a better one and not have to sell a house to move there!

Bomjeito

We had zero problem getting a mortgage through Wells Fargo here with their International division. They do tons of mortgages for expats coming here... You do need a letter from your company asserting your salary, and we also had to prove our life in Scotland, etc.

Then it was a normal mortgage choice - ARM or fixed, terms, etc. They did NOT require 20% down, or any figure at all.

Have you been here? Been to Katy? We work in EC as well but chose not to live in Katy because of the commute, lack of things to do for single/married no kids folks, and because we really did want to live in Houston. We looked at West U, Rice Village, Heights and Memorial. We loved Heights but not the small plots. We liked Memorial but not the older homes that needed rehab.

We ended up in Lakes on Eldridge (north) because its very convenient to EC and east to town, as well as decent price for good lot and newer home with pool. At the time, we did not know that many expats do land here, however the community has folks from all over, including a ton from Houston originally. Its 7 miles to hubby's work. Easy.

Katy is like living in Westhill or Dyce. You are a bit far from Aberdeen cultural scene but you get the cheaper housing. And you have to commute. If your desire is to do a lot of activities inside the loop(s), then Katy will not appeal to you. If a big house and pool for less is the goal - and commuting is not an issue, then Katy may appeal to you.

Above all, spend time here first before you make that decision. We too came over with an eye to Katy because of the big house/pool. We changed our mind after a few commutes during rush hour/school let outs.

You'll find that from May to October, you'll yearn for the lovely Aberdeen weather. Seriously.

Mr Weeze

WF have closed their international division unfortunately.

Bomjeito

Maybe I've called it the wrong division. Ours was underwritten as a regular mortgage but different credentials requested as we came from overseas.

The woman we dealt with at Post Oak just last week assisted a new foreign person here with a mortgage like ours. We referred them to her. We held a normal mortgage but were underwritten by WF up in Kansas with salary as a part of the application approval. Hubby had only a green card at that time, no SSN or credit in USA. SSN of course was to be provided as soon as it was processed. I'll call on Monday and ask if they no longer underwrite as such.

Bomjeito

Forgot to add...

Tons of available folks to do meals at your home with reasonable salaries. I can recommend someone for Katy area in fact.

As for pool service, we do our own as it's not too difficult, just keep it up. Weekly service in our neck of woods is easy to come by and about $80 a week with chemicals. We pay $25 a week for lawn service but we have a small lawn. We have a quarter acre lot.

We used Dinner Dude in Memorial for meal prep and delivery when the twins arrived.

One thing about Houston, finding someone to do all your chores is easy. Lots of folk available for such and not nearly as expensive as Aberdeen.

IMHO, buying a house without living a while in the community is a very expensive gamble. Do you have a local realtor?