The Home Ownership Thread

[PhilKenSebben]

View attachment 1646683

Any luck with that several thousand gallon water leak you lobbied to keep owning for the next few years?

 

[Omega Male]

Actually hoping it’s been fixed. Plumbers came out this week while we were away. Won’t be able to tell until I get back and can check the meter.

 

[Piobaire]

What's the home ownership rate in places South Africa and France? Is the homeownership thing just a US phenomena?

 

[beargonefishing]

What's the home ownership rate in places South Africa and France? Is the homeownership thing just a US phenomena?

I read a book over 20 years ago about Latin American economic development that, iirc, argued that lack of individual land ownership, and homesteads, was a big reason it fell behind the US. I don't remember how persuasive it was, although it was part of an international economics class I took at the most prestigious university in Waco.

 

[Piobaire]

And we all know how well homesteading ended up in the 90s in Waco...

 

[Fueco]

I don't remember how persuasive it was, although it was part of an international economics class I took at the most prestigious university in Waco.

The David Koresh Waffle House Training Institute?

 

[PhilKenSebben]

I read a book over 20 years ago about Latin American economic development that, iirc, argued that lack of individual land ownership, and homesteads, was a big reason it fell behind the US. I don't remember how persuasive it was, although it was part of an international economics class I took at the most prestigious university in Waco.

McLennan Community College? or did you go to Texas State Technical College?

 

[nootje]

What's the home ownership rate in places South Africa and France? Is the homeownership thing just a US phenomena?

France Home Ownership Rate

Home Ownership Rate in France decreased to 63.40 percent in 2022 from 64.70 percent in 2021. This page provides the latest reported value for - France Home Ownership Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey...

tradingeconomics.com

About 65%

 

[Piobaire]

So pretty much the same as the US.

 

[jbarwick]

So pretty much the same as the US.

I was just reading about this. In countries without Property Registers or a lot of hurdles to pass such as number of years it takes to transfer property, ownership can be quite low. It usually takes the government quite a while to turn this around

 

[RedLantern]

Demo started today on our back-to-back bathroom remodels. Living through construction is always hell, but at least we're underway now.

 

[Van Veen]

In case anyone has been itching for money pit updates:

I knew I had a humidity/moisture problem in the addition that is technically the master suite. We don't use it as a master suite, so we've kept the doors shut. Turns out it's worse than expected. We had some linens and pillows in the closet that are ruined by mold, and there was mold on the walls of the bathroom (which luckily wiped right off with Clorox spray).

Part of the problem is that this is on the other side of the house from the air handler, so it's not really getting enough conditioned air (especially the closet and bathroom). We kept the doors shut to keep pets out, so the temporary solution is to buy a new pet gate and keep the doors open for more HVAC airflow.

The other part of the problem is the negative patio grade is at its worst right there, so water is flowing into the foundation wall. (That's probably the biggest problem.)

Both of these were things we knew we needed to address. We were going to gut the addition anyway. This might just move up the timeline.

 

[brokencycle]

In case anyone has been itching for money pit updates:

I knew I had a humidity/moisture problem in the addition that is technically the master suite. We don't use it as a master suite, so we've kept the doors shut. Turns out it's worse than expected. We had some linens and pillows in the closet that are ruined by mold, and there was mold on the walls of the bathroom (which luckily wiped right off with Clorox spray).

Part of the problem is that this is on the other side of the house from the air handler, so it's not really getting enough conditioned air (especially the closet and bathroom). We kept the doors shut to keep pets out, so the temporary solution is to buy a new pet gate and keep the doors open for more HVAC airflow.

The other part of the problem is the negative patio grade is at its worst right there, so water is flowing into the foundation wall. (That's probably the biggest problem.)

Both of these were things we knew we needed to address. We were going to gut the addition anyway. This might just move up the timeline.

If you're not 'getting enough conditioned air' on the opposite side of the house, your system is either not sized right or has a leak. We have a walk in closet on the opposite side without its own register, and the door is closed 24x7. It is warmer than the rest of the house, but there is no moisture.

 

[double00]

i'd think surface runoff ==> wet crawlspace / footing could well contribute

veen have you figured out how you are going to deal with the grade ? iirc this was a known thing ...

 

[RSS]

the negative patio grade is at its worst right there, so water is flowing into the foundation wall. (That's probably the biggest problem.)

As an architect I highly recommend you fix this. Also consider getting a dehumidifier.

Our place in San Diego has had a mold problem. As we are away for long periods, leaving a few of the covered windows slightly ajar (for air flow) and using a dehumidifier has solved it.