h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just a quick note... K and I have found a condo that we like. We're planning to go check it out in person this weekend or early next week. We can swing the monthly payments, and the underwriters will receive the last documentation tomorrow.

I'm not superstitious in any way, but I wanted to let everyone know (a) why I've been so preoccupied these last few weeks, and (b) that I'm waiting with bated breath for good news, and I'd like you all pulling for me. If this worked out, we'd have a lovely duplex with a huge family room, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a dining room, a laundry room, and a parking space. Plus we could be in there by the end of the year, and with luck qualify for an $8,000 tax credit.

And I my have another bit of good news within the next few weeks, too. It involves something (or two closely related things) that once belonged to my grandmother and may soon belong to me. K asked for them, and received an affirmative. Certain involved family members don't know I know this, though....

Ooooo, yes, yes, yes, fingers, toes, etc all crossed. Good luck honey!! Oh, you deserve a nice condo, I hope everything goes smoothly. And will be waiting for other news down the line.

This one is nice. Newly rehabbed, seven rooms. Kitchen, dining room, living room, small den, bedroom and bath on ground floor; second bedroom, family room, laundry and second bath (with shower) on basement level. Glass block windows on basement level, nice appliances, dishwasher, central heat and air. Hardwood floors on main level and ceramic tile in basement.

I just LOVE it.

I'll keep everything crossed for you What exactly is a condo? I've heard the word on tv shows nd knew it was some type of house but never thought about it exactly. This place sounds lovey so I hope you get it. Is the thing from your grandmother something you can wear?

Van (finding it easier to type with crossed fingers than he thought it would be)

Of *course* we're all pulling for you. If you get that you'll probably have more room for visitors.

hope it works out pc

And to add tothe 'what's a condo' - what's a duplex?

A condo (condominium) is an apartment, but one that's owned rather than rented (as are the others in the complex.)

A duplex is just the same thing, but with two units, which are stacked rather than side by side, so it's a kind of semi-detached house split the other way.

That said, I've never understood how anyone can need a living room, family room, *and* den, aren't they all kind of the same thing?

And it all sounded wonderful till you said glass blocks

Still, good luck

Yes, good luck...

I'm almost-but-not-quite ready to buy something myself, so in the meantime I'll follow your hunt with interest and just a touch of envy.

As a child, I knew what a condo was - a kind of apartment, in the same building but not together.

And thought that thus, a condom (which I knew kept people from getting pregnant) must be when married couples slept in separate beds In the same bedroom, but not together...

Well, I don't quite have a den here, but I've usually had my computer desk in the second bedroom, which is too small for guests. So we do need a second bedroom and a room for the computer, files, etc (den). If we got this one, the family room would primarily be for the bookcases, CD towers, etc. And we could stick my current kitchen table down there. Really, we just need the additional *space*.

As far as glass block windows- at basement level, I prefer glass block so people can't see in. It also seems to eliminate the need for burglar bars.

And yes, a condo is typically similar to an apartment, whether in a two, three or multi unit building. A duplex is a condo (there are also some duplex apartments) that has two or more levels; some duplexes have lofts rather than being on two floors. Kind of like a townhouse.

I've never really understood what's meant by "semi-detached" in the UK.

Mala, I think your understanding of condom as a kid makes sense- especially if things which two people use are "tandem".

Ah, so the meaning has shifted a little. Your "duplex" - an apartment with an internal staircase to a different level - is what we call a "maisonette" here.

I'd call it a 'townhouse'. Our maisonettes are single-level.

Just thought I'd confuse matters further... G'night all.

OK, I;d heard of maisonette before, and had it all wrong- I thought those were what we called studios or efficiency apartments (one room/ one room with separate sort of kitchen-y area).

A duplex is similar to a townhouse, yes. I'm not entirely sure what the difference is, to be honest.

Now to get really confusing, the "studio" in German is an Appartement - pronounced in four syllables and often pseude-French as "A-part-e-mang"

But they've all started calling normal flats "Apartments", pronounced the English way, to sell them better!

I'm always fascinated by all the different words/phrases used to describe the same things from one place to another.

We're also looking at houses- those have the same name everywhere, right? But most of what we're seeing in our price range (we're assuming $250K max, with 10% down) are repossessions, many of which are in need of substantial repairs or renovations. It sort of defeats the purpose of buying something that's not more than one can afford, if one then has to invest another chunk of cash into making it liveable.

Oh, but are they terraced houses, semi-detached, free-standing, bungalows (which somehow often do end up with multiple storeys )...

I suppose the question is how willing and able you are to do a lot of the work yourself.

Place sounds huge! We have a 3 bed semi-detached house, but we only have one bathroom, one reception / living / den / family room with a kitchen / dining room. It would fit inside the condo we stay in in Florida, easily, even though that's a 2 bed, single storey job.

It's been my impression from trips to the US that room sizes are far more generous there than in Europe, so I'm guessing your first property is going to dwarf my little house. I'm very jealous. On the plus side for me, I hate cities and where I live I'm in a very small town (and we're on the outskirts) near to a nature reserve.

I miss Florida though, the recreational opportunities and the weather mostly, but also the view, the sky and the sea.

Hmmm. I seem to have rambled on.

Honestly, most of the places that need "fixing up" need stuff like replacement roof, replacement windows, etc. And anything carpeted, we'd have to tear up all the carpet and put down or refinish the hardwood. We've neither of us the time or skill to do flooring, and it's not possible to get a work permit for roofing or windows unless one is a bonded contractor. So once you get all the permits and pay for the work, it adds up!

Also a lot of repos don't have any appliances, so that'd cost a bit.

I have no real preference in regards to house or condo, with the exception that if we got a house, I could plant a garden (it'd be nice to have some fresh veggies or a lilac bush) and could install a bathtub like the one I have now (the oval ones with feet). One typically can't do that with a condo.

'Course one could always start out with a condo, then sell when one has enough equity for a down payment. The cheapest house in my area is around $500K. I can't swing those monthly payments with the down payment I have now.

Ismamrah, I'm the opposite of you- I could never live in a small town. I like having access to public transport, cultural institutions, and getting to work in an hour or less.

We really need the second bathroom, and we really do need more space. We've hit critical mass and need more bookcases and CD storage, and have nowhere to put them!

I keep forgetting that over there, houses usually come with appliances. How very odd.

Though it's annoying that you have to bring your own kitchen even in a rental, here...

That does seem odd- over here, it's not even legal to rent out a unit without working appliances, at least refrigerator and stove.

Most of the time, houses do come with appliances, yes. It factors into the cost, of course. The place we're looking at doesn't appear to have *all* new appliances, but the dishwasher and laundry units look fairly new and the fridge and stove look clean. There's a microwave, too (those don't always come with the house, unless they're built-in, like this one has), but I hardly use the one we have so that's neither here nor there.