tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post5885037001557309857..comments2009-10-13T19:14:20.063-07:00Mistihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124848374517836600noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-1231415436272330692009-10-13T19:14:20.063-07:002009-10-13T19:14:20.063-07:00Definetly not alone on this .<br />My blog dedicateed to the same.<br /><br />http://www.mygirlyfiles.commrspiggyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06204194374449615759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-33818038197045671062007-09-10T14:04:00.000-07:002007-09-10T14:04:00.000-07:00You may not need as much as you think. Once you know where you want to live make appointments with local banks. We found a bank on the main street of our town that offered a 5% downpayment, no closing costs (saved us $8,000) and no PMI. We live in an area where everyone wanted to buy in a wooded area outside of town and the bank was giving these special loans to anyone who bought within a 5 block radious of the bank in town. So call around and speak directly with the bankers. We made sure to buy a house that we could afford the monthly payment easily on one income. That's the most important part. The bank wanted to lend us more money - that would have made our monthly payment higher (and their profits) but we said no. The house is not our "dream" house, but we're building equity and we are no longer paying very high rent.<BR/><BR/>Good luck to you and your family - I love your post about involving everyone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-77828545959236244162007-07-30T10:19:00.000-07:002007-07-30T10:19:00.000-07:00take a look at this article<BR/>http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/realestate/29cov.html?em&ex=1185854400&en=1248a1e1d68d4d51&ei=5087%0Aj2rhttp://www.journey2retirement.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-16170528288097190842007-07-23T09:29:00.000-07:002007-07-23T09:29:00.000-07:00These are good steps in obtaining any goal.<BR/><BR/>Once you are organized now you can attack !!Moneymonkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08742625250214975088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-19493200332451989292007-07-22T05:16:00.000-07:002007-07-22T05:16:00.000-07:00Looks like you did a great job of breaking down your goal into smaller achievable steps. That's how the best problem solvers accomplish things in their lives. I hope your plans work out for you and your family!<BR/><BR/>-RYRYhttp://mangroverootgang.com/2007/07/17/do-we-really-need-stress-to-be-productive.aspxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-56524247754356503672007-07-21T21:53:00.000-07:002007-07-21T21:53:00.000-07:00@j2r The other half of out tax return I put into an emergency and fun account. <BR/><BR/>I decided to take off all the ads because mine's really a hobby too :)Mistihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07124848374517836600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-46934224685286542712007-07-19T20:58:00.000-07:002007-07-19T20:58:00.000-07:00I'm also contributing to your house fund by clicking on ads to help a bit. I like to help other small PF bloggers like myself. And I know you could use this ad revenue ;)<BR/>For me, it's more of a hobby.j2rhttp://www.journey2retirement.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-18691214286057126362007-07-19T20:56:00.000-07:002007-07-19T20:56:00.000-07:00I love the idea of getting the kids involved. I'm not sure about #7. I think you should treat any tax return as a bonus and try to save as much of it as possible.<BR/>Another suggestion is to create another ING Savings account for emergency funds. Some emergencies are not really emergencies and if the money is saved up in one single spot, you might be tempted to tap that fund for that "emergency". Eg: Your car breaks down and you need a new one. If you have $10k in your emergency fund, you might be tempted to tap more than you actually need. However, if you had the money in 2 separate accounts, it's easier to control yourself and only tap the emergency fund. Eg: $4k in your emergency fund and $6k in your house funds.<BR/>By the way, I'm still working on the 8 random things about myself. It's not as simple as it looks like.j2rhttp://www.journey2retirement.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2143521183701222290.post-7219964462843180762007-07-19T16:18:00.000-07:002007-07-19T16:18:00.000-07:00What a great article! Getting the family motivated and focus getting a deposit down on a house is very challenging, especially if the kids are young.<BR/><BR/>I like the way you emphasis communications as the key point.tehnyithttp://cheap-as-chips.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com