MARYLAND TACOMAS

What do you care. You're retired, and only drive to the Wawa for coffee. Get a coffee maker like the rest of us Daddy Warbucks!

 

That sucks. I can't imagine it has anything to do with your absence though.

When we were buying, we asked our relator to put a bid in on a house, and we were told the seller accepted, he was picking up the contract that night. Then called us back and said the seller was having an open house. We didn't understand and questioned it. The next thing we heard was that there was another offer on the house, 5k more than ours. We bit, added 5k, and they countered. At that point I was like wait, they accepted our offer and now that there's interest they are gonna drive it up. Screw that. We walked away.

I was over in that area this past weekend you were looking, and not to make matters worse but it's a very nice area. Should something else pop up. It's a mix of development, and older homes.
Keep the faith, someone will take your money, I am sure. Just be diligent and if you need, let me know and I will check out the area in person for you.

 

That’s how it is in SC. My gf threw an offer at a house higher than the other bidder. Seller chose the other bidder because they all went to the same church

 

Can't fight corruption of any type. Maybe you should just join that church you 4Loco heathen.

 

To late, it’s already been blessed

 

Thanks guys -

Thanks - When I submitted the offer the seller's first question was something like "Wha? They aren't even going to walk through it? What if they change their mind and back out??" Neverminding we probably couldn't back out once the offer is accepted, assuming the VA checks it out and all that. My Realtor explained what a PCS is and how often military-associated folks buy sight unseen because they need a place, like a place, and are ready to pull the trigger.

We had escalators - going to out-bid everyone by $2500 up to our max; and the max was set based on what it'd likely appraise at, plus a little bit more for cushion, that we'd cover in cash if needed. Was a very strong offer.

Crazy. Trying to not get discouraged. Really trying to avoid renting at all costs.

 

This made me LOL thinking how we need this guy up in Philly before we begin.

Or this guy!!

https://youtu.be/NgEOTc2qgVg

 

Geeze, well, you definitely have the offer tied up like a pro. Not sure why anyone would care if you saw it or not. Hell, we'll sell you our place, it's a mansion so it will cost you. LOL I'll find some shutter stock photos of some places in Beverly Hills to show you examples because our camera is broken.

But seriously, why does the seller care, that's dumb. Maybe they want a personal connection. For what, there's no point. It's likely an older owner selling most of the places now anyway so they are on the way out. Besides, who wouldn't want to sell to anyone active or retired military/first responder?! That makes me irritated some.

I looked online at Long & Foster and didn't see the places up the street. I am going to slow down and take a pic of the signs so we can get a phone number. Odd they have signs and no listing online.

 

I just dunno man - I hear a few things about what things are like in MD. My Free-Milk-Provider (as-in "Why by the cow if the milk is free?) was talking to her job headhunter person - and replied with a "yes ma'am". Headhunter almost gasped and said "Well, just so you know, we don't 'ma'am' and 'sir' up here - it's not really done. Was odd that it's a point of contention-enough for her to mention it. So we have a few things to adjust to:

Crazy taxes/fees.
No ma'am - unless it really is "Ma'am" like at a Gamestop etc.
Being within 30 miles of two other states
Traffic
No guns
Fresh seafood
Baltimore
Salty Roads


The price we're paying so i can work on my high-three salary years eh?

 

i'm generally game to try PA; just need it to be reasonably-close-ish to APG

 

Crazy, sorry to hear about the disappointment. You were going through a realtor that knows that you are qualified/pre-approved to buy the property, you would think that an out of state seller would understand that.

 

Especially one in such proximity to a military base. (shrug).

Onward.

 

First, here's another story, to the attention of what John @Taco critter said, and others too.

So when the wife and I bought our first house it was in the city. Naturally because it was all we could afford and it was close to our family. After 11 years we decided to move. We wanted to be close to my Wife's Mom in 'Rosedale' which is just 8 miles from the city center. Prices were exuberant. We looked in a radius around this and found the same thing, with prices getting way worse the closer we got to Essex, Middle River, near any water. The other direction was Perry Hall. So we inched out farther, increasing our radius. Prices were coming down but not enough. Then we jumped out to the point we were questioning the distance to drive to work. This was when we were in the Kingsville, Joppatown, Joppa Road East areas....we were trying to stay close to the I-05 corridor if possible.........then we saw houses in areas we thought were too expensive but weren't. We added some distance and now, we were out in areas like Madonna, Fallston, Jarrettsville, Abingdon, and we really doubted the distance. So don't discount over the border into Pa. Or up into Cecil County. Try to stay closer to the Susquehanna River though.

This went on for like 2 years, with us doing 90% of the leg work the entire time. We literally looked online, then did all our drive-bys first, sometimes twice at different times of the day, depending on the area, and still felt like we were having a hard time.

We got lost once driving to this area (where we live now) to look at a house. When we got there, we were like fuuu-uuuk this shit! This is way to far out!

Now, when the process began, we had seen the house we ultimately went into debt for (I have not bought it yet) but knew immediately it was ridiculous because, distance, price, and distance. Forget that it had a pool. So when we were finally out in this area we again looked at the listings and saw this place. We had kind of already resigned to the price we were at now, and how we would likely spend less than if we had bought closer to the city (or town as is most cases) anyway. We called the realtor and he said that he was in the driveway of the house at the time, because the seller wasn't getting any bites, needed to sell, and dropped the price. There was 4" of snow on the ground but we jumped in the truck (Dodge Ram at the time) and shot up. Took a little over an hour from our house in the city where there wasn't a speck of snow on the ground, which is very typical for Maryland. It was dark, but the house had outdoor lighting, and was empty, so the walk through was quick. It even had an inground pool. We hadn't considered it but what the hell. We are both water people and love to party so.....we finally did the deal.

But yea, 2 years, and like I said, we did most of the work. I know you don't want to rent but as a last ditch effort, maybe just get into a really nice, new development until you can get a house. My nephew sold his house in Joppa, and moved his family into a 2 bedroom apartment on US 1 just south of Bel Air. They just got lucky on a house in Jarrettsville. But they have all sorts of contingencies in place still. Maybe the drive to Pa or even up 95 to Delaware wouldn't be so bad. Delaware has no State Tax. A lot retirees move to the shore there. Hell, I'd do it too. I like the Eastern Sho'.

But yea, keep the faith, and trust me, there's a lot of great here in Maryland.

You're going to pay for shit more than you want to anywhere you live. Especially so, closer to any areas of concentration. Plus, no one is ever going to give a hard working man (or woman) anything for free. That's how they make their money. Not off of free loaders. That's on you and I too.

I get Sir a lot, and I was raised by a Marine Father, and also an old Irish Grandfather. We were taught at an early age how to be respectful and polite. A lot people are trying to make that a thing again, pretty much everywhere. Some never will. I will never stop. But I do agree, it was more prevalent up here 20 years ago, and has waned over time. Not to ruffle any feathers but "damn kids these days". Just kidding. Thankfully, a lot of the children I interact with are polite. It's their parents that suck. LOL

Being close to Four states is great! You can be in Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, or Pennsylvania in hours, or in my case, minutes (to Pa). These each have a lot to offer. The shore in Delaware to the Mountains of Va, WVa & Pa. Rivers to fish, hunting, crabbing. Lots of local things to do an see.

Traffic in and around any city is bad. Maryland is bad. No lying about that. What options are there though. I have to commute, till I retire. I have been to worse places though. Philly, NYC come to mind. I think you'll find that the Northern areas of Maryland closer to the Pa line are less congested than others make it out to be. I got lucky with a riding mower pickup the other day for my nephew and barely had to stop at a single light through town with my trailer. That's a major feat for me because I tend to drive like I have sense when I am towing. But again, no sugar coating from me, traffic here sicks at times and you will wish you had a laser beam mounted on the top of the Tacoma so you can eradicate the morons in front of you.

No guns. Oh, right. No guns.

If you like seafood, we are known to have some. I was in Myrtle once, and we drove down to Charleston I think it was, to the naval base. While we were there we ate at a place on the water, a large inlet I believe. Anyway, the point is, they had crab cakes so I got them. No offense to our SC neighbors but holy fuk they were nasty! They had red and green pepper in them, and some other weird things I have never had in a crab cake. They use the term Jenny too, for female crabs down there. I make the best crab cake I have ever had, hands down, but crab meat is so expensive these days I just buy them steamed. Until Eric and his Brother & Sons start selling them. LOL

What can I say about Baltimore I haven't said already........it's not good. It's great for day trips (watch your back) but I am not a fan of being exposed for any longer than I have to be. Now I was recently in the Federal Hill and Fells Pont areas recently walking my dogs. It was great. I'd do it again for the experience for them. Do I need the experience, hell no. I grew up there. I work there. There's a lot of bad in Baltimore people don't see. I have LEO family there and they tell me some shit. I have seen shit first hand. You don't ever have to go into Baltimore, even if you lived south and worked north of it. We have the beltway.

Salty Roads, Salty Balls, no difference. It's the east coast. They use salt on the east coast. I think they test every grain of salt here, and it doesn't make a difference most of the time but hey, I had too much left over income not to tax so........My Lexus stays off the roads here from Like December to March. The truck is my go to. I'll deal with the undercarriage as needed. I do wash the underside with one of those pressure washer roller things that sprays the belly. So I feel like I am doing something proactive at least.

And then there is us, your new TW family, and you'll have those guys all around us too! That's got make living homeless worth it if needed right?

 

Crazy the universe won't let you move to MD and it won't let me move out of MD lmao.

 

Thank you! Yeah, I really know there will be tons of great stuff there - I've lived in a ton of places and every place has its share of bullshit and amazing.

Tracking - I got pretty jaded living around Detroit with regards to paying for stuff. Every time the auto industry would toss buckets of dollars to appease the union, everyone's prices would rise because a) people with goods knew folks had more money b) consumers would encourage it by over-paying. The older I get the more persnicketty i get over blowing money on stuff.

Foh Sho. Parents are changing. We do what we can, i guess.

In Germany I hated the way they did most traffic - often closing EVERY route in/out of areas i needed to be. Public Works would absolutely make traffic a shit-show, again and again and again...then i moved here to OKC where "bad" traffic is a .5 mile stop-and-go. I'll get used to Maryland in no time.

I really do. I grew up near Seattle and took it for granted. But I cannot wait to start learning to cook fresh-caught stuff. I'll take you up on the crab cake challenge; I've never made them but i'd still throw down just to get your secrets!

Trackin

The TW Family was/is the best part. At least already being in contact with the natives - all y'alls insights are hugely value-added to me.

 

Pretty fair assement. I miss the rules of the road in Afghanistan where we could just give the idiots a love tap with the gun truck or have the gunner throw rocks at their windshield to get them out of our way. Bumping still works but is frowned upon by the local cops so now I just pass when it's safe to do so. Or smoke a bowl and drive that's been my goto now a days.

 

The VA is in Baltimore they say no weapons but i always bring my karambit when in Baltimore. Depending on the area I may even illegally conceal carry cause it's better to have a firearm and not need it than to need one and not have it that's a mistake you usually only get to make once. Def keep your head on a swivel and watch out for the Baltimore Zombies when walking between the VA Hospital and the Annex.

 

https://youtu.be/iTUSfZ9hkT8

 

Ok, so now I have two to help! Anywhere Chip? Or into a house somewhere?

 

We haven't figure out where we want to move. We were suppose to go out to AZ this summer to scout out AZ UT CO and NM but that's in jeopardy now with fuel prices. So we may stay closer and jump down to TN GA AL. Than of course we have WV but I'm trying to get away from the cold my arthritis doesn't like the winters anymore. We were suppose to go to LA and TX as well on our trip out to AZ.