$8,400 I don't have to pay. (Or: See, renting is not all that bad.)

Recently, the landlord was told by his insurer to replace the boiler in the basement.

I get a small discount on my rent in exchange for handling calls to repair places, so I got the estimate today.

$7,200 for the job, including the boiler itself, a boatload of new piping, related electrical work, a new thermostat, and clean-up/disposal.

$1,200 for...wait for it...asbestos abatement. There's tons in the basement -- it's legal for it to be there (intact) but they have to get rid of it if/when they replace components.

My landlord is going to shit a brick. Which is not my problem.

Should be interesting.

I'm going to sell now, wait for the bust next year....buy a mini-farm. I think we're near the top. If you have cash next year, perhaps you can pick up some cheap real estate.

because they say the interest rates are still low. I don't believe them, tell them to wait 6 months and see where the market is going.

My landlord just bought me a $1500 water heater. Ahhh, yes...so not my problem. ;)

;)

I've come to find out that home ownership is not the thing for me. Maybe a condo...but not a house.

Paying rent is like buying a house for someone else.

I pay $675 a month for my three-bedroom apartment. (I pay well under market rates, but I do have to take care of yard work and calling service companies.)

I'd be paying $900 a month for a similar condo, in a worse neighborhood. $1,100 at the least for a three-bedroom house of similar size.) Sure, I could tax-deduct some of it.

BUT: In the last year, there's been a $1,200 water heater AND now this $8,400 boiler. My landlord will spend more in repairs than I've paid him in rent -- and it's not like he can ask an extra $10,000 when he sells the house. It's taken for granted that there's hot water and heat.

AND I'm moving in the spring. I will have been in my apartmenr 18 months. Closing costs would eat up any potential gains (plus, I'd have to pay capital gains taxes on any profits above improvements and closing costs, as I wouldn't be there for two years).

I'm ahead.

And after replacing the roof, replacing the water heater, buliding a two-car garage, tearing up the basement to redo the sewer line to the street (including one bathroom and the family room), gutting the upstairs to remodel, and STILL needing another $50k worth of work to make it somewhat comfortable, I am NOT missing home ownership one tiny bit.

I rent now. In some ways it would be nice to have a house. More room, a yard where I could plant stuff, etc.

But on the other hand....Maintenance expenses, a yard where I'd have to hire somebody to do the heavy work (house too for that matter). I'm not sure.