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4/7/11

Tourist vs Resident

During comments on yesterday's post, I got this gem:




Aaron M. Gipson said...







Milk crates and planks, my friend! The only building materials you need, and they even have that sharp avant garde look to them that just screams brilliance.

I also think that trying to buy that house would be a great idea. From what I've read, that area of the country is expecting a pretty big growth boom here soon. It would be a good idea to lock down that sweet mortgage rate while the getting is good!


And it made me think.


Yes, this is a great time to buy.

The housing market is decent.

Interest rates on home loans are pretty good.

I could get a mortgage right now and--

Wait wait wait...

If you look at my headline, I am a Californian.  I consider myself to be a permanent tourist.

If I buy this home.  I will own property in Idaho.  I won't be a tourist any more.  I'd be a resident.

There is a difference to me in "I'm living in Idaho" to "I live in Idaho."

Am I ready to be an Idahoan?

Or do I consider myself to still be a visitor?  A wanderer?






This will take some thought....
Please Share it! :)

29 witty retorts:

LilPixi said...

I dunno, that's tough man, from California to Idaho.

From a state filled with so much no other possesses to a state filled with....potatoes. Lol

Zombie said...

I wish I could by my own house.

Choirchick22 said...

Well. There are plus sides to living in Idaho... like...it's not Utah!

Levi said...

I guess Idaho would be a great place to just kick back and relax. Then again, relaxing can get boring as well.

Julie Ferguson said...

I would be sure it is where you really want to live before putting down roots.

Sharon Day said...

Very good point. I've been stuck in AZ since 77 and I still consider it a hostage situation.

D4 said...

If you buy a house in Brazil, are you Brazilian or do you own a house in Brazil? You'll always be a Californian, it's who you are, not where you live.

Although, I guess you could become a Mormon for that 'true' Idaho feel, right?

Lendo Khar said...

I would live anywhere, even in an orange box, I only need a bathroom and Internet.

Aaron M. Gipson said...

Well that's because you are seeing the potential purchase as an anchor keeping you there as opposed to a passive income generator waiting to happen should you decide to rent it out and move back to Cali.

I own my house here, but if you were to ask any of my neighbors, they wouldn't exactly describe me as the Costa Rican next door. I'll always be an American and a Cracker (Floridian) wherever I go, be it here or Thailand (which I am considering recently). So I wouldn't worry about a home purchase being like that crystal phone booth that took Superman's powers away in the only good Superman movie taking away your Californianism (is that a word?). I've known your tribe...that's not exactly a trait you guys tend to lose...

kitkat said...

lol u pretty much live in idaho already so u might as well buy a house. no need procrastinating on the inevitable. :p

Chris Phillips said...

I have a house in Nebraska, but "I'm from Kansas" still flies out of my mouth about 3-5 times a week. If it's a good deal, it's a good deal. (so long as you plan to stay 3+ years to build equity.)

Chris Phillips said...

Also, how did you get the animated .gif to work? I have tried a million times with epic fail.

Unknown said...

@CP: I embedded the picture from photobucket. If you do a direct upload, the animation in the gif doesn't work. However if you use the 'img src=' html, it works perfectly.

Not only do I bitch a lot, I also inform. I'll be here all week, people. Try the veal, and don't forget to tip your waiter.

Kelly said...

I think 'living in Idaho' and 'I live in Idaho' are two different things, like you say. To me, if you've been in one state for at least a year, stayed there, gotten a girlfriend or wife, had a job and all that- Then I would say you actually LIVE IN IDAHO. You should celebrate or something. Here... Have a beer... or a tater! Or whatever puts a smile on your face, dude.

Unknown said...

i agree with Lendo Khar

Anonymous said...

Best to be a wanderer man. Don't get tied down.

Unknown said...

Now you're just being silly. I know you're joking (to an extent), but don't act like purchasing a piece of land and a home is somehow going to change who you are. Like you said change happens when you want it to. If you stay true to your "California" colors (which I think is an absurd thought to begin with... identifying yourself with a state) then you should have nothing to worry about, whether or not you own property in Idaho or Nebraska... I like to joke and say I'm the quintessential New England elitist (and although I have stereotypical New England traits) but in reality I'm more anchored to myself than the place I reside in.

#19 said...

Sometimes you just have to roll the dice and take a chance in life.. As long as you're prepared to live in your car ;)

Kicking Rocks said...

I live in florida, but i dont consider myself to be a floridian?

Shutterbug said...

It's a good time to buy real estate. Do it now before it gets expensive.

XPSMcLaren said...

Agreed buy NOW. In fact, look for a foreclosure and buy, 4 bed 2.5 bath for 60,000? Why not!

Dale said...

That would be tough but I bet you could buy a mansion in Idaho for what you'd pay for a small condo in California :) I think you can consider yourself to be whatever you want. You can be an Idaho resident until you move again.

Thanks for your comments on the legs post. You're right, you have to be careful with that stuff. haha

-Dale

CandleintheDark said...

I don't! Moving is hard

BrAd? said...

Moving houses is a bitch.

i said...

Personally I think the bottom has yet to fall out of the US housing market. But as long as you, or any buyer, doesn't over-extend when it comes to buying, then it's never a bad move...get it, move? Ha!

The Reckmonster said...

If you can put money into a house rather than throwing it away on rent - you would be silly not to go ahead and buy the house. It's not like you could move back to Cali tomorrow and buy a house, right?! Build your equity and take the tax benefits. I bought my house here in TN, but that doesn't make me a Tennessean. I also owned a house in SC and one in FL...it's just a smart move if you buy smart. And face it - you'll never be embraced as a native in Idaho - you're way too smart, hilarious and worldly...so don't worry - you'll always retain your "tourist" status (at least according to the locals!). LOL

Megan Hansen said...

Land is so cheap in Idaho, you would have a lot of space and could probably afford a big house for the price of a tiny California home. It depends what you want for your money.

Q said...

You could probably catch a good deal out there if it's anything like Mississippi. Being a resident spud can't be all that bad. You'll always been a Cali kid at heart. Besides, you can travel back to Cali and tell them about the bikini bar they once had in ID! I bet your Cali homies don't have a story like that!

Kenzie said...

Thats awesome news man.

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