Atlanta rent increases outpaced most of the country last year

[UberEatsDriver]

True, the night I moved to Denver this young white kid saw our Penske on the street and asked where we were moving from. Long story short, he was moving to Brooklyn with about 3 friends in two days. Parents owned a big 2,700 sq ft house in Thornton, about 15 minutes north of Denver. Ran across around 20 or so more people saying the same when I was moving around in the city.

Yes these new young kids love the idea of living with room mates. That’s why I never understand people who laugh at people living like that as if they are truly “struggling”.

They choose to live like that and whenever the roller coaster named NYC becomes boring they can easily go home to the burbs and live happily ever after lol.

 

[intruder]

Higher utility bills, higher insurance cost, taxes, upkeep/maintenance, and repairs are some things just off the top of my head. I'm not knocking anyone who chooses to buy though, I'm just saying that buying a house may or may not be a good financial decision.

Let's dissect this real quick:

Higher Utility bills: FALSE

• My electric bill for my 4 bdr/2bath house are near if not almost the same as my electric bill when i used to have my 1bdr 1bath apartment. I know it's mainly because me, not being used to GA winters at the time, used to set my thermostat to 85 degrees when i lived in my apartment and keep at at a modest 72 degrees in the house but still. I have 3 laptops, 2 servers constantly plugged into my electrcity. I also have smart light switches that connect to wi-fi and always using electricity so i can remotely turn lights on and off as I please. Speaking of wifi, i have 2 wi-fi routers + one wifi-range extender that are always on. I have 3 TVs (tho i only use 2) an electric stove and fridge. My highest electricity bill in 4 years in this house: $172. In my apartment my average electricity bill during winters was over $300 with the highest being $472. I think i should still have the screenshot of that $472 one somewhere from when i showed it to a friend. I'll look it up and upload.
• My apartment complex used to charge me $33 for "water and trash fees". I once got a $400+ dollar water bill form my water company and i challenged it. Once they figured it was their mistake and reduced it about $8. Outside of that i have yet to get a water bill over $12.

Higher Insurance:

• yes insurance will cost you more because you are insuring a house and all its contents as compared to Renters insurance where you are only covering its contents since you dont own the property when rental. DUH!

Taxes:

• You get back all the property taxes you pay when you file your income taxes. THat's common knowledge. Besides with my tax exempt status (which all home owners can get for a house they LIVE in) I pay less than $1,500 a year for taxes . So for the 1 bdr 1 bath Apartment i would have been paying $1,300+ i get 4 bdr 2 bth house with my mortgage, insurance, and Taxes all totaling less than $1,000. In a house i have over $75K equity in which i can tap into at any moment to make home improvements or just to make it rain on hoes. Easy choice, eh?

Upkeep/maintenance, and repairs:

• That's a duh. With all the benefits of home ownership you have to have SOME responsibility. It's not no-strings attached like renting and the upkeep and repairs is a small price to pay. I have a home-warranty for which i pay $500 a year upfront. Any issue with my appliances, my roof, my plumbing system, electrical system are ALL COVERED.

I know not every situation is the same but to me this was a no brainer.

 

[BigMan]

Let's dissect this real quick:

Higher Utility bills: FALSE

• My electric bill for my 4 bdr/2bath house are near if not almost the same as my electric bill when i used to have my 1bdr 1bath apartment. I know it's mainly because me, not being used to GA winters at the time, used to set my thermostat to 85 degrees when i lived in my apartment and keep at at a modest 72 degrees in the house but still. I have 3 laptops, 2 servers constantly plugged into my electrcity. I also have smart light switches that connect to wi-fi and always using electricity so i can remotely turn lights on and off as I please. Speaking of wifi, i have 2 wi-fi routers + one wifi-range extender that are always on. I have 3 TVs (tho i only use 2) an electric stove and fridge. My highest electricity bill in 4 years in this house: $172. In my apartment my average electricity bill during winters was over $300 with the highest being $472. I think i should still have the screenshot of that $472 one somewhere from when i showed it to a friend. I'll look it up and upload.
• My apartment complex used to charge me $33 for "water and trash fees". I once got a $400+ dollar water bill form my water company and i challenged it. Once they figured it was their mistake and reduced it about $8. Outside of that i have yet to get a water bill over $12.

Higher Insurance:

• yes insurance will cost you more because you are insuring a house and all its contents as compared to Renters insurance where you are only covering its contents since you dont own the property when rental. DUH!

Taxes:

• You get back all the property taxes you pay when you file your income taxes. THat's common knowledge. Besides with my tax exempt status (which all home owners can get for a house they LIVE in) I pay less than $1,500 a year for taxes . So for the 1 bdr 1 bath Apartment i would have been paying $1,300+ i get 4 bdr 2 bth house with my mortgage, insurance, and Taxes all totaling less than $1,000. In a house i have over $75K equity in which i can tap into at any moment to make home improvements or just to make it rain on hoes. Easy choice, eh?

Upkeep/maintenance, and repairs:

• That's a duh. With all the benefits of home ownership you have to have SOME responsibility. It's not no-strings attached like renting and the upkeep and repairs is a small price to pay. I have a home-warranty for which i pay $500 a year upfront. Any issue with my appliances, my roof, my plumbing system, electrical system are ALL COVERED.

I know not every situation is the same but to me this was a no brainer.

Property taxes are only 1500 in Atlanta?? Damn

 

[intruder]

Property taxes are only 1500 in Atlanta?? Damn

My address says "Atlanta" but my neighborhood is officially in " unincorporated DeKalb county"

 

[BigMan]

My address says "Atlanta" but my neighborhood is officially in " unincorporated DeKalb county"

I still don’t fully understand unincorporated areas

 

[intruder]

I still don’t fully understand unincorporated areas

I don't know either. I just reap the benefits and k. I. M.