โJan-09-2014 09:49 AM
โJan-22-2014 04:59 AM
โJan-22-2014 03:31 AM
โJan-21-2014 01:45 PM
โJan-15-2014 02:35 PM
Larryzv7 wrote:
Well Skid Row Joe, let me tell you my story. I am a disabled Vietnam Veteran and because of my disability the State of California has allowed me to be exempt of property taxes; in fact the only taxable thing I have is my rental income and I have never owed anything on that. In spite of my very substantial retirement income I am in a low tax bracket.
I refinanced my house a few years ago and my mortgage payment is $300/month on a 3-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom house. It is not my intention to brag, but I really donโt need the rental money as I have 3-tax exempt retirement incomes, social security retirement, the military, and the State of Colorado, where I worked for 20-years, besides the rental income.
I do insure my house because it is prudent to do so, and if a neighbor had a fire in their house and that fire jumped to my house I am covered. Further, my house is in California, a State known for having earthquakes that damage property. I also have a home warranty which covers the air conditioner, hot water heater, washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc.
Technically I started camping back in 1964 when I joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17, and I started RVing in a Volkswagen Van when I got out of the army some 30-years ago. I have a lot of experience on the road and went from traveling around the U.S. in a VW van, to a Ford van, to a Chevy conversion van, to a popup tent trailer, to a small hard-side conventional trailer, and now in a 5th wheel; havenโt tried a Class-A yet.
In short we all have our values and we carry those values with us when we RV. What youโre doing seems to be working for you and what Iโm doing definitely works for me. We all have different things at our disposal. You have your friends and neighbors to watch your house and I have my veterans benefits.
As a person retired from the military I can fly for free on military aircraft to anywhere in the world those aircraft may be going. I am planning on putting my RV in storage, hopping on an Air Force plane, and flying to New Zealand, rent an RV there and tour that country for awhile. As a disabled veteran I also get to camp for free at State Parks in California, Oregon, and elsewhere. I also get all of my medical care for free from the VA. So these are some of the things that influenced how I have designed my fulltime RVing lifestyle. Different people have different amenities and resources at their disposal.
โJan-15-2014 10:01 AM
โJan-14-2014 08:57 PM
Larryzv7 wrote:After almost 30 years, the home has paid for itself many times over what renting something somewhere would instead. Taxes are $150.00 a month, and dirt cheap utilities being off. No, I do not insure my home, it's just not worth throwing the premiums away year after year when I've had no event. So, I do not have to reside here, rather RV yearound if I want to. That's why I bought the RV was to travel, and that's what I've been doing for almost 30 years. Nothing new to me, and yes, I rely on my neighbors to keep an eye out. No big deal, really it's not, in maintenance, cost, or expense.
Skid Row Joe, I can appreciate what you have said, but the key in what you have said is that you have trusting neighbors and friends to watch your property, which is not the case for most people. I rented my house out to strangers, got a security deposit, and it all worked out just fine; not to mention the extra income I got from renting my house.
My tenants will be leaving in February and I intend to put my house on the market for sale. I am not attached to my house as you seem to be, as this is my 4th house. I have owned houses in Texas, Colorado, Washington State , and California. Now my RV is my home.
Different strokes for different folks, and what I did may not work for others, just as what you did may not work for others. There is no right and wrong in this; there is only individual personal preferences and what resources, family, friends, neighbors, etc., a person has to rely on in such situations.
Frankly, I am tired of being a sticks โn bricks homeowner with a homeowner association that acts like my property is not my own. I most likely will buy another house in the future but itโs not something that is in my current plans.
Larry:)
โJan-14-2014 11:48 AM
โJan-14-2014 11:04 AM
โJan-14-2014 08:17 AM
โJan-13-2014 09:58 PM
Larryzv7 wrote:
Itโs best to lease out your house, especially if youโre going to be gone for long periods of time, otherwise you may return to find squatters in your home. A lot of homes that were abandoned became places where homeless people camped out, and even if you have a burglar alarm system on your house, as I do, when people know youโre gone for a long time they can find their way around that alarm system and your house may become a target for thief. Having someone live in your home can be a deterrent, as a lived in house is probably not as often targeted as a vacant house.
โJan-13-2014 09:54 PM
Charlie D. wrote:So don't give up your home. Keep it and travel all you want to in your RV. Just because you have an RV, does not mean you need to lease out your home.
Check the fine print in your insurance policy-if the info. is even there-many insurance companies will drop/refuse claims of homes empty longer than 30 days. Some states require a longer period from the insurance company than 30 days. Some policies also include disclaimers about failure to maintain cooling/heating, water turned off, etc.
โJan-12-2014 09:10 PM
โJan-12-2014 04:11 PM
So don't give up your home. Keep it and travel all you want to in your RV. Just because you have an RV, does not mean you need to lease out your home.
โJan-11-2014 07:32 PM
Yaj wrote:So don't give up your home. Keep it and travel all you want to in your RV. Just because you have an RV, does not mean you need to lease out your home.
Hello friends!
We want to go full time but don't want to give up the S&B yet.
It's a nice older home (70's) on a lake just North of Milwaukee.
We believe we should be able to get top dollar for a lease so we anticipate attracting a good caliper tenant.
That said we are trying to figure out the best way to market the home for lease. We would like to get the ball rolling A.S.A.P. hopefully by spring or early summer.
The question for any of you that have already done this type of thing is; How did you market the home?
We certainly would like to hear any thing that may help us do this as properly as possible.
I will check this thread often and any thoughts will be immensely appreciated!!!