So I am considering buying a new flat, and apparently everybody is an expert and happy to discuss for hours prices, locations and whatnot.
What are similar topics in your country? :P
Women, cars, football.
So very italian.
L.
Fashion sense. People keep telling me I should pick my pants up off the ground.
House buying has gone off the boil here. Child-rearing is probably one, though apparently is one hasn't bred oneself, one is not entitled to tell parents they should make their offspring pick up the litter they dropped, for instance. :x
Also: about time a man of your means moved on from a studio flat.
Quote from: Pedrito on March 24, 2010, 08:19:57 AM
Women, cars, football.
So very italian.
L.
Basically the same over here. :lol: Add some politics to spice it up and you're served. ;)
The common folk?
Breaks donw by age:
Kids/Young adults: videogames, other games, cartoons, money, chicks, soccer, soccer, soccer, soccer, soccer.
Adults (25-55): money, money, money, high taxes/home payments, politics, kids, soccer, soccer, soccer.
Older folks: money, pensions, pensions, soccer, soccer, diseases, diseases, diseases, diseases.
Women add talk about marriage and kids (which scares all the men away - then they'll talk about weird stuff, like the blood they let out once a month).
It's real estate here as well. The Canadian housing market has gone bonkers.
Parents all talk about the pains they have to go through to get good childcare/educational opportunities for the kids. If you want daycare in Toronto, you have to be prepared to jump up from the bed and rush out to sign a waiting list before the cum is yet dry.
Every subject is fair game. I learned that on languish.
Quote from: Brazen on March 24, 2010, 08:29:52 AM
House buying has gone off the boil here. Child-rearing is probably one, though apparently is one hasn't bred oneself, one is not entitled to tell parents they should make their offspring pick up the litter they dropped, for instance. :x
Also: about time a man of your means moved on from a studio flat.
I fell in love with a 3-room "loft" style flat (83 sq. metres for the not spatially-challenged, with additional 10 sq. metres of a loggia/balcony) in a new condo built not far from where I live now.
It has a library/working room just by the main door (handy if I need to meet clients at home), a huge living room opening into a kitchen and with windows from three sides (one of which is the loggia/balcony), a spacious master bedroom, a bathroom, a toilet and a small cloak room. It has air conditioning (which is still quite a rare option in Poland), and some other goodies.
The only problem is that it costs about 350k quid. :cry:
I'm going to see it on Saturday (so far only saw plans/visualizations).
Didn't you tell us some time ago that you make $400,000 a year? A 350,000 GBP appartment should be well within your means.
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 09:05:35 AM
Quote from: Brazen on March 24, 2010, 08:29:52 AM
House buying has gone off the boil here. Child-rearing is probably one, though apparently is one hasn't bred oneself, one is not entitled to tell parents they should make their offspring pick up the litter they dropped, for instance. :x
Also: about time a man of your means moved on from a studio flat.
I fell in love with a 3-room "loft" style flat (83 sq. metres for the not spatially-challenged, with additional 10 sq. metres of a loggia/balcony) in a new condo built not far from where I live now.
It has a library/working room just by the main door (handy if I need to meet clients at home), a huge living room opening into a kitchen and with windows from three sides (one of which is the loggia/balcony), a spacious master bedroom, a bathroom, a toilet and a small cloak room. It has air conditioning (which is still quite a rare option in Poland), and some other goodies.
The only problem is that it costs about 350k quid. :cry:
I'm going to see it on Saturday (so far only saw plans/visualizations).
Why so small?
Quote from: Zanza on March 24, 2010, 09:10:34 AM
Didn't you tell us some time ago that you make $400,000 a year? A 350,000 GBP appartment should be well within your means.
I was going to say that, and you don't run a car or have kids or a gold-digger boyfriend.
Quote from: Zanza on March 24, 2010, 09:10:34 AM
Didn't you tell us some time ago that you make $400,000 a year? A 350,000 GBP appartment should be well within your means.
Errr. No, first of all. I said I make about $130,000 per year. Not sure where you got the $400k figure from. Plus yes I can afford it (though probably would need to take a loan for at least 30% of it). But it is still a shitload of money.
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 09:15:00 AM
Quote from: Zanza on March 24, 2010, 09:10:34 AM
Didn't you tell us some time ago that you make $400,000 a year? A 350,000 GBP appartment should be well within your means.
Errr. No, first of all. I said I make about $130,000 per year. Not sure where you got the $400k figure from. Plus yes I can afford it (though probably would need to take a loan for at least 30% of it). But it is still a shitload of money.
And here I was, wondering when you'd made partner. :D
Having 70% in hand = you can easily afford it, though.
And yes, it is a shitload of money. When I bought my house, I had an extreme case of cold feet looking at the certified cheque I was handing over - so. much. money! :(
Though the price is what, around $700k? That seems steep to me for a three room condo, it is more or less what I paid for my house, but prices are of course local.
No, it's closer to $500,000 - the prices are weird in Poland right now. Also, it seems I earn more (I haven't been checking the exchange rates lately) - according to the current rate I earn closer to $170,000. :P
But yeah it's pretty steep, but then Warsaw is expensive, and this is pretty much the middle of the city center, right next to a district of restaurants, theatres and parks on one side, and embassies on the other (this is pretty much 100 metres from the US and the Canadian embassies). Plus it's 5 minutes walk from my office. :P
And not to jinx it, but I may make a counsel this summer. :ph34r:
What?! You only need a 30% mortgage? You lucky, lucky bastard! Have you paid off your current place then?
Quote from: Brazen on March 24, 2010, 09:40:34 AM
What?! You only need a 30% mortgage? You lucky, lucky bastard! Have you paid off your current place then?
yes, about 3 years ago. :blush:
And I may be able to prepay the 30% in a couple of years too, if my parents manage to sell a car from their collection and help me out. :ph34r:
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on March 24, 2010, 08:27:07 AM
Fashion sense. People keep telling me I should pick my pants up off the ground.
Well, I have to say you are lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground. With the gold in your mouth, hat turned sideways, etc....
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on March 24, 2010, 08:27:07 AM
Fashion sense. People keep telling me I should pick my pants up off the ground.
That's good advice really.
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 09:41:53 AM
Quote from: Brazen on March 24, 2010, 09:40:34 AM
What?! You only need a 30% mortgage? You lucky, lucky bastard! Have you paid off your current place then?
yes, about 3 years ago. :blush:
And I may be able to prepay the 30% in a couple of years too, if my parents manage to sell a car from their collection and help me out. :ph34r:
You only need a 30% mortgage, and your parents will pay part of
that?
*Throws garbage* :D
But yeah, apartment sounds great. Post pics when you can.
Also, is Counsel similar to partner? Either way, if it happens we can have a long-distance congratulation party. At your expense. :D
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 09:41:53 AM
yes, about 3 years ago. :blush:
And I may be able to prepay the 30% in a couple of years too, if my parents manage to sell a car from their collection and help me out. :ph34r:
Seriously, despite the fact you earn that much? You are such a spoilt brat! When I told Dad I was having trouble paying my mortgage and bills, the best he could offer was "You can always rent your flat out and move back into your old room" :bleeding:
Well, I'm also helping my parents with money since they do not have a steady income (their pension sucks). So it's not like I'm a spoiled brat. :P
And for the record, I would be repaying my parents that money - it's just better to owe it to them than to the bank. :P
Quote from: Malthus on March 24, 2010, 09:52:26 AM
Also, is Counsel similar to partner? Either way, if it happens we can have a long-distance congratulation party. At your expense. :D
A Counsel is something below Partner but above Senior Associate - it is essentially a new post made in big lawfirms to give people some carrot without making them partners (yet). Especially in the "imperial province" like Poland, where it is extremely difficult to become a partner in an international lawfirm. It's different if I was in a Polish lawfirm - would be a partner long ago.
Quote from: Razgovory on March 24, 2010, 09:51:21 AM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on March 24, 2010, 08:27:07 AM
Fashion sense. People keep telling me I should pick my pants up off the ground.
That's good advice really.
Common sense, even. Pants are designed to be on the body, not on the ground.
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 10:00:36 AM
Quote from: Malthus on March 24, 2010, 09:52:26 AM
Also, is Counsel similar to partner? Either way, if it happens we can have a long-distance congratulation party. At your expense. :D
A Counsel is something below Partner but above Senior Associate - it is essentially a new post made in big lawfirms to give people some carrot without making them partners (yet). Especially in the "imperial province" like Poland, where it is extremely difficult to become a partner in an international lawfirm. It's different if I was in a Polish lawfirm - would be a partner long ago.
Similar then to the concept of "income partner" here.
Big firms belatedly realizing that getting a partner's book of business is effectively impossible for associates when your "clients" are all major banks (or drug manufacturers). It isn't like your average associate can find a new bank to bring in as a client. :D
I'd be happy to be able to afford a 80% 30 year mortgage.
Freaking gay lawyers.
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 07:32:50 AM
So I am considering buying a new flat, and apparently everybody is an expert and happy to discuss for hours prices, locations and whatnot.
What are similar topics in your country? :P
People like to give advice about flat purchases because they want to justify their own flat purchases.
Quote from: Malthus on March 24, 2010, 10:07:13 AM
Big firms belatedly realizing that getting a partner's book of business is effectively impossible for associates when your "clients" are all major banks (or drug manufacturers). It isn't like your average associate can find a new bank to bring in as a client. :D
Hell, it isn't even like your average lateral partner can bring over many clients, conflicts being what they are...
Quote from: Monoriu on March 24, 2010, 10:25:26 AM
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 07:32:50 AM
So I am considering buying a new flat, and apparently everybody is an expert and happy to discuss for hours prices, locations and whatnot.
What are similar topics in your country? :P
People like to give advice about flat purchases because they want to justify their own flat purchases.
This is a very profound statement, IMO.
You're thinking £350,000 is expensive?
That sounds pretty damn cheap for a flat in a major city centre. Especially making the silly money you do...$130,000 a year....wow....lend me a tenner will you?
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 09:15:00 AM
Not sure where you got the $400k figure from.
I think the number came up in some thread where you told us that some Polish tax scheme allows you to give a certain percentage of your income to a gay charity. You told us how much you gave there and based on that and the percentage your income would have been 400k.
Anyway, I think a nice flat is worth a lot of money. After all it's a place where you spent considerable time. So you should get it.
Quote from: Tyr on March 24, 2010, 10:39:27 AM
major city centre.
Does Warsaw really qualify?
That seems like a hell of a lot of money for so small a place, no matter how nice.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on March 24, 2010, 10:52:00 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 24, 2010, 10:39:27 AM
major city centre.
Does Warsaw really qualify?
2 million people or something like that.
Its not London but its pretty major.
Quote from: Tyr on March 24, 2010, 10:55:53 AM
2 million people or something like that.
Its not London but its pretty major.
The cost of living isn't significantly below the UK and house prices seem commensurate with the London suburbs in Warsaw centre.
Quote from: Zanza on March 24, 2010, 10:41:08 AM
Quote from: Martinus on March 24, 2010, 09:15:00 AM
Not sure where you got the $400k figure from.
I think the number came up in some thread where you told us that some Polish tax scheme allows you to give a certain percentage of your income to a gay charity. You told us how much you gave there and based on that and the percentage your income would have been 400k.
Anyway, I think a nice flat is worth a lot of money. After all it's a place where you spent considerable time. So you should get it.
400k is closer to what I get in zlotys, so that could be the figure you saw. :)
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 10:55:21 AM
That seems like a hell of a lot of money for so small a place, no matter how nice.
Not by Vancouver standards. One of my associates just bought a two bedroom apartment for 780,000.
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 10:55:21 AM
That seems like a hell of a lot of money for so small a place, no matter how nice.
2 bedroom and a large living room is not so small.
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 11:02:37 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 10:55:21 AM
That seems like a hell of a lot of money for so small a place, no matter how nice.
Not by Vancouver standards. One of my associates just bought a two bedroom apartment for 780,000.
I'm not saying that places don't sell for that much. I'm just saying I wouldn't spend that much to get so little. Go outside the city core and buy a real house.
Quote from: Monoriu on March 24, 2010, 10:25:26 AM
People like to give advice about flat purchases because they want to justify their own flat purchases.
Meh, in retrospect I really never should have bought a house.
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:08:41 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 11:02:37 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 10:55:21 AM
That seems like a hell of a lot of money for so small a place, no matter how nice.
Not by Vancouver standards. One of my associates just bought a two bedroom apartment for 780,000.
I'm not saying that places don't sell for that much. I'm just saying I wouldn't spend that much to get so little. Go outside the city core and buy a real house.
Yes but most people live in cities. There is no point in going outside a city to buy a "real house" if that also means your commute is so long you dont spend any time there other then to sleep.
Quote from: ulmont on March 24, 2010, 11:10:44 AM
Quote from: Monoriu on March 24, 2010, 10:25:26 AM
People like to give advice about flat purchases because they want to justify their own flat purchases.
Meh, in retrospect I really never should have bought a house.
Really? Buying my first house was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:08:41 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 11:02:37 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 10:55:21 AM
That seems like a hell of a lot of money for so small a place, no matter how nice.
Not by Vancouver standards. One of my associates just bought a two bedroom apartment for 780,000.
I'm not saying that places don't sell for that much. I'm just saying I wouldn't spend that much to get so little. Go outside the city core and buy a real house.
I stand to inherit (I'm the only child) my parents' HUGE house about 30 kilometres from Warsaw, with a huge garden (about 2000 square metres plot) . If I wanted a house outside a city core, I'd have it. I don't - I don't intend to have wife or children, so I don't need a big place. .
I want a fucking loft in the fucking city centre, close to gay clubs, restaurants and the cultural scene of the city. I want a place where I could throw after-parties and bring my current boyfriend/fuckbuddy to. :P
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 11:12:25 AM
Yes but most people live in cities. There is no point in going outside a city to buy a "real house" if that also means your commute is so long you dont spend any time there other then to sleep.
A half mil will get you a real house with a pretty reasonable commute in just about any city you care to mention.
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:14:54 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 11:12:25 AM
Yes but most people live in cities. There is no point in going outside a city to buy a "real house" if that also means your commute is so long you dont spend any time there other then to sleep.
A half mil will get you a real house with a pretty reasonable commute in just about any city you care to mention.
If it's Hong Kong, your sentence can be fixed with just one letter - bil instead of mil :contract:
Quote from: Monoriu on March 24, 2010, 11:18:21 AM
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:14:54 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 11:12:25 AM
Yes but most people live in cities. There is no point in going outside a city to buy a "real house" if that also means your commute is so long you dont spend any time there other then to sleep.
A half mil will get you a real house with a pretty reasonable commute in just about any city you care to mention.
If it's Hong Kong, your sentence can be fixed with just one letter - bil instead of mil :contract:
Okay, excepting NYC, London, Hong Kong, and probably Tokyo.
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:19:46 AM
Okay, excepting NYC, London, Hong Kong, and probably Tokyo.
I was just about to say actually £500,000 will get you a nice, decent-sized house with an easy commute in London, then realised you were talking dollars :D
Quote from: Tyr on March 24, 2010, 10:39:27 AM
You're thinking £350,000 is expensive?
Dude, that would buy a giant size home in any Montreal suburb.
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:13:04 AM
Quote from: ulmont on March 24, 2010, 11:10:44 AM
Meh, in retrospect I really never should have bought a house.
Really? Buying my first house was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Really. 10 years in, and now it's just kind of an albatross.
My parents have owed me over $30k since I was 19. I will never see the money, and there's zero chance they will ever help me financially with anything. In fact, I've had to pay their rent twice in the last two years to keep them from being evicted. <_<
Speaking of albatross.
Hockey.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on March 24, 2010, 12:09:03 PM
My parents have owed me over $30k since I was 19.
:blink:
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:14:54 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 11:12:25 AM
Yes but most people live in cities. There is no point in going outside a city to buy a "real house" if that also means your commute is so long you dont spend any time there other then to sleep.
A half mil will get you a real house with a pretty reasonable commute in just about any city you care to mention.
What does reasonable mean?
In Manhattan, a 30-minute commute would put you 5 blocks away.
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:14:54 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 11:12:25 AM
Yes but most people live in cities. There is no point in going outside a city to buy a "real house" if that also means your commute is so long you dont spend any time there other then to sleep.
A half mil will get you a real house with a pretty reasonable commute in just about any city you care to mention.
I care to mention Vancouver. No chance. Unless you have a very different idea of what a reasonable commute is.
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 24, 2010, 11:45:59 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 24, 2010, 10:39:27 AM
You're thinking £350,000 is expensive?
Dude, that would buy a giant size home in any Montreal suburb.
Have you seen the exchange rate lately. ;)
Quote from: DGuller on March 24, 2010, 07:30:04 PM
In Manhattan, a 30-minute commute would put you 5 blocks away.
The elevators broken or something?
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 24, 2010, 07:37:46 PM
Quote from: Grey Fox on March 24, 2010, 11:45:59 AM
Quote from: Tyr on March 24, 2010, 10:39:27 AM
You're thinking £350,000 is expensive?
Dude, that would buy a giant size home in any Montreal suburb.
Have you seen the exchange rate lately. ;)
Doesn't matter. Montreal isn't that expensive.
Seeing as how Seedy is slipping here....
Mart, for that kind of money, you could get a mansion with a split rail fence outside of Laramie.
I know I don't speak for Marti, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to live in Wyoming. :)
Quote from: Caliga on March 25, 2010, 07:49:46 AM
I know I don't speak for Marti, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to live in Wyoming. :)
Because he hates freedom.
Quote from: PDH on March 25, 2010, 07:44:49 AM
Seeing as how Seedy is slipping here....
Mart, for that kind of money, you could get a mansion with a split rail fence outside of Laramie.
Bitch. :D
Quote from: Caliga on March 25, 2010, 07:49:46 AM
I know I don't speak for Marti, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to live in Wyoming. :)
The rail fence outside of Laramie is where Matt Shephard was murdered. :P
Quote from: ulmont on March 24, 2010, 12:04:44 PM
Quote from: Barrister on March 24, 2010, 11:13:04 AM
Quote from: ulmont on March 24, 2010, 11:10:44 AM
Meh, in retrospect I really never should have bought a house.
Really? Buying my first house was one of the best decisions I ever made.
Really. 10 years in, and now it's just kind of an albatross.
It would certainly be a pain in the ass if you were in an occupation that required moving around a lot.
So far, personally I'm pleased with home ownership. Perhaps the best part financially is the least logical: it acts as a way of forcing savings. Yes, I know, you could do that on your own without the obligations, but the temptation not to would be strong.
Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2010, 08:08:13 AM
Quote from: Caliga on March 25, 2010, 07:49:46 AM
I know I don't speak for Marti, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to live in Wyoming. :)
The rail fence outside of Laramie is where Matt Shephard was murdered. :P
And you could own that fence, and tell those kids to get off your property. :hmm:
Lets see, 350K pounds equals 522K dollars. Oh yeah, 7000 square feet for that. Maybe even a cement pond!
Quote from: Martinus on March 25, 2010, 08:08:13 AM
The rail fence outside of Laramie is where Matt Shephard was murdered. :P
I know. :)