Should I go to school and get a degree or buy a house? Recently moved back in w/ parents and make good $.?
446422
If you finish school before taking on the responsibility of a house you may find owning that home will be easier.  I am a mortgage loan officer and find many people are not adequatly prepared to cover the true cost of home ownership.  Expenses such as taxes, insurance, repairs and upkeep overshadow low rates and tax breaks causing many first-time homebuyers to go into foreclosure.  Remeber a house can be lost or destroyed but knowledge is yours forever. (besides if you make more money you can buy a more perfect house later)
723626
STOP!!!! THINK for a minute here -- and really LISTEN to those who know you the best.  There are some IMPORTANT Points to think about:\n\nYou just got your real estate license, and are starting work for a broker.  OK -- that is fine ... but really ... have you thought about BENEFITS?  You know, are you on salary -- do you have a medical, dental, hospitalization plan -- life or disability insurance -- is it enough to live on your own and pay your own bills -- well into the future?\n\nand ... now that you are in the 4th year -- WHY GIVE UP NOW -- you do realize that NOT having a Degree is a Financial Disadvantage in moving up in ANY Business Environment -- so how in the world do you think you will be able to branch out into property management, mortgage brokerage, or any other specialization in Real Estate that will allow you more earning power IF you do NOT have a degree with you?
1018784
Go for the lower paying job you will like.  I just gave up a $100k yr job  that I hated and took me away from my family and now will be looking at getting a $35 to $40k job that I enjoy.  Believe me, it's worth it....
966992
Allright, I don't mean to sound like I'm preaching but this is truly what I would advise someone that is 19 years old.  Although I can imagine you really would want some extra cash right now you should think of the long-term picture.  Imagine if you're having a tough time right now, how you would be able to support a family when you grow up.  You really need to upgrade your skills so you can get a better job and the best way to do that is go to school.  I would suggest that you continue staying at home, work and try to save up money and try to get into a good college.  Hopefully with a combination of financial aid, loans and savings you'll be able to get a degree that will allow to move upto a job that pays significantly more.  I used to deliver pizzas when I graduated out of high school, but was able to go to college at the same time since my job was mostly working evenings/nights.  I graduated with a computer science degree and paid off all my college loans within two years after I graduated and worked another two years to save some money.  I then went to graduate school for an MBA and currently earn well over $100,000 and have a net worth over $500,000.  I am not telling you this to pound my own chest but so that you understand that it is very possible and that it really pays off to think of the longer-term.  I hope this helps and sorry I didn't answer your question directly.
1019232
Are you a student?  Do you have a job?  Look for a roommate, share an apartment.  get another job if you need to.  Your choice at this point is whether it is time to grow up or remain a child in your parent's house.  If CA is too expensive, where could you afford to live?  If you aren't a student, think about going to school so you can get a better paying job when you graduate.
1139982
What the heck...you again?\n\nI bought my first house at 25. It was 80k...I had no down payment and at the time I think I was making around 28k. The first year was a struggle. But 2 years later...I am making 37k and it is much easier. I don't have to worry about if I can eat well this week. If you have the 50-100k saved for down payment, I would think you are safe as long as you are making 50k+. It all depends on what you are making at the time of purchase and if you are comfortable with it. Don't buy an extravagant house (even with down payment) if you think you will struggle. It's not worth it. Life is too short to be stressed over a high mortgage and bills. When you have a steady and decent income, buy a smaller, cheaper house to start. You can always sell it. Most houses go up in value (unless it's a real dump in the ghetto) and you will likely make money. I thought about selling mine and going bigger, but I'm not ready for the struggle and I really don't need it. I just want it. But that's just more to clean and a bigger lawn to mow. I would start small. If you can afford it now...buy a small house. At least you will be investing your payments toward something that is yours and that you can always sell for profit. Rent is investing your money for someone elses benefit. I'm glad I bought mine. I was scared at first, but it was well worth the investment. the house across from me (same size and design) just sold for 11k more than I paid for mine. And mine was brand new when I bought it. So it's nice to know I can always sell for more than I paid for.\n\nEDIT: Sorry! Just another thought. If you are married or have kids at that time your income will obviously need to be much more. Probably in the 80k range for that kind of house. I also don't spend money on worthless things and I have no kids or husband, so most of my money goes into savings and towards the mortgage. I see my friends who are married and have kids struggle because they tried to buy too big. And another friend who bought kinda small, but still struggling. Her husband owns his own business...so their income is not always the same or steady. They make good money, but they got themselves into something they can't really afford. Just keep in mind that if you are married (and especially with kids) that they will have needs and wants that cost money. Your priority will not be a monsterous house. Dang...was my friggin' answer long enough? I'm gonna quit typing now. I ramble too much sometimes. Sorry!
109715
That is a great question. I have a college education and am living just about paycheck to paycheck because the job I landed out of college happens to be in an extremely expensive area. \n\nMy brother-in-law went into the Marines right out of high school, served for four years, went to Iraq twice, and is now laying hardwood floors for his dad - and is raking it in. He and my sister are doing just fine - BUT they live in a far-less expensive area. \n\nShort answer - beats me how important it is. I guess it depends on what your goals are and what you want to do with your life.
775766
Even if you don't have a degree and a job you want to apply for requires one, you can still get the job. I know someone who applied for the job of an accountant position for a business even though the individual did not have a degree in anything. He got the position because he answered a math question correctly during the interview. The math question...9x9=?   Also, you could start your own business. You can make things to sell, or even sell items for companies for commission. If you want to create your own business, focus on your exact talents. If you are artistic, create murals for money, or if you are good at interior design, market your ideas to new home owners and businesses. If you know that you want to manage a business, look into companies that will train you. For example, Lowes and Home depot train assistant managers. And you could even go to college. You can get enough in student loans to live on while you are in school. The key to success is persuverance and hard work. I know what I'm talking about. I began flipping houses 6 years ago, at the age of 22. I started small, getting a loan on a house for 13,000 and then living in it while I fixed it up. After I sold it, I used the money to buy the next house and so on. The house I'm working on now should net me a return of about 100,000. I do all the work myself. It's great to look back and see what you achieve with hard work. You can do that, too. Set a goal and a deadline in which to achieve it. Follow your goals and make sure that whatever you do you will be happy in that line of work. Remember, it's always better to be poor and happy than to be rich and miserable. I wish you the best of luck. You can contact me if you need any other info on the things I listed.
60775
Do it.\nAnd start getting ready for college.  The ratio is that you should be doing TWO hours of homework for every hour of class work in college.  A few years of good study means you can have a house.  A new car.  A family that doesn't get in trouble.  Vacations.  And a commodity you can't get without a degree.\nPride.
1111974
If you are planning on investing for a few years and then selling the house to pay for their education, then it is a crazy idea.  Many experts feel that there is a housing bubble that is just about to burst, so you may end up buying high ans selling low.  \n\nIf you are looking at investment property, then it depends where you live.  The housing bubble is not everywhere -- but housing in major cities on the East or West coast is very high, and likely to drop soon.  If you are going to rely on income from the home, make sure that you will have enough income to pay for their educations.  Homes are often money pits.\n\nIf you are particularly handy, it could turn out to be a good investment.  Buying slightly distressed properties, fixing them up and selling them quickly can be profitable -- if you are able to fix them up cheaply (or yourself).
335914
You might double ya money. And get a Living Room and Bedroom Set. You only live once! Do ya thing! Pray first though!
948102
I know exactly how you feel! I am a college student in Connecticut, where the cost of living is very high. Although I didn't take out a loan (I work forty hours per week to pay my tuition and bills... ugh!) and I don't currently have any debt, it is pretty difficult to get by.\nMy advice is to just stay in school and successfully finish your degree, or else it will be a big waste of time for you to have gone through so much to accomplish so little! If you can find a job in your field after you graduate, it will be a lot easier to pay off your loan (depending on your major: example: medicine vs. journalism? Medicine definitely pays off!).\n You should pay attention to how you spend your money, however. Try to save as much as you can and even go as far as keeping a spending journal. Taking note of where every penny goes is a very reliable way of figuring out what you need and what you're wasting your money on. When you figure out how much money goes into 'splurging', you'll be surprised; put whatever extra money you have into a bank account or invest it into an IRA or something similar. Good luck! =)
929553
real estates is more like a gamble and depending on where u live, it may or maynot be a good idea. As to your career, no one can answer that but yourself. What if i told you to become a janitor or a mcdonalds fry cook. Would you consider? no right. Better of thinking what ur good at and find a job that pertains to it
153132
Sell and move back in with your parents.\n\nSeriously, the equity you've earned is not cash that's available to you anymore - it's debt that you've paid back.  It's not your money anymore.  You took out a loan to get a house to live in, and now you're paying back the loan.\n\nThe only way to get the money back that you've paid is to sell.  But then you'll just have to buy another house or move back in with your parents or something.  :)\n\nOr you could sell your apartments.
266821
As my philosophy teacher in college once said, "If you are here to increase your income, you're in the wrong place."  That's the most valuable lesson I ever got from him.  I say if you are going to go back to school, you may want to identify some things.  Is there no way you can apply your degree that you already have to another field?(That is if you are looking at a career change.)  If that's not the case, then you may want to figure out why or what you are trying to accomplish by returning.  Be specific!  What do you want as your end result - a higher degree, career move, etc?  Save yourself some time by looking for the end results first.  Hone in on an objective before you start.  It will save you time and money.  You will be more motivated as well b/c you will know the fruits of your labors.  Don't just go to school to go unless of course that's what you want to do.
964043
Is your home your investment tool or where you want to live?  It's nice of course to expect to make some money when the time comes to sell your home, but there is actual value in liking where you live, not to mention having a mortgage well within your means.\n\nStay where you are, make your house your home.  Enjoy it and live with little financial stress.  That's better for your health, your marriage, your children and the country.
597022
Save the house. Moving back will one save you a rent payment but also and i do not know the state you live in but sometimes the taxes are cheaper if you are living in the house. Get a beater Honda or Toyota and drive that and keep the SUV as a second car or get rid if it all together. Sometimes if you list the beater as you daily driver and the SUV as a recreational car you can save money there. In the meantime i would start looking for a job closer to home if you can. If not then i would live in the house till you sell it then find something else to buy once it has sold. Owning a home is the last tax shelter with out uncle SAM will have his way with you if you do not own a home. I hope that helps. FSBO is a tough call. The markets are slowing down and i would shop at least 4 or 5 Realtors and negotiate a smaller commission. Without a Realtor involved you open yourself to lawsuits. Check with friends of family members for a recommendation.