Offside (General Discussion)

You gotta invest in messing around and women. Everything else is just throwing money down the drain. 👍

A huge number of Germans live in rentals—apartments or houses—their entire lives. Honestly, it’s all about workforce mobility—you don't really have that deep sentimental attachment when you aren't a local patriot.
If there's no work in Stuttgart, well, maybe there's something in Regensburg. You just hop over—it takes half a day—and pack up your whole life in a van to move to Regensburg.
I wonder how Scandinavians and those folks even further north handle things—do they actually buy real estate?
The German Philosophy is basically this: it's better to spend your money on travel and enjoy your freedom—rent an apartment, lease a car, and just live your life.

Carl Hernandez3 said:A huge number of Germans live in rentals—apartments or houses—their entire lives. Honestly, it’s all about workforce mobility—you don't really have that deep sentimental attachment when you aren't a local patriot.
If there's no work in Stuttgart, well, maybe there's something in Regensburg. You just hop over—it takes half a day—and pack up your whole life in a van to move to Regensburg.
I wonder how Scandinavians and those folks even further north handle things—do they actually buy real estate?
The German Philosophy is basically this: it's better to spend your money on travel and enjoy your freedom—rent an apartment, lease a car, and just live your life.

I'm with them. I wouldn't even think about buying a house or an apartment unless I had enough cash to pay for the whole thing upfront. No loans, no debt, none of that crap.

Carl Hernandez3 said:A huge number of Germans live in rentals—apartments or houses—their entire lives. Honestly, it’s all about workforce mobility—you don't really have that deep sentimental attachment when you aren't a local patriot.
If there's no work in Stuttgart, well, maybe there's something in Regensburg. You just hop over—it takes half a day—and pack up your whole life in a van to move to Regensburg.
I wonder how Scandinavians and those folks even further north handle things—do they actually buy real estate?
The German Philosophy is basically this: it's better to spend your money on travel and enjoy your freedom—rent an apartment, lease a car, and just live your life.

Oh, so rent and leasing are basically free, are they?

Exactly—that whole renting argument just doesn't hold up economically.
I don't know about Germany, but I don't see the math working out in Oslo where renting makes more sense than buying.
If you actually have the cash to buy, obviously—but for that, you either need two solid jobs or some kind of inheritance. Or both, if you’re aiming for that upper-middle class life.

Elizabeth Mendoza said:Seriously, can someone actually drop $120k-$150k on something that’s fifty years old? Like, who in their right mind is handing over that kind of cash??

I’ve been scrolling through Craigslist for a bit, looking at a few apartments for sale in my neighborhood, and absolutely nothing is listed under $120,000. Most of these buildings were put up around '65. I just saw one—it's 560 square feet on the fourth floor, and honestly, looking at the photos, the last time anyone touched it was back in the Yugoslavia era. We're talking outdated trim everywhere, old hardwood floors, vintage furniture, ancient windows... and they want $160,000.

Then there's a friend of mine who picked up a 1,600 square foot house out in the suburbs—it's got a massive yard, which helps with property value—for $130k. But now he’s going to have to shell out at least another $60k to $80k just to make it livable because everything inside needs to be gutted. And the ad called it an "absolute family paradise on xy." 😁

I guess he took out a mortgage for it, and since he has some savings to fix it up, let's just say he's better off than most Americans. But what about those of us who are just average or slightly above? Okay, maybe I have enough for a down payment, but what am I supposed to use to actually renovate it? 🤷 😁

And let's be real, if you have $200k in the Rijecak area, it's pretty hard to find anything where you don't have to step in and change things. It's always something useless, poorly made, or just weirdly designed. If you're lucky, maybe you'll just hate the color of the tiles. 😁

Carl Hernandez3 said:A huge number of Germans live in rentals—apartments or houses—their entire lives. Honestly, it’s all about workforce mobility—you don't really have that deep sentimental attachment when you aren't a local patriot.
If there's no work in Stuttgart, well, maybe there's something in Regensburg. You just hop over—it takes half a day—and pack up your whole life in a van to move to Regensburg.
I wonder how Scandinavians and those folks even further north handle things—do they actually buy real estate?
The German Philosophy is basically this: it's better to spend your money on travel and enjoy your freedom—rent an apartment, lease a car, and just live your life.

I think things are just way more organized over there than here. Around here, you're constantly stressing about the price or the mortgage payments for something you supposedly own, yet you still feel insecure because someone could technically kick you out tomorrow. Plus, it feels like a lot of landlords don't realize that if something breaks, they should be the ones stepping in to fix it right then and there. 🙂

Terry Howard7 said:Oh, so rent and leasing are basically free, are they?

Look, here in the States, the difference between a monthly mortgage payment and rent is sometimes barely a hundred bucks. There’s really no point in just throwing cash away on rent long-term when you could be building equity.
It doesn't make sense to look at how people live abroad when the economic circumstances over there aren't even the same as ours.

Scott Gonzalez9 said:Look, here in the States, the difference between a monthly mortgage payment and rent is sometimes barely a hundred bucks. There’s really no point in just throwing cash away on rent long-term when you could be building equity.
It doesn't make sense to look at how people live abroad when the economic circumstances over there aren't even the same as ours.

Look, I get it—maybe Germans are more mobile and tend to rent more often because of job changes and all that—but this idea that people would rather rent indefinitely just to blow their extra cash on travel? I don't know, I guess there isn't much logic to that.

https://twitter.com/visegrad24/statu...e0HKAwqOMXFSRk

There is something fundamentally rotten at the core of Russia. ☕

hiddencyclist112 said:Truth for Matthew Young35 👍 I also want to urge him to keep up this exact same pace. To be honest, I don't necessarily need to dive deep into every single detail of this whole situation, so having his daily dose of briefings is actually perfect for me. It keeps me sufficiently informed without being overwhelming.

That said, this shouldn't—and absolutely must not—stop anyone else from posting about different topics. I don't see how one conflicts with the other. This space is still open for whatever you want: whether it's cars, venting about nonsense, discussing our everyday struggles, sharing hobbies, or talking about great books and TV shows.

For instance, I am personally getting absolutely crushed by these prices. I had so many plans laid out for the next year or two, but this inflation has completely killed my momentum. Prices for everything within my professional sphere are spiraling out of control. My car feels like it's falling apart more and more every day, yet the price of used cars has gone through the roof. There is no way I'm diving into that market right now. It’s the same story with construction materials. I actually came up with a whole vision—a plan to balance all my needs, priorities, and desires. In plain English: in the very near future, I was planning to start a home building project. A small house, specifically. But how on earth did everything have to hit all at once? My dad was just telling me that the price for a single mesh reinforcement for concrete slabs and walls—I think it's an 8-inch one—is 900 freaking dollars. A year ago, it was 300. Or maybe 400. Meanwhile, my paycheck stays exactly where it is. So, how am I supposed to stay calm when things are like this?

I was actually just writing about how I jumped on that last train two years ago when materials were still cheap. I managed to pull off a project with 22k, whereas a buddy of mine who started about a year after me couldn't even buy the materials, let alone finish the job or pay the contractors, with less than a third of that amount.
Since I work with carpenters and the timber industry, people kept saying these prices couldn't possibly go any higher and that they should start dropping soon... they've been saying that for a year now. Then, out of nowhere, we get word from a client that one of our competitors is about to hike the price of a metal component (furniture hardware) by more or less a freaking 50%...
Ever since the pandemic and this whole chaos kicked off two years ago, our sales have been the best since the day the company was founded... I won't even get into the massive jump in our profit margins over the last couple of years. What really scares me is the thought that we won't be able to keep pace with these rising costs forever. I don't even want to think about what happens if we can't!

@Anthony Wright30 - if we want to rotate the gear from the war, we can do it the old-fashioned way; those guys are nothing but cowards and whiners, always complaining... 😂 🤣

Scott Gonzalez9 said:Look, here in the States, the difference between a monthly mortgage payment and rent is sometimes barely a hundred bucks. There’s really no point in just throwing cash away on rent long-term when you could be building equity.
It doesn't make sense to look at how people live abroad when the economic circumstances over there aren't even the same as ours.

👍

I truly struggle to comprehend those who choose to spend their entire lives as renters, unless they are absolutely forced by necessity into that situation.

After spending five years renting, I finally transitioned into homeownership just a few months ago. It was easily the best $50,000 I have ever invested in my life. I purchased a 1,400-square-foot house in a small town near the VK area, complete with a 7,000-square-foot yard and about 32,000 square feet of farmland right behind the property.

By putting in an extra two hours of labor on that land after my workday ends, I am able to cover a mortgage payment that stays well under $300 through the bank. From a purely market-value perspective, you can't even compare the two locations; back in a major city like New York, I was paying two grand a month in rent, and even then, I considered myself lucky because my landlord was exceptionally fair. People like that are a rare breed. 🙏

On a separate note, if anyone finds themselves in need of some fresh bell peppers, venison, or farm eggs, please reach out. They should be ready soon. I’ll be offering a special discount to the folks from the offside group. ☕

It all depends on what the local market is actually throwing at you. If you're looking at prices hitting $3,000 per square foot in places like Kaštela or San Diego, then you're better off just sticking to rentals. 😁

Noah Perez2 said:It all depends on what the local market is actually throwing at you. If you're looking at prices hitting $3,000 per square foot in places like Kaštela or San Diego, then you're better off just sticking to rentals. 😁

One should consider buying houses in Sinji or exploring the surrounding regions as one heads toward Miami. It is essential that we also encourage people to settle within the Cetina Krajina area. 😉

It’s even better in the Zagora region near Kaštela if you just grab some land while prices are still low. Once they finish the tunnel through Kozjak and the bridge to Stinic, it should give Plenki and the Republican Party exactly what they want—maybe they'll finally funnel some funds back into Dalmatia 😁—and then you’re practically in Miami in a heartbeat, enjoying total peace and comfort.

Even now, houses equipped with amenities like pools, covered outdoor terraces with fireplaces and playground gear, or even tennis courts and massive yards, are renting for $3,000 or more, depending on the quality of the setup.

I know people who sold their apartments in Miami just to finance all of this, and now they’re seeing annual profits of around $50,000. They work year-round managing tourism and organizing various events, but honestly, for our circumstances, the earnings are quite decent.

Jacob Kern2 said:👍

I truly struggle to comprehend those who choose to spend their entire lives as renters, unless they are absolutely forced by necessity into that situation.

After spending five years renting, I finally transitioned into homeownership just a few months ago. It was easily the best $50,000 I have ever invested in my life. I purchased a 1,400-square-foot house in a small town near the VK area, complete with a 7,000-square-foot yard and about 32,000 square feet of farmland right behind the property.

By putting in an extra two hours of labor on that land after my workday ends, I am able to cover a mortgage payment that stays well under $300 through the bank. From a purely market-value perspective, you can't even compare the two locations; back in a major city like New York, I was paying two grand a month in rent, and even then, I considered myself lucky because my landlord was exceptionally fair. People like that are a rare breed. 🙏

On a separate note, if anyone finds themselves in need of some fresh bell peppers, venison, or farm eggs, please reach out. They should be ready soon. I’ll be offering a special discount to the folks from the offside group. ☕

I am embarrassed for them.😢

Noah Perez2 said:It’s even better in the Zagora region near Kaštela if you just grab some land while prices are still low. Once they finish the tunnel through Kozjak and the bridge to Stinic, it should give Plenki and the Republican Party exactly what they want—maybe they'll finally funnel some funds back into Dalmatia 😁—and then you’re practically in Miami in a heartbeat, enjoying total peace and comfort.

Even now, houses equipped with amenities like pools, covered outdoor terraces with fireplaces and playground gear, or even tennis courts and massive yards, are renting for $3,000 or more, depending on the quality of the setup.

I know people who sold their apartments in Miami just to finance all of this, and now they’re seeing annual profits of around $50,000. They work year-round managing tourism and organizing various events, but honestly, for our circumstances, the earnings are quite decent.

They are clever people. 😁
We are going to see more and more of this; as I have remarked previously, we are gradually returning to more traditional, foundational ways of living.

Kyle Campbell4 said:I am embarrassed for them.😢

🤷

Jacob Kern2 said:👍

I truly struggle to comprehend those who choose to spend their entire lives as renters, unless they are absolutely forced by necessity into that situation.

After spending five years renting, I finally transitioned into homeownership just a few months ago. It was easily the best $50,000 I have ever invested in my life. I purchased a 1,400-square-foot house in a small town near the VK area, complete with a 7,000-square-foot yard and about 32,000 square feet of farmland right behind the property.

By putting in an extra two hours of labor on that land after my workday ends, I am able to cover a mortgage payment that stays well under $300 through the bank. From a purely market-value perspective, you can't even compare the two locations; back in a major city like New York, I was paying two grand a month in rent, and even then, I considered myself lucky because my landlord was exceptionally fair. People like that are a rare breed. 🙏

On a separate note, if anyone finds themselves in need of some fresh bell peppers, venison, or farm eggs, please reach out. They should be ready soon. I’ll be offering a special discount to the folks from the offside group. ☕

That’s easy to say, though.
It reminds me of that whole cliché about people wanting to go out and raise sheep.
What kind of damn sheep would I even be able to raise?
I was born and raised on concrete...
When I see a live sheep, I practically have a panic attack because I’m half-convinced it’s going to bite me.
And that’s just a sheep. Out in the country, there are much wilder animals. Take a cow, for instance.
Good grief.
If I saw a cow in person, I think I’d run so fast they wouldn't be able to stop me until I hit Bec.

"Just move to the country"—it's always that easy to say.

Jacob Kern2 said:👍

I truly struggle to comprehend those who choose to spend their entire lives as renters, unless they are absolutely forced by necessity into that situation.

After spending five years renting, I finally transitioned into homeownership just a few months ago. It was easily the best $50,000 I have ever invested in my life. I purchased a 1,400-square-foot house in a small town near the VK area, complete with a 7,000-square-foot yard and about 32,000 square feet of farmland right behind the property.

By putting in an extra two hours of labor on that land after my workday ends, I am able to cover a mortgage payment that stays well under $300 through the bank. From a purely market-value perspective, you can't even compare the two locations; back in a major city like New York, I was paying two grand a month in rent, and even then, I considered myself lucky because my landlord was exceptionally fair. People like that are a rare breed. 🙏

On a separate note, if anyone finds themselves in need of some fresh bell peppers, venison, or farm eggs, please reach out. They should be ready soon. I’ll be offering a special discount to the folks from the offside group. ☕

If I could snag something like that for $100k without all those crazy restrictions, I’d be dancing in the streets, seriously. But man, even if you decide to ditch the coast and head toward the mountains, the prices out there are just as wild. It feels like everything is geared toward vacation rentals. You can go ahead and make a living in tourism if you want, but honestly? Not for me. I just want to move out there, settle down, and grow my own peppers. 😁

Justin James10 said:Why? Because the American Dream for the average American is to own real estate and live off the rental income! 🎉 😵

It’s our ultimate goal and the standard we strive for. Isn't it true that as soon as anyone makes a bit of money, their very first instinct is to buy some property and start renting it out?

God, isn't that just bizarre? You basically need room-temperature IQ to think that's a smart way to invest... seriously.

Matthew Young35 said:That’s easy to say, though.
It reminds me of that whole cliché about people wanting to go out and raise sheep.
What kind of damn sheep would I even be able to raise?
I was born and raised on concrete...
When I see a live sheep, I practically have a panic attack because I’m half-convinced it’s going to bite me.
And that’s just a sheep. Out in the country, there are much wilder animals. Take a cow, for instance.
Good grief.
If I saw a cow in person, I think I’d run so fast they wouldn't be able to stop me until I hit Bec.

"Just move to the country"—it's always that easy to say.

I fail to grasp the nature of this jest. Is it intended to be humorous? 😁

Adam Williams2 said:If I could snag something like that for $100k without all those crazy restrictions, I’d be dancing in the streets, seriously. But man, even if you decide to ditch the coast and head toward the mountains, the prices out there are just as wild. It feels like everything is geared toward vacation rentals. You can go ahead and make a living in tourism if you want, but honestly? Not for me. I just want to move out there, settle down, and grow my own peppers. 😁

The Appalachian Mountains being expensive? While I was searching for a house, I looked at various listings across other counties. I did not get that particular impression. 🤷 Though, I must allow for the possibility that prices surged following the onset of the COVID hysteria and similar disruptions.

Elsewhere in my region, however, farmland prices have absolutely skyrocketed. For a small plot of land, about three-quarters of an acre, you can easily pay $10k, while houses are being purchased not just by locals, but by many foreigners. Mostly Germans—genuine Germans, not our local expats.