Just bought my first house

[Bryce]

and now Im in debt. HAHA. I have never had debt my enitre life, paid cash for everything.

So im dreaming about an awesome garage. Currently my dad and I have a nice setup in his 3car garage. But in the near future I need to get my garage setup.

I really would like to extend the garage towards the street, I have a longer driveway than my neighbors. So hopefully I can get a permit to do this, (I live in san diego).



I currently have a two car garage and three cars. So no room to work, yet!!

Anyone have suggestions for doing this? I really want to addon to what I have. Anyone have experience with permits?

Just want some ideas on a semibudget dream garage, thats funtional. I would probably do 90% of all the work myself, to save money and ensure a good job.

Thanks for the help and I will take pics with my falcon in the garage when I close escrow in three weeks. Hopefully I will still have some money left over to play with the falcon.

[AM.MSCL]

Congrats but think of the itemized deductions you get now!

[Bryce]

yep! I have ran the numbers and it was a great investment.

[MrQuick]

congratulations!!


lets see some pictures of that driveway & garage.

vince

[Gitter Dun]

Congrats, hope this doesn't mean your going to miss Buttonwillow June 5th,LOL, Just kidding, congrats and hope to see you at Buttonwillow!!

[DarkBuddha]

Welcome to the club! I'm in the same boat about the garage, including considering extending it towards the street and trying to make it into a nice functional budget dream garage. I'm still in limbo about it generally because I'm trying to reconcile my current needs with my future wants.

Anyway, there are tons of online resources for ideas, but I recently bought a pretty cool magazine/book called "Great Garage Makeovers" that has lots of great ideas and examples of what you can do with even a modest space. Ultimately, for all my reading and research, the one thing that's clear is that organization and storage are the most important things to figure out to make the space functional.

BTW, if you're interested in the magazine I mentioned, you can order it here: http://www.woodstore.net/grgama.html

Good luck and keep us posted.

[stealth71]

Congrats. We just put an offer on a short sale on 2 acres. I've been dreaming garage as well.

The itemized deduction thing only works out if you're not married. Single homeowners make out the best.

[Bigblue73]

Congrats on the home purchase. Just be sure to get a fire extinguisher for the garage. One thing my Dad always recommended and I've used it more than I wish.

[Bryce]

Welcome to the club! I'm in the same boat about the garage, including considering extending it towards the street and trying to make it into a nice functional budget dream garage. I'm still in limbo about it generally because I'm trying to reconcile my current needs with my future wants.

Anyway, there are tons of online resources for ideas, but I recently bought a pretty cool magazine/book called "Great Garage Makeovers" that has lots of great ideas and examples of what you can do with even a modest space. Ultimately, for all my reading and research, the one thing that's clear is that organization and storage are the most important things to figure out to make the space functional.

BTW, if you're interested in the magazine I mentioned, you can order it here: http://www.woodstore.net/grgama.html

Good luck and keep us posted.

Thanks for the link I will look into that.

I am worried about what permits I need and what is allowed. Luckily no HOAs.

[Bryce]

Congrats. We just put an offer on a short sale on 2 acres. I've been dreaming garage as well.

The itemized deduction thing only works out if you're not married. Single homeowners make out the best.

Darnit, Im married. LOL.

Congrats on the two acres. In san diego that would be around 1 million. My lot is a 1/4 acre.

[Bryce]

Congrats on the home purchase. Just be sure to get a fire extinguisher for the garage. One thing my Dad always recommended and I've used it more than I wish.

Im even thinking sprinkler system, I have to protect my investments (cars) as long as it doesnt accidently go off.

[speedshftr]

awsum.good luck with your new home

[blown9746]

if the garage has a high ceiling put a 4 post in there. That's what my neighbor did. 2 car garage with a 95 mustang gt, 02 gt vert, and a 66 coupe up on the 4 post

[killer67]

Congrats...you bought at the best time in decades Get good HO insurance for your cars and a gun.

[69lsxamx]

congratulations I bought my first just over a year ago. I can't help you any on the permits and all. I'm lucky that I don't have any of that to worry about . good luck getting the garage like you want.

[Vegas69]

Congrats on your first house. Just make sure you factor in maintenence costs on top of your nut....

[rrunner68]

Lol, Bryce you don't waste anytime. If you need a friend with a truck, gimme a buzz.

[Bryce]

thanks for support everyone!!!


Dan, you are right. I started looking about 3 weeks ago. I put an offer in the day after goodguys!

Luckily, my wife and I have a very small apartment and no room to store anything so moving should be easy. I have a truck and i will use my dads too. Dan, you can come to the house warming, hopefully begining of june!!!

[Jim Nilsen]

Congratulations and my condlences too.

Always remember that you are supossed to be the one who owns the house, don't let the house start to own you. Things can get out of hand from the very start with dreams of what to do to make it the way you want it. The best thing I ever did was refuse to do anything to the house and learn to live with it the way I moved in. I got that advice from a good friend who has their house paid for now and learned the hard way.At first I didn't like some things but the previous owners did an ok job with everything and after a while you get used to it and find that you really didn't need to change it all to suit you.

If you choose to let the house own you there will be no new parts or time to work on your car. I even let go of the idea of the epoxied floor in the garage and a few other things and have lived without them just fine and the money was there for the car.

You can't take a house with you if you want to leave so be prepared to feel stuck when times are bad. I sometimes wish I was still renting because it was cheaper and I had a great place to work on my car where I rented before but not as nice as where I am now but it worked for less.

Goodluck and may you be blessed with no repairs and good neighbors !!!

[rrunner68]

Congratulations and my condlences too.

Always remember that you are supossed to be the one who owns the house, don't let the house start to own you. Things can get out of hand from the very start with dreams of what to do to make it the way you want it. The best thing I ever did was refuse to do anything to the house and learn to live with it the way I moved in. I got that advice from a good friend who has their house paid for now and learned the hard way.At first I didn't like some things but the previous owners did an ok job with everything and after a while you get used to it and find that you really didn't need to change it all to suit you.

If you choose to let the house own you there will be no new parts or time to work on your car. I even let go of the idea of the epoxied floor in the garage and a few other things and have lived without them just fine and the money was there for the car.

You can't take a house with you if you want to leave so be prepared to feel stuck when times are bad. I sometimes wish I was still renting because it was cheaper and I had a great place to work on my car where I rented before but not as nice as where I am now but it worked for less.

Goodluck and may you be blessed with no repairs and good neighbors !!!

Or you end up like me, regretting the condo you bought at the peak of the bubble, and renting it at a 1k loss/mo...sweet.

Good timing on the buy, it can't get much worse, and it definitely can get better. Can't wait to see the new diggs in June.