New car guy from NE Wisconsin

[wardvwracer]

Been lurking around here for a while and finally decided to post up an introduction to get started.

I'm a car guy who's always dreamed of building a garage and attaching a house to it. The reality is, however, most of us buy homes with a garage attached. Hopefully you follow my thinking...

In my current home I have an attached 3 1/2 car garage, which simply doesn't work for me. I know, many guys would love to have a 3 1/2 car garage. But for me, our garage is too crowded and I don't have room to work on my cars. I really need to build an "out building" or garage, but I can't make up my mind as to what to do. Let me explain...

The real estate market hasn't cooperated. The original plan was to live in our home about three years and then build a new home with a better garage set up. Its been 6 1/2 yrs. So, I've been trying to decide whether to build another garage or **** it up and continue to wait. We have the property to build on, but the wife doesn't view this house as her "long term" house. The ugly reality is that we're probably stuck here for at least 3 to 5 years, or even longer.

So, the question is, do I build the garage or hold off? As mentioned, I'm a car guy with three hobby cars. I need more space to work on them.

I am told that garages don't really add any value to the house. And if you're going to build one and hope to reclaim any value from them, you need to build as soon as possible and plan to be there at least 5 years. So it may not make any sense to spend $15,000-$35,000 on a garage.

Thoughts?

 

[Scout Driver]

David,
Welcome to the GJ! About the garage situation........I appraise real-estate here in South Dakota. From what I have seen in our area, a home with a 3 1/2 car garage would be very desirable. Unfortunately, any more garage space than that is not needed by the majority of people looking for homes. My experience tells me that the added garage space would not add much value to your home at this time (not enough value to pay for itself). Home loans are getting tougher to aquire right now. Especially for first time home buyers, banks don't want to loan money out for anything more than what is "essential". I am just speaking from what I am seeing in my area. Maybe someone closer to you can provide a more sight-specific assessment. Anyhow, hope this helps you out. Best of luck to you!

Scott

 

[wardvwracer]

Thanks Scott, your comments are applicable to here as well. Most homes built here have the extra "1/2" for people to have room for snow mobiles, small boats, etc. Me, I stuffed two small VW's into the 3rd stall side. The wife's car occupies the double side along with some wood working equipment and my son's dirt bikes.

Homes just aren't selling around here! Homes in the area last on the market for months or years (yes, years). Plus, new construction homes of camparable size are selling for less than what I owe on the mortgage. Hence the dilema I find myself in.

Here's the style of garage I'm considering:
http://justgarageplans.com/63/plan-detail/2303.php

I need room for a 5th wheel toy hauler, and I need a shop to work on the cars. This would work!

 

[Scout Driver]

Nice garage plan. Lots of character and would lend well to any neighborhood. People in my area that are in good position to buy homes are not buying existing homes. They are building to suit their own tastes. I have seen some really neat home and garage ideas in the past two years. It appears that people building right now are building "keepers".

Noticed the Ghia you are using as an avatar. Do you have one in your VW stable? A friend of mine has a '74. Its a car that I just can't help but grin ear to ear every time I drive it!: Let me know if I can lend anymore insight.

Scott

 

[wardvwracer]

Thanks for the additional comments.

Regarding the Ghia, yes, I have a '64 Ghia. Click over to www.wardvwracer.com to check out my stuff.

 

[Scout Driver]

Really sweet Ghia! Thanks for the link to your your site!

 

[Wardrum]

Hey David, I'm in Packer country too. Our neighbor is a real estate broker and she told me yesterday that January is looking to be her best month since 2005 so maybe there is hope that your current house would sell if you listed it going into this spring.

I'm also a car guy (tri-five Chevys mostly) and am fortunate to have plenty of garage/shop space (five garage stalls plus a 68' x 48' shop/storage shed) but it took me many years of saving and more saving to get there. Keep after it and good things will come your way.

 

[wardvwracer]

Wardrum,
Thanks for your note. I may habve to put a call into our relator to inquire how the market is. I'm only basing my comments on the homes in my immediate are that still have signs on them.

Cool to run into a fellow car guy from the area. The first car show in the area is the NWTC show in May. Maybe we'll run into each other there. I may drag out the Ghia or my Single Cab for the show.

 

[Wardrum]

The first car show in the area is the NWTC show in May. Maybe we'll run into each other there.

I try to make it to the NWTC show every year. I don't think my 57 hardtop will be done by May but, if you see this sitting there, that would be me.