BELGIUM'S UNIQUE HOUSES.

It has been an eventful week leading up to Easter, with U.S.' presidential race DRAMA, POTUS' visit to Cuba and the attack on Belgium it was hard for me to stay focus on my blog.  I thought "hey why don't I research Belgium"?

Hannes Coudenys, 33 is an internet blogger who also wrote a book after his blog about some houses in Belgium caused a buzz.  His book is titled "Ugly Belgium Houses".   Click on the link and below, to see the homes.  I don't think they're "ugly" but they are quite unique.

Brussels is the capitol city of Belgium.  It's located in the heart of Belgium. They have shops & cafes inside 17th-century guild hall/houses ( a hall used for guilds to have meetings) & 19th -century Maison du Roi houses the Musee dela Villa de Bruxelles history museum and much more.  I will definately visit Belgium.

Guild Hall / House

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3083261/Weird-wacky-just-plain-dull-Photographer-online-hit-blog-documenting-ugly-houses-Belgium-lands-book-deal.html

Many of you who are reading my blog may be a lot younger than I am and I would like to give some advice on owning a home.  It doesn't matter where you want to live, your dream home could be here in Hawaii or in Buford, Wyoming it will cost money.  You are never too young to start saving for a house.  Whatever job you hold or side money you make, you should put at the least 10% and at the most 20% + of that money in a account designated for your future house. I would encourage anyone, to have a goal of paying off your house in cash.  On that same note, you are never too young to start saving for retirement either, always say "yes" to a 401(k) from your employer and if they don't sponsor one, open your own IRA (5-10% of your paycheck i would suggest you contribute).     

- pay off all debts (if can't afford a decent down payment than that is a sign you can't afford a house)
-set a goal of how much your future house will cost and start saving
   (example: $100,000 home cost  save $1000 a month )
-Budget your current living expenses
  (always have a plan for each dollar you make ; Make $1000 a pay check - 25% to car/gas/food  25% bills 10%entertainment 10% emergency fund 10% retirement  20% to future home savings)

Here is a story I read on a Dave Ramsey website:
Starting small
Matt W. from Chattanooga, TN, bought his first home—a 1939 two-bedroom foreclosure—with a $19,000 cashier’s check. It wasn’t in the best part of town and needed a lot of TLC, but Matt and his new bride poured a lot of sweat into renovating it. Their hard work and patience paid off. Last year, they sold their honeymoon cottage for $64,000!

Just some advice I wanted to share, I wish someone told me this when I was younger. 

Living in Hawaii has it's advantages. The weather in the 50th state is practically perfect 365 days of the year.  We can enjoy the beach, sun and hike our mountains in the winter, where most of the continental U.S. is freezing and shoveling snow.   One of downside, is the cost of housing.  Whether you rent, buy or lease a home in Hawaii it is going to cost an arm, a leg and maybe your head.  Here are some interesting facts about our housing economics:

Hawai‘i’s low income residents face the highest cost of living in the nation, including the highest cost of housing.

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Housing Costs in Hawaii

• Hawaii’s rents exceed the national average by 50%, with about 75% of households in poverty spending more than half of their income on rent.
• Hawai‘i’s housing costs are the highest among the states, while Honolulu is the most expensive metropolitan area for housing.
• A minimum wage worker would have to work 177 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, to afford a two bedroom apartment at market rent. The “housing wage”—what a worker would need to earn hourly to afford a two bedroom apartment at fair market rent—is $32.14. Meanwhile, the average hourly wage for a renter is $13.56, while minimum wage is just $7.25.
• In large part due to the lack of affordable housing, Hawai‘i has the highest homelessness rate among the fifty states. Inability to pay rent and eviction are frequently cited as events leading to homelessness. Even for those who are working or ready to move into permanent housing, there are few affordable options, causing them to languish in shelters or transitional housing.
• Hawai‘i has the highest rate of “doubling up” in the country, where multiple generations live in one unit

resource:  http://hiappleseed.org/affordable-housing

Hawaii Apple is a center for Law and Economic Justice

Maybe I have to buy my dreamhouse in the Mainland and not in Hawaii? :(

Small Green Getaway in Kehena Beach

Amazing Green Home in Kehena Beach (Pahoa, Hawaii), not only is beautiful but does all it can to be environmentally friendly.  Click on the link above to read more about it.

• Rainwater collection;
• Natural ventilation and ceiling fans (no AC);
• Efficient CFL and LED lighting; 
• Energy Star appliances;
• Low-VOC paints throughout;
• Cork flooring and Trex decking;
• Durable metal roofing with radiant barrier;
• On-demand water heating; and
• Retaining wall designed for vegetable beds. 

Where this home is not the mansion, I been posting, I do love it.  Having this home, in this weather and the beautiful scenery (Hawaii) - That is all I need.  *****

Living in Hawaii is beautiful, unfortunately the downside, price tag to own a home is OUTRAGEOUS.  A million + home here in Hawaii could cost $250,000 or less in parts of the Continental United States. This home is $250,000 in Texas, it is 2576 sqft, 4 bedrooms 2.5 bathrooms, and the estimated mortgage on Zillow is $895. PLUS IT HAS A POOL. 

Pools😜

Beautiful house in Makiki