Future house

We don't really know when we'll return to the USA, but it’s still fun to scheme about our future home there. As mentioned in the previous post, we still have a house in Houston that is currently rented out. We could always return to live in that house, but we are also considering purchasing another property as we’d like a more sustainable and relaxed lifestyle in the country when we return.

Ideally, we'd be able to find a property with some acreage, maybe 3-10 acres, that has lots of trees, wildlife (ideally edible species like wild pigs and deer), some topography, a water source, and definitely no HOA or other restrictions. Of course, it would still have to be close enough to commute to work, decent schools for the kids, and not be crazy expensive. Now, that is asking alot of the Houston area (assuming we return there), so I don't know we'll be able to find such a property.

In the event that we did, I'd like to build an earth sheltered concrete house. I found out about this building technique about a year ago from my Mom as there is a builder in her area that specializes in it. Their website is here: www.earthshelteredhome.com

The benefits of this home construction method are so obvious that I am surprised that more homes aren't built this way. It offers excellent energy efficiency, resistance to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes, reduced pests and mold, and many others. The cost is a bit more, but you'd make it back over time with reduced energy costs. I think it could also be designed to offer more security in an end of the world scenario than a traditional wood frame and brick exterior house could.

It would be of modest size for our family of 5 (2000-2500 sqft), have a big porch (maybe even elevated), and a generous garage/workshop area. I would likely tie it to the grid initially, but I’d like to eventually have it be totally self-sufficient with: water well, septic system, rainwater collection, gas generator, solar panels, and maybe even wind turbines.

In the spirit of my previous post, I would first pay off the rental property (if possible) and then use the rental property to help pay down the second property.

Makes me want to go search har.com. :)

Thoughts on house debt

I have been thinking deeply about debt and finances off and on over the last couple months. I find it an interesting topic, but I am certaintly by no means an expert in it.

Today, I had lunch with a co-worker who is from India. We discussed how buying a home in India is drastically different that in America. In India, getting a mortgage through a bank is underheard of. If you can't afford a house, then you save money until you can. Maybe you could even convince some friends or family to loan you some money, but the bank doesn't get involved. You can even pay your lifetime of property taxes all at once. Just that simple.

In the US, it is the opposite. My friend just couldn't understand why you would agree to pay almost all of the mortgage payment on interest, pmi, and property taxes (in escrow) while only making a small dent in the principle. I must admit that I just hadn't thought about how crazy it sounds because it is standard operating procedure to get a mortgage when buying a home in the US. The banks certainly like the way it is set up as you end up buying your house several times over if you take 30 years to pay down your mortgage or better yet that you upgrade your house every couple years.

He did, however, did see the value in me continuing to rent my house in Houston while we lived abroad as at least someone else was paying the bank. I often wonder if keeping the house and renting it out was a smart move. I hope I don't regret not selling it down the road. Time will tell. At least I am working towards increasing my assets...

Today's conversation renewed my conviction to work towards truly owning my own home and enjoying the peace and security that that brings to those so fortunant to achieve it.

Trip to Taiwan

We took a two week long family trip to Taiwan over spring break. Ok, so it was a little bit long than the usual one week spring break, but the kids going to school and me going to work is over-rated, right?

Anyway, we met up with Julia's parents in Taipei and the adventure started.

We walked around Taipei 101 (at one time the tallest building in the world), and ate way too much delicious food, while visiting Julia's extended family. We also visited the Taipei LDS temple.

Then we traveled to Taichung and more family, ate more food, and visited the scenic Sun Moon Lake (where we rode on the cable cars). We also cruised around the lake in an express boat. I always enjoy a boat ride, but Julia and Joseph tend to get seasick. :( We capped off the day having a snack at a ritzy new hotel that Julia's family member owns. Ohh, ahhh.

We also went to the National Science museum where we saw dinosaurs and tons of other exibits. We also watch one of the original IMAX movies about flight. I love how your stomach gets turned with the camera!

Then, we rode back to Taipei and visit yet more family and eat even more food and visited the Taipei Zoo. The zoo was great in that it had some real hard to find animals like koala bears and panda bears. Each bathroom had signs about feces, which was kinda weird, but funny.

Like a flash, two weeks were up and we were waiting at Julia's new favorite airport terminal gate to return to Jakarta. We loved how the Hello Kitty theme extended beyond the store into the waiting area. Each gate had its own theme.

Lots of great memories and time with loved ones! I miss the food and great people of Taiwan already. :)

Time Flies

I had no idea about how quickly time really does fly until moving overseas.  We have been in Jakarta for a little over a year now, and it literally seems like we just arrived yesterday.  I think time feels like it is flying by because we do so much.  In the States, we hardly ever went anywhere other than the usual…to work, to school, and to visit family. Most weekends we stayed at home or close to home. Here we are doing so much more. The kids have more after-school and extra-curricular activities. We are also traveling a whole lot.
Last year we arrived at the end of February.  In March, I took the kids to Balikpapan to spend Spring Break with DH.  He was sent there for a 4.5 week assignment just after we moved to Jakarta.  In July, we went back to the U.S. for 3 weeks to visit friends and family.  In October, we spent a week in Bali during Fall Break.  In November, we took the kids to Hong Kong over Thanksgiving break. 
In between all the larger trips, we took short trips in and around Jakarta to see the many sights.  It seems like a rare thing for us to stay home on the weekends.  Although we did not fly anywhere during the 3 week Christmas break, we still did lots of fun things around Jakarta.
This year is also blowing by quickly.  In March we took a 2 week trip to Taiwan to meet up with my parents.  This last weekend (Easter weekend) we went to Singapore for a few days.  Next month we are headed to Malaysia for several days.  Then the day after school lets out in mid June, the kids and I will be off to Texas for 2 months!  By the time we get back, more than half of 2012 will be over.
DH and I talked about all the things that we have done in the last year.  Mostly the reason we have been so active going places and seeing things is because we do not know how long we will be living overseas.  This might be our only opportunity to live in a foreign country. We are definitely trying to make the most of our time here.
Our kids are still so young.  We have wondered how much they will really remember.  Still, I am glad that they are having opportunities to go new places and experience so many wonderful things.  We feel very blessed to be able to spend so much time together as a family and to have so many positive experiences. Life is good.