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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Retired Educator" data-source="post: 106882" data-attributes="member: 3373">So many good ideas. One I can't argue with but don't necessarily agree with is not to use vinyl siding. My experience with vinyl siding is that there are different grades of vinyl siding. Some is heavier gauge than others. One hard and fast rule is never mow close enough to the house so that stones can fly from the mower to the house. You will have holes if you don't pay attention to that rule. On the plus side, if a piece of siding does get damaged it is easily replaced. Just keep a few pieces from a box that was opened but not totally used. Without a doubt steel is better than vinyl. However, for the price vinyl is easily replaced 10 years down the road with either vinyl or steel. Earlier I had forgotten wider garage doors. Yes, Yes, Yes. Very little difference in cost and so much better. For garage doors I have recently seen wall mounted openers that turn the torsion bar instead of pulling on the top of door. More money but that are super smooth operating with no extra stress on the door.Heated garages are great and my experience suggests that a fan heater has some advantages over floor heat. Floor heat is extremely nice but garages that have air movement tend to dry more efficiently. Even better is a heater that moves warm air over the floor as opposed from the ceiling down.15 year mortgages are great in that you own your house in 15 years instead of 30. The plus side of a 30 year mortgage is that you are allowed to pay it off early. In the case where you might end up needing some flexibility in the monthly payment, 30 years allows that. A really good idea is paying more on the principal every month that you have some extra cash (if there is such a thing for a young couple starting a family.) Earlier someone mentioned that the beginning of a mortgage payment is very interest heavy at the front. Absolutely true but even paying an extra $100/month towards the principal on a 30 year note can greatly reduce the time to pay off the loan.Have fun with your house and if possibly, do it right the first time. Most importantly for things you can't afford now make sure you have a plan to simplify adding things you want in the future.</blockquote>

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