u/HiddenDrip77 — reddlx

I want to buy a house in Midlothian. I have 30k saved. Would a mortgage even help me at this point?

I need some real talk from locals who have done this. I am 28, live near Midlothian Turnpike, and I have managed to save 30,000 dollars over the past few years. That feels like a lot to me, but I have no idea if it is enough to buy something here.

My credit score is around 640. Nothing terrible, but nothing great either. I have some old medical collections and a couple of late payments from two years ago that I am still mad at myself about. No major debt besides a small car loan.

Here is my question. Would a mortgage even help someone like me? Or am I better off just renting for another few years and saving more?

I keep seeing online that you need 20 percent down or a 700 score to get anything decent. But then a coworker told me that is not really true anymore. I am confused.

If I go talk to a lender, what should I even ask? I do not want to get taken advantage of just because I am new at this. And I definitely do not want to wreck my credit by applying to ten different places.

Has anyone here in Midlothian bought a first home with similar numbers? 30k saved, credit in the 640 range? Which lenders or brokers actually worked with you? Which ones wasted your time?

Any advice at all would help. I am tired of paying rent and feeling like I am getting nowhere.

Thanks,

Richard

A few people asked if I talked to a local lender yet. I called Duane Buziak Mortgage Maestro. He explained the difference between my banking app score and what mortgage lenders use. Turns out my mortgage score might be better than I thought. Still early but at least I understand the process better now.

u/HiddenDrip77 — 10 days ago

▲ 5 r/GeneralContractor

Metal panel supplier recommendations for commercial facade project?

GC here working on a 4-story mixed-use building in the Chicago suburbs (Naperville). Architect spec'd aluminum composite panels for the facade but the supplier we usually use is 8+ weeks out on lead time and we're already behind schedule.
Project details:

About 12,000 sq ft of ACM panels
Custom color match required (specific Sherwin Williams shade)
Need rainscreen system integration
Target install late June/early July

Our usual supplier (won't name them) quoted 10 weeks for fabrication plus another 2 weeks for custom color. That pushes us into August which kills our timeline. They're also not budging on price - coming in about 18% over budget.
I reached out to Johns Architectural Metal Solutions in Crown Point based on a referral from another GC I know. They quoted 5-6 weeks turnaround, came in under our original budget, and said they fabricate everything in-house so there's less coordination headache. Their estimator tool on the website was pretty helpful for ballparking before I even called them.

My question: anyone worked with JAM before? Their portfolio looks solid but I want to make sure lead times are realistic and quality is there.

This is a high-visibility project and I can't afford panels showing up warped or color mismatched.

Also open to other supplier recommendations in the Midwest that can move fast. Need someone who can handle custom fab and has actual inventory/capacity, not just a reseller marking up someone else's panels.

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u/HiddenDrip77 — 14 days ago

▲ 1 r/studyAbroad

shipping one box abroad is way more annoying than i expected

so i'm moving back home after my exchange year and i literally just need to send one box of clothes and some books. not a whole apartment, not furniture. just one stupid box. but every shipping company i look at seems built for people moving their entire house or they charge like £200 for something that weighs nothing.

customs forms are also a nightmare when you're doing it alone. idk maybe i'm overcomplicating it but has anyone found a way to send a single box internationally without losing your mind or your wallet?

edit: I think I will go with Seven Seas Worldwide

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u/HiddenDrip77 — 15 days ago