May 22, 2007

The Number 30 Is Worth a House : With the way that today's athletes are considered selfish, arrogant and self-absorbed. It's a pleasure to see something like this.

read story | posted by BornIcon to Football at 8:21 AM CDT (31 comments total)

That's nice.
There are also some very funny number exchange stories. My favorite has to be John Kruk selling his "28" to Mitch Williams for two cases of beer. Williams even got to drink a bunch of it with him. The reason that Williams wanted the "28" to begin with is that his wife already had a bunch of "28" jewelery and he didn't want to have to buy her more. That early '90s Phillies team is the only sports team from that city that I've ever cheered on.

posted by NoMich at 8:42 AM CDT on May 22

The number 30 is only worth a down payment on a house. Nice gesture, but I'd have been more impressed if it had actually been worth a house.

posted by apoch at 8:48 AM CDT on May 22

Well done that man.

posted by Abiezer at 9:09 AM CDT on May 22

Nice. Now I'm going to post the Clinton Portis story about defending Mike Vick's right to raise and fight dogs in his own house, because, man, it's just too rich.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 9:57 AM CDT on May 22

Someone actually looking beyond their own, personal gain? Catch me, please, I'm falling!

Ahman Green, running behind that offensive line, should forget about numbers altogether and just put a huge target on his jersey. Opposing defenses will be sending him to the injured list as soon as they get the chance.

posted by dyams at 10:14 AM CDT on May 22

Good for Ahman Green and all the pros who do more than sit around and count their money.... My Hat is Off to Mr. Green. Someone the fans, young and old, can look up too as a true role model. Give back to the community is something we all should be doing.

posted by The Old Man at 10:51 AM CDT on May 22

Good for Ahman Green

Actually, it should be "Good for Jason Simmons." He's the one who requested Green make the house payment for the person instead of accepting his (Green's) money for himself.

posted by dyams at 12:14 PM CDT on May 22

It seems like a laudable act of kindness on the part of Simmons, though I have no idea how much money this would involve.

How much is the typical down payment on a house in the Houston area? Is a down payment the American term for a deposit in the UK?

posted by squealy at 1:35 PM CDT on May 22

I believe 10% of the value of the house is a typical down payment these days.

posted by bperk at 2:06 PM CDT on May 22

A down payment in Canada is what your equity in the home would be when you buy it. The balance of the value of the home would be your mortgage. I would imagine the same would hold true in the USA.
For example, you purchase a home worth $100,000. You have $25,000 saved, that's your down payment, and your mortgage (to be paid off over ...say...15-30 years) would be $75,000. If I'm wrong about this, I'm sure one of our American members will straighten me out. From what I gather, the median purchase price for a home in the Houston area is about $159,000 these days.

posted by tommytrump at 2:09 PM CDT on May 22

That's right, tommy.

posted by jerseygirl at 2:11 PM CDT on May 22

Thanks jerseygirl.
In Canada the banks want you to have 25% to put down. Any less than that will significantly boost the interest rate you have to pay, though they're more than happy to lend you the money. With the housing market the way it is in most of Canada these days, the banks will often lend money with even zero equity.

posted by tommytrump at 2:17 PM CDT on May 22

I believe 10% of the value of the house is a typical down payment these days.

If "these days" refers to the last week, maybe. Unfortunately, there are any number of lenders who were willing to work with less. And get you into an interest-only mortgage*. There will be a huge market for NASA pens with all the upside-down houses.

* Previously know as "renting".

posted by yerfatma at 2:59 PM CDT on May 22

I thought we were working with the premise that Green was paying a down-payment for a single mother. There are obviously tons of different scenarios, but I thought 10% was a standard amount that should get her a good interest rate.

posted by bperk at 3:04 PM CDT on May 22

I got into my first home with an FHA loan that required 3% down. It was a one year ARM (meaning that the interest rate could go up or down as the Fed adjusts it, but only once per year). My interest rate actually went down for the first few years, but then starting going up. I then redid my loan to get a fixed rate.
The least that you would want to put down on a home is 20%, just to get rid of that pesky mortgage insurance, which adds a hefty amount of money to your monthly mortgage payment. However, as yerfatma pointed out, lenders will loan you the full 100% of the loan just to get your business. And business means money by the truckfull for them.

posted by NoMich at 3:06 PM CDT on May 22

I thought we were working with the premise that Green was paying a down-payment for a single mother.

Good point. I'd like to think it was more than a simple 10% downpayment, but no matter what it's a nice story.

posted by yerfatma at 4:27 PM CDT on May 22

posted by THX-1138 at 5:18 PM CDT on May 22

thx - Did you happen to have a run-in with the knights who say "neet"?

posted by hawkguy at 5:32 PM CDT on May 22

Like Britain, we call down payments 'deposits', too. The bit you've paid off is called your 'home equity' and the rest is your mortgage. Must be the convict heritage.

But is it true that for you dudes in the US, mortgage repayments are tax deductible?

posted by owlhouse at 6:04 PM CDT on May 22

The interest on your mortgage is deductable. That doesn't mean that we get every dollar back for every dollar we spend on interest, but we do get some of it back.

posted by NoMich at 7:27 PM CDT on May 22

Thanks NoMich - I meant the interest being deductible!

posted by owlhouse at 11:07 PM CDT on May 22

I would like to officially sell the number 10001 for the price of a bag of Kookabura black licorice, a case of Kokanee, and a lifetime supply of Nathan's hot dogs. And a shrubbery. One that's not too expensive.

You peaked my interest. Now if we can switch the Kookabura black licorice for plain ol' red Twizzlers, you got yourself a deal.

posted by BornIcon at 6:49 AM CDT on May 23

The only number you need to remember is the number 3...3 STRIKES 3 OUTS AND THE NUMBER 3 ON BABE. What is that worth?

posted by The Old Man at 9:39 AM CDT on May 23

Sorry, BI, but I'm afraid the black licorice is a deal breaker. For the minority that likes black licorice, that stuff rocks.

And I'll wager that the Babe might consider the hot dog and Kokanee trade. Dem's good groceries.

posted by THX-1138 at 4:44 PM CDT on May 23

And I had the perfect spot picked out for the shrubbery too, damn!!

posted by BornIcon at 8:14 PM CDT on May 23

For the minority that likes black licorice, that stuff rocks

I learn something new on this site every day. Down here, everyone eats black licorice. I never even saw the red stuff until a few years ago.

And it's called Kookaburra?

posted by owlhouse at 9:46 PM CDT on May 23

For the minority that likes black licorice, that stuff rocks.

i concur. Kookaburra does indeed rock.

posted by goddam at 10:53 PM CDT on May 23

Sorry but I'm the red licorice type of guy, always have been. It does in fact 'makes my mouth happy' like the commerical suggests.

posted by BornIcon at 6:21 AM CDT on May 24

Finally, I post something meaningful! Carry me home to die!

(BI, that stuffs good, too. Tastes great at the theater watching a Star Wars flick when I was a kid.)

posted by THX-1138 at 10:58 AM CDT on May 24

Or while watching 300 for the 4th time.

posted by BornIcon at 11:17 AM CDT on May 24

THIS IS SPARTA!

posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 2:52 PM CDT on May 24

« older And so it ends...… Clinton Portis thinks y'all sh… newer »

This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments.