#77 | ECM Repair for David and why I am no longer trying to buy a house

[@mirceaalicu]

Interesting, we are about the same age judging by your mortgage calculation :) - so I am currently working in IT for the past 20 some years, doing decent, considering I live in Europe in a country that is not extremely expensive but also not the cheapest. The electronics I do on my channel are just a hobby, just a side job I do for fun, but it also provides some income. Now, I always had a piece of mind that owning a house and knowing I will have a roof above my head even if I lose my job helps me sleep better at night. I do have a house which I bought 10 years ago in a village next to a large city - I was one of the lucky ones as the value of the hose more than doubled. I am also renting an apartment in the city so I don't have to commute to my daughter's school every morning. Renting is almost as expensive as over there... so if I lose my job I will be forced to get back to my hose and start commuting. From the electronics hobby, I can do enough for everyday meals but that's it.... no more money for car loans and all the good stuff...

[@RandomAudioGuys]

In Kentucky we bought a 110.00 house and our payments are 750.00 a month. That includes escrowed taxes and insurance. Buy a plot of land and a used trailer. Then upgrade once you have built up savings.

[@blackhorserepairs]

how long ago was that? My budget was around 100k with down payment of around 20k but prices start at 300k now :)

[@modrobert]

Nice repair, you put a lot of heat on that IC when pre-soldering using the iron, assuming it can take it. Regarding the house, there is also the homeowners association (HOA) in some states of USA which can eventually lead to losing your house for breaking rules (or not paying fines), worst case rules which are arbitrary. The whole ordeal makes me question what "ownership" means.

[@blackhorserepairs]

Yes, I forgot about HOA

[@mm0077]

It is a matter of choice and depending which country you are living in. The general rule in some EU countries and UK buying is more beneficial as the property is yours and more likely you can sell and get most of your money you spent and with profits in most cases. According to experts in general the benefits outweigh the risks involved. In my view it is about having choices and what you are comfortable with and within your means and depending on personal circumtances. I personally have had bad experiences with renting due to greedy landlords and not having a robust regulated renting market, which can hold owners accountable for maintenance, extortionate rent rise and can kick out renters anytime even when you are within contracts.

[@blackhorserepairs]

yep, I've had some bad experience renting, it's a matter of luck sometimes

[@joel383]

On older Subaru ECM, does all injectors turning on as soon as the key is turned, point to an ECM processor problem?

[@blackhorserepairs]

Shorted output stage most likely

[@paulystark2890]

So what did you do to repair this board? Did you swap the chip? Or did you just replace the same chip? I can’t tell. If it’s the same chip, what was wrong? They didn’t solder it on correctly?

[@blackhorserepairs]

same chip, different solder :)

[@BigBoss-rh7zq]

In Italy we do have option for a fix o variable mortgage.

[@blackhorserepairs]

that's a good option to have (I thought)

[@bobsoft]

Your landlord is going to factor in those increases of strata fees, insurance and any other costs to them when it comes time for renewal of leasing out their property. When you are mortgage free you do not have to insure your house if you don't want to. I bought into the market 20 years ago and I now own my home and was able to retire. Saved my money, bought most everything used..............lived within my means. Where did you get that microscope stand? I need one for my Mustool G1200

[@blackhorserepairs]

I did not know that, my lease is up in March so we'll see soon. The stand I use came with the scope but recently I purchased this www.ebay.com/itm/305768098159

[@simmo1024]

If you can afford it, you should buy a house as young as possible. Bought my house in '94, spent 11 years doing nowt but paying it off (hard work & periodically quite stressful - like being laid off!). I have not paid rent.mortgage since 2005. Yes I have to fund some things that as a renter I would not (upkeep, building insurance), but over the subsequent 20 years I have easily saved way more than I have spent on it. Admittedly this is in the UK, where the homeowners tax, while offensive (and payable by renters anyway), is not as egregious as it is in the US. The problem for those wishing to buy these days, is that houses are simply too expensive. Anyone looking has my sympathy.

[@ypruss]

I live in Europe but as far i see online you can easily buy in Georgia a spacious RV with 6000$, an 1 Acre Land for 15000$ and in only one year you are independent (... from your 21000$ rent). The following 4 years, you put aside another 84.000 and you can upgrade your self.

[@blackhorserepairs]

interesting, I will look into that

[@o_-_o]

I'd suggest to use Anti-Static Brush . Even an Aliexpress one could be better than ordinary toothbrush.

[@blackhorserepairs]

Thanks for the tip!

[@fookiniscuzzy]

I've been using toothbrushes for years and have never damaged a semi or film cap or anything else. Most "anti static" brushes are just plain black or grey brushes and are totally non conductive scams. The bristles are far too stiff on the name brand legit ones anyway, and you'd need to rub that IC like a Van der Graaf to do damage on a static mat with a wrist strap

[@o_-_o]

@@fookiniscuzzy good for you

[@safdarkhan542]

Why did u remove the chip and put it back again? what was wrong with the chip?

[@blackhorserepairs]

@@safdarkhan542 it's the solder under the chip that I replace, the chip is usually fine

[@turboimport95]

In this economy i would not buy a house, and 1700$ a month rent is crazy, If i was in your situation, i would look into getting a large box truck or van and turning it into a tiny house, it would take some elbow grease. If the box is big enough, you could even have room for a office and can do some repairs there. Atl traffic is horrible. I would not pay rent for that much money. Imagine saving most of that money every month. You could do less repairs and still be ahead, and take more vacations. Owning a house is not all its cracked up to be, when they are 300-400k minimum.

[@blackhorserepairs]

That's true but I can't have my family live in the van 😕 1700 is not that much for this area actually

[@lj6278]

I live in Southern California. My 1500sqft house is worth $650.000, and I am 90 minutes from the coast. Location Location Location.

[@nello315]

time is money, you have to be quicker in replacing components.

[@blackhorserepairs]

True that

[@lj6278]

You are right on many points but incorrect on others. In the US, an adjustable mortgage changes yearly based on the federal interest rate. If the federal rate decreases, your mortgage payment decreases, and vice versa. You pay property tax to the state, whether you own your house outright or have a mortgage. That is the government tax you were talking about. It typically doesn't go up. Here in California, it is 1 1/2 to 3 percent based on the value of the land your home is sitting on, not the house's value. Buying a house is smart if you plan on living where you are now for the next 10+plus years. It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself (and, by extension, your viewers) that renting is better. It's not better. You have more control of your life when you buy.

[@blackhorserepairs]

True, if the value of your land suddenly spikes, so does the tax

[@lj6278]

@@blackhorserepairs It's not that simple.

[@yoppindia]

Save the money and buy house in Poland and go back.

[@robertmccully2792]

You have to move to the were the cheap houses are. Rent goes down a hole never to return. In ten years you will have lost 100 k in rent.

[@blackhorserepairs]

yeah, but in places that are cheap I will not find a job, that's the problem I have

[@robertmccully2792]

@ been there. Not sure of all your circumstances, get a roommate, get married, to help split the bills. Move to the out skirts of town, move in a smaller space, become a roommate.. learn a new trade.. whatever it takes,, when you get old like me you could become trapped.. you have to make a plan now. Good luck!

[@blackhorserepairs]

@@robertmccully2792 thank you so much!

[@Swenser]

Don't buy a house. Have someone else buy it for you. You let them live in it for 30 years and pay every week then kick them out

[@Stinktierchen]

If we humans lived 500 years, 30years wouldnt be much. But we dont live 500 years.