Small Details that are interesting in the Cooper Harris case, #1

[nosysw]

I agree about the forgetting. I've recently done the opposite a number of times. Looked back in my car expecting to see my kids- then remembering I haven't taken them (they're a pre-teen and teens). But, I could see it happening the other way. I have ADD and can get distracted in mere seconds. I don't think I would ever forget my kids in a car, but I never say never.

But, I don't know how to explain them both looking up children dying in hot cars. I also can't imagine forgetting for an entire day- but then remembering to ask wife when she will be picking him up. And telling his friends he will be late for a movie but then telling LE he left early...And his and his wife's reactions.

Just too many little issues adding up to too many things one would have to overlook to find him innocent. JMO.

I don't find the short period of time between getting the the car with Cooper and forgetting that Cooper was in the car implausible. The length of time is not the only factor in forgetting: every time you forget something there is a moment when you remember and a moment later when you don't. I have walked from my living room to my kitchen to get something and in that time - maybe 2 or 3 seconds - completely forgotten what I went into the kitchen for.

That is reinforced for me by his interest in sexting. I can see his mind shifting from "had a nice breakfast with my boy" to "oh boy, nearly time for sexting." A terrible thing, but I don't think it would have to be deliberate.

What had convinced me he was guilty was that I believed the car would smell terrible by lunchtime and certainly by the time he got in and drove off at the end of the day. But reading about other situations where there was apparently not much noticeable smell has changed my mind about that. Perhaps it didn't smell as badly as I imagined it would, or at all.

I started out quite convinced that RH had deliberately killed his son. Now I am not so sure.

Tink

Sorry to quote myself, but I just noticed that in my post, I didn't put Tink's (above) post in, which is what I was referring to. I've been having trouble with quotes ever since the new WS format. Sorry...

 

[ATasteOfHoney]

Well, in this neck of the "woods" you need a 20% down payment, a job that you've held for at least 2 years, and a decent credit score to get a mortgage; ever since the housing debacle in 2008.

If RH & LH were planning on getting serious about a home purchase possibility, one of the first things that should be done is to get "pre-qualified" which is where the bank lets you know the price range of a house (down payment/mortgage monthly taken into consideration) you can afford. I don't know too many realtors willing to work with a potential buyer that doesn't have a "pre-qual" letter first and some money to put down. Who wants to randomly show million dollar homes to a buyer who in reality can't qualify for a $50,000. home? Hence the need for the "pre-qual".

Now, if they did have a "pre-qual" letter and was serious about purchasing a home, most lenders will strongly advise that in the meantime you don't rack up your credit cards (i.e., buy expensive guitars, book expensive cruises) after they have run the check and did their calculations. They don't want the debt-to-loan ratio to become worse. Banks even will run them again right before closing and look at your debt, purchases, credit scores, ensure job history, etc.
Banks will re-neg on their mortgage promise if things have changed.

 

[EvilSoup]

Also, the Atlanta-Metro housing market is greatly inflated in comparison to other markets.

We sold our 3/2 brick ranch (1500 sq ft) in 2004 for 320,000. It was in a desirable neighborhood, and well-maintained, near good schools. And near Emory/Briarcliff, so basically intown.

We purchased the home in 1999 for 275,000. So, yay for us! Honestly, I would rather live where we did than out in East Cobb, but lots of newbie yuppie wannabes migrate out there. I prefer midtown/ virginia/poncey highlands to Vinings any day, but then again, I don't live in ATL anymore, so.....

 

[EvilSoup]

Well, in this neck of the "woods" you need a 20% down payment, a job that you've held for at least 2 years, and a decent credit score to get a mortgage; ever since the housing debacle in 2008.

If RH & LH were planning on getting serious about a home purchase possibility, one of the first things that should be done is to get "pre-qualified" which is where the bank lets you know the price range of a house (down payment/mortgage monthly taken into consideration) you can afford. I don't know too many realtors willing to work with a potential buyer that doesn't have a "pre-qual" letter first and some money to put down. Who wants to randomly show million dollar homes to a buyer who in reality can't qualify for a $50,000. home? Hence the need for the "pre-qual".

Now, if they did have a "pre-qual" letter and was serious about purchasing a home, most lenders will strongly advise that in the meantime you don't rack up your credit cards (i.e., buy expensive guitars, book expensive cruises) after they have run the check and did their calculations. They don't want the debt-to-loan ratio to become worse. Banks even will run them again right before closing and look at your debt, purchases, credit scores, ensure job history, etc.
Banks will re-neg on their mortgage promise if things have changed.

^^^^this.

I agree.

 

[MsMarple]

Well, in this neck of the "woods" you need a 20% down payment, a job that you've held for at least 2 years, and a decent credit score to get a mortgage; ever since the housing debacle in 2008.

If RH & LH were planning on getting serious about a home purchase possibility, one of the first things that should be done is to get "pre-qualified" which is where the bank lets you know the price range of a house (down payment/mortgage monthly taken into consideration) you can afford. I don't know too many realtors willing to work with a potential buyer that doesn't have a "pre-qual" letter first and some money to put down. Who wants to randomly show million dollar homes to a buyer who in reality can't qualify for a $50,000. home? Hence the need for the "pre-qual".

Now, if they did have a "pre-qual" letter and was serious about purchasing a home, most lenders will strongly advise that in the meantime you don't rack up your credit cards (i.e., buy expensive guitars, book expensive cruises) after they have run the check and did their calculations. They don't want the debt-to-loan ratio to become worse. Banks even will run them again right before closing and look at your debt, purchases, credit scores, ensure job history, etc.
Banks will re-neg on their mortgage promise if things have changed.

Good points all around. Aging myself here, lol. Back in the “old days” the rule of thumb was that you could afford a house about 2.5 times your income. Assuming RH and LH earned $111,000 to $112,000 that would mean a $277,000 to $280,000 house.

So, even a 5% down payment would be around 12K, not counting closing costs. What do homes in their target goal list at?

 

[gngr~snap]

He spoke of Lassiter and Walton High School.
A 4 bedroom. Here are listings in the area. IMO he would be looking at $350,000- $400,000 if wanted something that was not run down or over 25 years old.


RENTALS

http://hotpads.com/search/school/GA...use?header=false&noFooter=true&emptyType=true

http://hotpads.com/search/school/GA...use?header=false&noFooter=true&emptyType=true

FOR SALE

http://www.homeviewsatlanta.com/walton-district-homes/200000-300000/

http://www.homesatlantaga.com/schoo...king_price/direction:asc#real-estate-listings


Where he currently lived.

HOA
http://www.wynnesridge.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=73
FOR SALE

$65,000

http://www.wynnesridge.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=69
RENTAL UNIT
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/514-Wynnes-Ridge-Cir-SE-Marietta-GA-30067/14317278_zpid/

I have no idea what his rent was, but probably close to $900/ month.

All posts are MOO.

 

[EvilSoup]

He spoke of Lassiter and Walton High School.
A 4 bedroom. Here are listings in the area. IMO he would be looking at $350,000- $400,000 if wanted something that was not run down or over 25 years old.


RENTALS

http://hotpads.com/search/school/GA...use?header=false&noFooter=true&emptyType=true

http://hotpads.com/search/school/GA...use?header=false&noFooter=true&emptyType=true

FOR SALE

http://www.homeviewsatlanta.com/walton-district-homes/200000-300000/

http://www.homesatlantaga.com/schoo...king_price/direction:asc#real-estate-listings


All posts are MOO.

Thanks for this. I read accounts that he was "looking" for homes in the 250k range in East Cobb and was SMH over that. I haven't lived there in ten years but cannot imagine property values have plummeted in ten years rather than appreciated.

I am thinking [modsnip]s wish list was not reality-based.

 

[renarde]

But what about...

"He earned $61,200 per year and hoped to advance in the company to become a vice president."

http://www.people.com/article/justin-ross-harris-double-life-death-son-cooper-leanna-toddler-hot-car

 

[human]

Hm. Seems he was working on the vice part

 

[renarde]

Hm. Seems he was working on the vice part

Vice prez of a Fortune 50 company... not too shabby.

 

[Evie Ivy Over]

I understand that, but based on what we know of their income, if they can't get preapproved, there are a heck of a lot of people who can't buy homes because most incomes are less than that. According to the reports, people are buying. A coworker of mine has been preapproved, and makes very much less and doesn't live in GA...

 

[matou]

I wonder if the Ninth Hour lads were working on their company during HomeDepot work hours?

 

[gngr~snap]

But what about...

"He earned $61,200 per year and hoped to advance in the company to become a vice president."

http://www.people.com/article/justin-ross-harris-double-life-death-son-cooper-leanna-toddler-hot-car

So that would work out to a net of $5000/mo
give or take?

How much after taxes?
IME state and federal combined is about 30%
at that level of pay.
Minus health insurance and daycare?

5000
- 1500 taxes
$3500
- 800 daycare
$2700
-500 health ins

$2200/ mo take home

2 car payments
2 school loans
Rent
Bills


Other than LH working and having no knowledge of her pay he wasn't making enough.
LH could have been making 50k working part time I guess. Part time is usually under 29 hours?

I am just asking here.
I don't know.
What do you think?


All posts are MOO.

 

[gngr~snap]

Both taken from Facebook before it was closed.

All posts are MOO.

 

[Evie Ivy Over]

I looked up homes in the area where I used to live (Lassiter school district) and it is definitely doable on their salaries. Don't know where they were getting their down payment from, but maybe they hadn't crossed that bridge yet.

 

[MissJ]

When you get preapproved don't you still have to prove that you have enough funds available to pay downpayment and closing costs?
I did when I got my last home loan.

 

[matou]

Yes, I would expect even with pre-approval, they would still need a down payment from their own money. JMO

 

[nosysw]

Both taken from Facebook before it was closed.

All posts are MOO.

Thank you for posting these. That's why we are all here. Cooper, although I know you're in a better place, it really sucks that you're not where you belong- with two parents who love and appreciate you and put you before themselves.

 

[gngr~snap]

Some down payments are as low as 3.5% for first time home buyers.

http://newhomesservicesga.com/home-buyers-guide/programs-for-first-time-home-buyers/

All posts are MOO.

 

[atthelake]

Roger Webb has been their real estate agent for two years? That seems to be an awfully long time to be looking for a house. Thanks for the link.

Many folks have friends that are real estate agents before they list. I didn't read into the article that it stated that it was their real estate agent for two years as an answer to your above question.

“Cobb County is making a big mistake,” said Roger Webb, the Harris’ real estate agent, who has known the family for two years. “He’s a very good guy. He wanted what’s best for his family.”

and

“Everything was going right for this couple,” said Joe Saini, who rents the family their condo on Wynnes Ridge Circle in Marietta. He said the family was actively shopping for a house.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2014/ju...harged-murder/​