We've been talking more and more about our plans for the spring. Either way at this point, we're moving in the spring. By April because that's when we worry about sign ups for Kindergarten.
I know what area we want to be, and the school district we hope for him to go to, but we're tossing around ideas now. Do we rent or do we buy? Rent is expensive. When you move, you have nothing to show for the time you were there. But at the same time, we're picky. And we know our limits. There is a house that was originally our main thought with moving, but it's only one floor, no basement, no upstairs. It would be big enough for us now, but later not so much. And we would have to figure out the storage options with the things we currently have in the garage here. It doesn't make sense to buy unless we are 100% happy with our choice. We know what we want, and it's just not there right now. Come spring, maybe, but for now I think we're leaning more towards renting again.
Previous to coming home, we had a really great townhouse. It was 3 bedroom 1.5 bath, and a full basement which we had taken the time in creating into a really nice playroom/rec room. We had more than enough space for now, and for if we had more kids. We were super close to everything. If anything went wrong, someone else fixed it. I guess that's my biggest worry with buying right now. I know some of the big problems that can go wrong, and I'm afraid we will lose a lot of money and struggle. I do not want to struggle!
I just feel kind of stupid for paying that kind of money in rent when it might be a little cheaper to just buy.
Oh and the other thing pulling me to the townhouse rental again is that school is less than a block away. I could walk him to school! No bus drama! I'm terrified of the idea of him going on the buses but with here, there is no other option other than filling my car twice a week.
There's just been a lot on my mind with all this lately. I hate moving. I just want to feel settled somewhere again.
I've been there on the rent vs buy thing and it's not easy. You win some, you lose some.
ReplyDeleteWhen we knew we wanted to buy we wanted a home we we'd be satisfied with for 5-7 years at least, and if we couldn't find that we wanted to find something undervalued that would hopefully appreciate and help us with our next move. Luckily, we found a great house in a great neighborhood (I'm seriously going to hate leaving this neighborhood).
I think the renting thing might make sense if you know you won't be able to find a home that will work for you for the next 5 years at least and the rent is low enough to save up some additional down payment to buy the home that will work for you. (Plus the pets make it very hard to rent sometimes.)
Good luck, I don't envy you in making that decision.