B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
Re: NBR- Which House Would You Buy?
The smaller one is finished nicely but doesn't sound like there's any more room for potential growth or finishes. Especially since these houses are the same price.
ETA you also won't be pregnant forever and shouldn't make a home purchase based on move in ready vs not IMO
We bought a house that needed a lot of work a few years ago, and have gradually been upgrading things. It's a lot more house on a much bigger property than we could have afforded if it had been move in ready. We focused on the functional stuff that needed to be upgraded first, like the roof and insulation, and lived with the ugly for a while. It's gradually turning into out dream house, and I'm really glad we made the choice we did. I tend to have a lot of patience though and didn't mind a slow transformation. My H struggled more with that, wanting everything to be perfect right away, but he got through it. I think the bigger fixer upper is the move if you can tolerate it.
The first sounds like it could be promising, but all I can think of is the massive hassle (pregnant or not) and money pit of a full renovation.
There aren't really houses with basements around here, so I'm kinda intrigued by the possibilities! You could put a guest room, another bedroom, a play room, etc.
Although, I may be more inclined to just rent out something for another year until I find something that feels more right for my family.
I think everyone made good points. I think it really depends on how much work you are willing to do and are you doing it or hiring someone.
It sounds like you could live in the in-law suite for awhile if you needed too. If they are the same price I would do the bigger house, especially since you could get some extra income too, so it sounds like house #1 is the better buy.
With that being said, both of you have to be on board with doing a fixer. It can be a lot of work and can cause stress in your marriage on top of being pregnant and everything else. Also, we did a total fixer and we spent SO MUCH more than we thought we would, so make sure you budget correctly and leave some room.
Good luck with your decision!
Me: 29, DH: 30
Married: April, 2011; TTC: July, 2012
Dx: MFI; June '14 IVF w/ ICSI: 11R, 8M, 5F... 1 5dt, beta #1: 213, beta #2: 621, beta #3: 8545!
I'm Team Big House, depending on a few factors.
Like PPs asked, will this be your forever home? If so, then the 4000 sq ft house is totally worth it. Think of the long term. Yeah, it's more space to clean and probably more upkeep but it would give you and your family a ton of space each. When your kids are teenagers everyone will be happier if they can gravitate to different parts of the house. Plus if you like to entertain having a large house would be advantageous. I love throwing parties and wish I could more often but I live in a 1300 square foot condo. I'm chomping at the bit to move already but we're waiting until we literally can't stand it anymore. Probably when baby 2 arrives.
Plus it's customizable to what you want. Over time, you could turn it into your dream house.
I'd only do this, though, if you knew enough about home renovations to be dangerous and had a *very trustworthy* contractor you could turn to. My parents endured a 2 year nightmare when I was in high school when their contractor went bankrupt and abandoned our house when it was mid-renovation. My mom about had a nervous breakdown.
But then if you don't mind moving again in 5-10 years, the smaller home may be the better option for the time being. It's a hard choice, I can see why you're struggling with it. I just know 100% that I do not want to move again after my next move so I guess that's why I'd push for the bigger home but this all depends on you and your circumstances.
Either way, good luck! Moving is a bear!
But I don't need a boatload of space to be comfortable, I prefer cozy and intimate spaces. Plus, that basement will make a great romper room when the kids are older. Send them down there with their friends to play and they'll keep themselves nice and occupied.
Heating, roofing, etc.
IF veterans; #1 conceived on second clomid+HCG+IUI, #2 conceived on 1st Letrozole+HCG+IUI
EDD: Feb 5, 2018
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
I cannot imagine cleaning your 3000 sqft portion of the big house, and I would not want to be a landlord if cash flow was tight either. There would be double the appliances that could break, all on your dime.
Finally, if this will be a forever house of sorts, I imagine you'd rather grow old in the smaller house as well. The bigger one would probably feel like a burden when the kids move out.
Edit: Embarrassing number of typos.
One thing to be cautious about is keeping used furniture. I knew someone who moved into a new home and kept the previous owners furniture, which just happened to be infested with bed bugs. Not to scare you, but always be careful of that sort of thing.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
You'd be surprised at expenses and maintenance. We moved from a 65 year old 1300 sq ft 1 level house to a 30 year old 4000 sq ft 3 level house. Both have single pane windows which are totally shitty. We found out the big house has almost no insulation in the attic. Our monthly utilities are LOWER in the big house. We were shocked. Our annual insurance premium only went up $200. Sure we pay a lot more property tax but that's tax deductible. And I pay $150 a month for housecleaning every 2 weeks and it is more than worth every penny. Two women come and clean from top to bottom in a couple hours. I couldn't even do that in the small house!
Last but not least, space!! We were bursting at the seams just the 2 of us in the old house. Now we know we'll never *have* to move no matter how many kids we have. DD has a huge playroom, we have a guest suite (and frankly guests aren't as annoying because they aren't all up under you) and truly space to grow into. There are about 3-4 other rooms/spaces we don't even use right now. It was a big jump but we are happy with it knowing this is our forever home, and also that if we ever change our mind it's a super resale value.
Given the lack of inventory in your area I would probably pay for the inspection now so you can make an informed decision, and second what PPs said about getting firm estimates. And of course it all depends on if you can really swing the cost of renovations and higher heat for now. Good luck whatever you choose!
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
B born 7/15/13, C born 3/2/15, #3 on the way May '17
I’m a modern man, a man for the millennium. Digital and smoke free. A diversified multi-cultural, post-modern deconstruction that is anatomically and ecologically incorrect. I’ve been up linked and downloaded, I’ve been inputted and outsourced, I know the upside of downsizing, I know the downside of upgrading. I’m a high-tech low-life. A cutting edge, state-of-the-art bi-coastal multi-tasker and I can give you a gigabyte in a nanosecond! I’m new wave, but I’m old school and my inner child is outward bound. I’m a hot-wired, heat seeking, warm-hearted cool customer, voice activated and bio-degradable. I interface with my database, my database is in cyberspace, so I’m interactive, I’m hyperactive and from time to time I’m radioactive.
My bf and I have actually decided to buy a larger short sale "fixer upper" based on my parents experience. It sounds similar to the house you are looking at. We are planning on fixing the roof (it's in really bad shape and needs to be fixed before winter), two bedrooms, and one living room right away and then working on the rest (kitchen, bathrooms, etc.) over time.