Sell house or not...WWYD

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I don’t really dig my job, and I really wish I could be home more with my babies (four of them, ranging from age 13 years to 11 months). In order to keep our humble, 1350 SF rambler, I have to work outside the home. Or we could rent an apartment for 1/2 the price (houses are expensive in Seattle) and maybe I could work half time. I’m working on some freelance writing projects and other telecommute options, but I’m nowhere near a full-time income yet.

What would you do? Give up your house and be a stay-at-home-mom, or tough it out and keep the house?
 
TweetyBird said:
What would you do? Give up your house and be a stay-at-home-mom, or tough it out and keep the house?
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**Well since you asked what I would do, I’ll tell you…but I assume you’ve already tried it all.

I would try to find a way to keep the house AND lose the job. Find some other source of income, rearrange the budget, babysit at home, etc. Even moving would be in my options if it meant being able to stay home with my kids (like changing cities or states, not just into an apartment).

Then, if I came to a situation where it would be my house or staying home with my kids… I would stay home AS LONG AS the cheaper apartment was really going to make a big difference financially and was in a safe area and it wouldn’t make the rest of the family terribly unhappy.
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I know too many people around the country who are trying to sell houses now – and not succeeding. The market is awful, prices are depressed, and even if you do sell the odds of your getting a fair price (or even a price that pays off your mortgage) are pretty slim. At the very least, I think you may be better off waiting until the market rebounds (I’m betting 2-3 years) before trying to sell, unless you absolutely have to do so.
 
If I could find a place to rent that was in a good neighborhood and more spacious, I would rent in a heartbeat.

I think home ownership is over-rated. IMO, it’s become one of those accepted ideas that no one really questions.

Not only do you have the added money to the mortgage, but you also have all the maintanence. I just heard an personal finance advisor say recently on the radio that many people would be better off renting and investing the saved money than buying.

In Indiana, you can pretty much buy for what you pay in rent. So, it makes more sense to buy here. But, if I could rent cheaper for an equal to nicer place, I’d do that.

Another option would be to relocate to a cheaper housing market.

From a spiritual perspective, I would choose to be more present to form my children in their faith/morals/relationships.

Even from a humanist perspective, which would you prefer to say as an old lady:

I’m glad that I worked so hard to keep my 1300 sf house. Or,

I’m glad that I spent that time with my kids.

After the kids are older or grown, you can go back to work and put the extra income to either save for a house or into your retirement account.

That’ s what I would do, anyway.

It’s a pretty short life…I’d rather live it for my kids than for some brick and mortar.
 
I would definitely look into it - seriously - run some numbers and see if it will really pay off. Sometimes it really pays to look into non conventional solutions to problems.
 
TweetyBird said:
I don’t really dig my job, and I really wish I could be home more with my babies (four of them, ranging from age 13 years to 11 months). In order to keep our humble, 1350 SF rambler, I have to work outside the home. Or we could rent an apartment for 1/2 the price (houses are expensive in Seattle) and maybe I could work half time. I’m working on some freelance writing projects and other telecommute options, but I’m nowhere near a full-time income yet.

What would you do? Give up your house and be a stay-at-home-mom, or tough it out and keep the house?
Click to expand...
Are you home when the kids get home from school? Are any grandparents or other trusted relatives around to help with the baby?

My mom worked part time during the day, but was always home when us kids came home. Mom went on an overnight retreat and I was at home (going to college). The house was so empty without her presence. That one absence told me how much I appreciated the sacrifices she had made for her children over the years. She took less money for more time with us. She gave us security without luxury. The funny thing about it is that our country house had more space than those homes of my “rich” friends who lived in town. So to this point - if your kids are comfortable and like the house and neighborhood I would keep the house.

Are you buying the house or renting? One possibility is to buy a duplex. Another idea, depending on how many bedrooms in the house, is to rent a room to a college student. Some friends of mine did this while their kids were in school. In this case the college students room was seperated from the family’s area. With renting the money is never worth any problems. It is important to be very, very selective.

Whatever you decide I can say that time and love will be remembered by your children more than any money.

God bless
 
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