This idea may not be met with applause but I say stay put. You pay 2k and get the tax benefit, 2k rent would actually cost you more. You’ve got a hedge bet in case we are all wrong but if we are not and you lose 20% value, so will your move up house. If things really tank, you can get the move up house without a jumbo and keep the starter as a rental. I say all three scenarios are covered by staying put and selling now may be a little late and placing all your bets on one scenario, a year or two ago it was a good play but sales are slower now. The other thing to consider is that you don’t have kids yet and you both work, getting abigger house and then having kids doubles your expenses and halves your income, if you can afford your current house on one earners income you may want to extend your stay in the starter home. Having kids can be stressful enough, better to do it with a comfortable payment. Move up if things get real cheap and don’t worry about it until they near school age, it’s irrelevent to a baby where it lives as long as it has someone with them and that someone isn’t pulling their hair out and taking meds because of the stress.
