Tough call t4life… the thing that scares me the most is the commute… that is a grinder… You did not mention what part of LA you would need to commute to and what hours the commute will be. Still though that one is tough.
I take it that the RB location is suitable due to personal reasons that you mentioned and that the family loves it there. Obviously the school district suits you as well…Hmmm…
I guess that leaves the real estate side as being the only question. You didn’t mention what part of RB. Regardless, to me there is still plenty of downside along the I15 corridor. How much? Don’t know…10-15% for sure, could be as high as 30/40 through 2011… possibly. It sounds to me that this is a long term purchase… you wouldn’t be selling in the next 10 years at least. Just keep in mind that we will not hit the bottom and bounce.. we will hit it, stay flat, then slowly move back. So keep that in mind. Also keep in mind that no matter how you minimize the commute/away from home factor, that will get old and time away from the family is a big penalty if you have to live that sort of life for many years.
I do like the idea of not sinking alot of money into it using the VA loan.
I don’t know man… I just keep coming back to that commute… I think if I added up the cumulative total number of hours I would be away from the family it would scare me. You know me, I am a firm believer in buying a home because you love the home, because you want to raise your family there. I treat a home less as an asset then most on the board here advocate. Yet that fundamental belief is shaken when I don’t get to be with my family to enjoy it as much.
Yesterday I worked alot… got to work at 9… left a clients house at 8pm… when I got home the two boys jumped on me and we wrestled for an hour and then it was bedtime. They wouldn’t care if we lived in a POS in Tijuana or a palace in La Costa… it was the time spent that is most important…
See what I am saying? Now mine are toddlers and yours are older and I am sure when kids get to be teens they don’t give a crap about being with dad but who knows.
