House or Condo in UC?

[sdduuuude]

Seriously consider renting. Post-divorce is a time when you need, above all, some flexibility. I know you think you need stability, but buying a house doesn’t really give you stability. Unforseen things come up and may force you to move regardless of your housing situation. In fact, if you are renting and lose your job, you may be able to stay in the house, but if you are paying a mortgage and you lose your job, you may have to sell. You just never know what will happen, especially in these economic times.

Even if rents are a little higher than a mortgage payment, you don’t force yourself into a situation that may restrict your options later.

Renting – means you can check-out of the rental and buy any time.

Buying – means you can only sell and change your housing situation if the market goes up. If the market goes down, you are losing money and may be forced to sell after taking a loss.

If prices are headed up for sure, buying makes more sense. Not only do you make money on appreciation, but you aren’t locked into the house because you can sell it for a gain, which is easy.

But when there is some suspicion that prices can come down, renting really makes alot of sense.

Also, you can close a rental deal in a week, vs. a purchase that could take time, energy and stress.

Renting gives you time to execute that short sale which could land you in a nice house for less.

Consider as a single parent, doing a remodel is much more challenging that it is with two parents. You’ll be unusually short of time for the next year, I’d guess.

Waiting to purchase in this market is just a good thing to do, and you’ll need a year or two of waiting. You’ll be so much happier buying later rather than earlier.

It also gives you time to evaluate your decision – condo vs. house. Rent a condo for a while. If you hate it, buy a house. If you love it, buy a condo.

Go the route with low-stress and max flexibility.

Rent.

[Scarlett]

Well said, sduuuuude. I had been divorced and it’s enough upheaval and it takes a lot of time until you REALLY sort all kinds of things out – within yourself and with others. With kids, that makes at least twice as complex, I can only guess. You don’t need the stress of looking for, submitting offers, buying & remodelling a house, especially if you are single parent. You really have to have a very clear, non-stressed head when you buy, to not be preoccupied about other stressful things. Right after divorce, and selling your current house – that’s enough stress without adding to it worry about your purchase if you have to sell at some point for whatever reason, or if the prices go south, or if you take a paycut or whatever. Even if the market would be relatively flat & long bottom I’d still suggest you rent.

Think also about the emotional support you need to provide to your kids, and extra time involved. You don’t need your mind on other time-consuming things – as a house purchase. Make it as least stressful and as painless as possible. One thing at a time. First, REALLY adjust to the life as a divorced mom. That would take at least a year, then you can re-visit the idea of purchasing a home with a clear head. So… RENT.

Another useful advice: Rent something nice so you feel pretty good in this home, because you need that after a divorce, you don’t need anything else that makes you unhappy/sad/annoyed. Rent something as nice as your current house, even if a bit smaller. Even if the rent is a bit higher than a mortgage, if the place is worth it go for it (but negotiate down if you can). After all you probably won’t be in that place more than 1-2 years, so that extra cost is worth at this time in your life.

[Scarlett]

Well said, sduuuuude. I had been divorced and it’s enough upheaval and it takes a lot of time until you REALLY sort all kinds of things out – within yourself and with others. With kids, that makes at least twice as complex, I can only guess. You don’t need the stress of looking for, submitting offers, buying & remodelling a house, especially if you are single parent. You really have to have a very clear, non-stressed head when you buy, to not be preoccupied about other stressful things. Right after divorce, and selling your current house – that’s enough stress without adding to it worry about your purchase if you have to sell at some point for whatever reason, or if the prices go south, or if you take a paycut or whatever. Even if the market would be relatively flat & long bottom I’d still suggest you rent.

Think also about the emotional support you need to provide to your kids, and extra time involved. You don’t need your mind on other time-consuming things – as a house purchase. Make it as least stressful and as painless as possible. One thing at a time. First, REALLY adjust to the life as a divorced mom. That would take at least a year, then you can re-visit the idea of purchasing a home with a clear head. So… RENT.

Another useful advice: Rent something nice so you feel pretty good in this home, because you need that after a divorce, you don’t need anything else that makes you unhappy/sad/annoyed. Rent something as nice as your current house, even if a bit smaller. Even if the rent is a bit higher than a mortgage, if the place is worth it go for it (but negotiate down if you can). After all you probably won’t be in that place more than 1-2 years, so that extra cost is worth at this time in your life.

[Scarlett]

Well said, sduuuuude. I had been divorced and it’s enough upheaval and it takes a lot of time until you REALLY sort all kinds of things out – within yourself and with others. With kids, that makes at least twice as complex, I can only guess. You don’t need the stress of looking for, submitting offers, buying & remodelling a house, especially if you are single parent. You really have to have a very clear, non-stressed head when you buy, to not be preoccupied about other stressful things. Right after divorce, and selling your current house – that’s enough stress without adding to it worry about your purchase if you have to sell at some point for whatever reason, or if the prices go south, or if you take a paycut or whatever. Even if the market would be relatively flat & long bottom I’d still suggest you rent.

Think also about the emotional support you need to provide to your kids, and extra time involved. You don’t need your mind on other time-consuming things – as a house purchase. Make it as least stressful and as painless as possible. One thing at a time. First, REALLY adjust to the life as a divorced mom. That would take at least a year, then you can re-visit the idea of purchasing a home with a clear head. So… RENT.

Another useful advice: Rent something nice so you feel pretty good in this home, because you need that after a divorce, you don’t need anything else that makes you unhappy/sad/annoyed. Rent something as nice as your current house, even if a bit smaller. Even if the rent is a bit higher than a mortgage, if the place is worth it go for it (but negotiate down if you can). After all you probably won’t be in that place more than 1-2 years, so that extra cost is worth at this time in your life.

[Scarlett]

Well said, sduuuuude. I had been divorced and it’s enough upheaval and it takes a lot of time until you REALLY sort all kinds of things out – within yourself and with others. With kids, that makes at least twice as complex, I can only guess. You don’t need the stress of looking for, submitting offers, buying & remodelling a house, especially if you are single parent. You really have to have a very clear, non-stressed head when you buy, to not be preoccupied about other stressful things. Right after divorce, and selling your current house – that’s enough stress without adding to it worry about your purchase if you have to sell at some point for whatever reason, or if the prices go south, or if you take a paycut or whatever. Even if the market would be relatively flat & long bottom I’d still suggest you rent.

Think also about the emotional support you need to provide to your kids, and extra time involved. You don’t need your mind on other time-consuming things – as a house purchase. Make it as least stressful and as painless as possible. One thing at a time. First, REALLY adjust to the life as a divorced mom. That would take at least a year, then you can re-visit the idea of purchasing a home with a clear head. So… RENT.

Another useful advice: Rent something nice so you feel pretty good in this home, because you need that after a divorce, you don’t need anything else that makes you unhappy/sad/annoyed. Rent something as nice as your current house, even if a bit smaller. Even if the rent is a bit higher than a mortgage, if the place is worth it go for it (but negotiate down if you can). After all you probably won’t be in that place more than 1-2 years, so that extra cost is worth at this time in your life.

[Scarlett]

Well said, sduuuuude. I had been divorced and it’s enough upheaval and it takes a lot of time until you REALLY sort all kinds of things out – within yourself and with others. With kids, that makes at least twice as complex, I can only guess. You don’t need the stress of looking for, submitting offers, buying & remodelling a house, especially if you are single parent. You really have to have a very clear, non-stressed head when you buy, to not be preoccupied about other stressful things. Right after divorce, and selling your current house – that’s enough stress without adding to it worry about your purchase if you have to sell at some point for whatever reason, or if the prices go south, or if you take a paycut or whatever. Even if the market would be relatively flat & long bottom I’d still suggest you rent.

Think also about the emotional support you need to provide to your kids, and extra time involved. You don’t need your mind on other time-consuming things – as a house purchase. Make it as least stressful and as painless as possible. One thing at a time. First, REALLY adjust to the life as a divorced mom. That would take at least a year, then you can re-visit the idea of purchasing a home with a clear head. So… RENT.

Another useful advice: Rent something nice so you feel pretty good in this home, because you need that after a divorce, you don’t need anything else that makes you unhappy/sad/annoyed. Rent something as nice as your current house, even if a bit smaller. Even if the rent is a bit higher than a mortgage, if the place is worth it go for it (but negotiate down if you can). After all you probably won’t be in that place more than 1-2 years, so that extra cost is worth at this time in your life.

[singlemom]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your thoughtful compassionate answers. I really hadn’t considered renting, and it makes a lot of sense. I will re-evaluate once I get closer to spring and selling but at the very least it gives me an easy no stress option.

[singlemom]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your thoughtful compassionate answers. I really hadn’t considered renting, and it makes a lot of sense. I will re-evaluate once I get closer to spring and selling but at the very least it gives me an easy no stress option.

[singlemom]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your thoughtful compassionate answers. I really hadn’t considered renting, and it makes a lot of sense. I will re-evaluate once I get closer to spring and selling but at the very least it gives me an easy no stress option.

[singlemom]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your thoughtful compassionate answers. I really hadn’t considered renting, and it makes a lot of sense. I will re-evaluate once I get closer to spring and selling but at the very least it gives me an easy no stress option.

[singlemom]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your thoughtful compassionate answers. I really hadn’t considered renting, and it makes a lot of sense. I will re-evaluate once I get closer to spring and selling but at the very least it gives me an easy no stress option.

[jameswenn]

I’ve been renting in two different condos in UC for the past 2 years, and one thing you don’t have to worry about are kids partying. This is UC, not College Area, the students seem to be nerds/bookworms.

In my last complex, i had students complaining about the subwoofer for my home theater system.

[jameswenn]

I’ve been renting in two different condos in UC for the past 2 years, and one thing you don’t have to worry about are kids partying. This is UC, not College Area, the students seem to be nerds/bookworms.

In my last complex, i had students complaining about the subwoofer for my home theater system.

[jameswenn]

I’ve been renting in two different condos in UC for the past 2 years, and one thing you don’t have to worry about are kids partying. This is UC, not College Area, the students seem to be nerds/bookworms.

In my last complex, i had students complaining about the subwoofer for my home theater system.

[jameswenn]

I’ve been renting in two different condos in UC for the past 2 years, and one thing you don’t have to worry about are kids partying. This is UC, not College Area, the students seem to be nerds/bookworms.

In my last complex, i had students complaining about the subwoofer for my home theater system.

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