And the hits just keep on comin'

[judecorp]

My mother called earlier. She just got back from her trip to Myrtle Beach with her husband. Recently they'd started thinking about Myrtle Beach as a place that they could retire in a little while. (They have always wanted to move someplace warmer.) My mom wanted to take a trip out there to "check out the scene," while her husband was definitely looking to move quickly. (For example, she said she wanted to look at some houses to check out the housing market, while he said that maybe they would put an offer in on a house.)

Well, my mom called and said that they put an offer on a house. She sounded really conflicted about it and I worry that she isn't sure she wants to move right now but got persuaded by her husband. Now, I really really like John and think he's a great guy, it's just that my mom has always deferred to other people in her life (especially men) and I worry about her. She's concerned that she won't be around for Christmas, or that we won't be able to see her much, and I really feel bad for her. But I'm stuck in a point right now where things are just stressful and trying, and I had to bite my tongue to keep myself from saying, "Wow, you think you should have weighed the pros and cons /before/ you made an offer?"

Part of it is selfish on my end, of course. I mean, Jen and I just moved out here and one of the impeti (what /is/ the plural of impetus?) was to be closer to family, Mom included. And now with Jen's parents going to Florida and my mom talking about moving to South Carolina, I'm feeling really scattered. I already had a ton of doubts that maybe this move wasn't the greatest idea, and now those reasons that /were/ concrete are cracking. Ugh.

Oh, and on a whim I put my income and Jen's soon-to-be Levenger income in this calculator to see how much we could afford in a mortgage. According to this, we can buy a house that costs $160,000. I could almost die of laughter. DIE, I tell you! We can't get half a house here for that price!

Comments

[serenity-coach7.livejournal.com]

Okay first of all, Hugs to you as I feel like it has been forever and that we both seem to be in these spiraling situations...

Secondly, I am so sorry to hear about your mom and sense that although you are happy that she may be moving forward with her life, that it is causing you to question why you and Jen made this HUGE move after all... and that makes sense, not to mention the fact that it may not have been totally MOm's call... (Don't you ever just want to take her and shake her,or is this just me with my parents) **Yes I am overly parentified** I have been here a few times with my own folks, so If I can offer any support, please let me know

Finally... I know where you can buy a condo in Manchester, NH for that ... my sister just did .. but then again it is is NH AFTER ALL ... and GOD Knows everyone who is here is trying to get the hell out ..

HUGS TO YOU

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

Come on...don't knock the bright lights, glitz, and glamour of Manch-Vegas.

Viva Manch-Vegas!

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yeah, NH is pretty and stuff but I think I would feel too removed from everything. I'm a city girl at heart.

It's been too long since we've commented. I'm sorry things are rough on your end. I've been thinking of you.

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

I know how you feel about the housing situation here in the greater Boston area. I have been scanning the housing market for the past 2 years looking for some sort of deal to pounce on...and nothing has popped up.

With my teaching income and Gloria's pre-professional income (she's working to break into a field of her choosing), we have no hope of buying a home anytime soon.

I did, however, have an interesting conversation with my best friend who just finished the bar exam about going in on a house together, living with one another for a few years, then selling the house at a profit. That is starting to sound like an attractive idea...believe it or not...

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

That's actually a really good idea. I don't like the idea of condo living (to me it's like buying an apartment, which annoys me), but I would do the "condo living" thing if the other condo dwellers (condo-ments?) were people that I was friends with.

You can actually get a triple decker in decent condition here in Dot for a "reasonable" amount of money ($600K or so) - that's $200K for three friends (or three couples, or whatever) and that's not so bad.

I wish I knew two other sets of people who would want to buy a triple decker with us. And then I'd need to know someone who could draft the legal paperwork to pull it off.

But I'm spoiled. I really want a separate house with a little yard, have my own doors and my own stairs and my own driveway. I think it's because I was raised in an apartment. I want something MORE!

[geniusorafool.livejournal.com]

Oh, I want the single family home with the little yard and all too.

However, I am seeing this sharing plan as a bridge to that goal. Going in on a house with our friends will allow us to build some equity in the short term, and, in the somewhat longer view, the house can be turned around for a profit. That small profit can then become the down payment for a single family when our economic situation has improved somewhat.

The extremely cool thing about the friend I'm talking to about this is that he just finished law school and took the bar...so he can draw up all the papers himself.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

That's really awesome! I'm envious and I think you should definitely consider it. I look forward to hearing all about it, should the plan come to fruition.

[folkyboy.livejournal.com]

the housing market in Boston is rediculous. but i suspect it'll drop whenever the rental costs go back up...

why anyone would want to move to the South is beyond me... heh

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Well, the South is beautful. And CHEAP. Myrtle Beach is probably very pretty... something about warm coastlines is certainly appealing.

The housing market here has always been ridiculous. It's impossible to buy houses here for what you could get in the Midwest or the South. Sometimes I make a mistake and look at the Columbus housing market. And then I want to throw up.

[estrange.livejournal.com]

Sorry about all the things going on with your family. It sucks you moved closer to them and now everyone is moving away. Where did you move from?

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I spent the last four years living in Columbus, Ohio. I've moved quite a bit post high school, but most of my moves have been within New England (where I'm from), or else for really short spurts (I spent summers in New Mexico and Georgia in the past).

I have lived away from my family for the last four years. I actually managed to see them more than once a year (which was nice) because the flights were reasonable. But it's nice to be here (45 minutes away) because I can drop down for an evening if there's something going on. It's almost my grandmother's birthday!

[estrange.livejournal.com]

So how do you like Boston? I hope to go there one day.

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

I like Boston. Boston is familiar to me. I grew up about 45 minutes south of here, so it's the first big city I ever knew. There's definitely nostalgia here.

I also went to grad school here, and have old friends here. This is nice and frustrating at the same time. Nice because I already have a support system, frustrating because they knew me a long time ago when I was quite different, and still treat me like that other person.

Definitely come visit! Bring Devin!

[estrange.livejournal.com]

I can see how having friends who new you in the past differently would be hard. I would love to come visit you! Boston sounds wonderful

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

Yay! If you ever DO decide to trek this way, let me know.

[iansha.livejournal.com]

Hrm. Atlanta would be near halfway between Florida and Myrtle Beach. :)

[judecorp.livejournal.com]

TRUE TRUE!