In the midst of all my
whining/complaining/growling
over the past few
hours/days/weeks/months
I forgot to mention that everyone we've dealt with in Iowa has been extremely
helpful/pleasant/kind.
As such, I've got myself in a little bit of a fix.
As a result of my propensity to flip out over my housing arrangement - I think
Justin/my mom/Libbi/Elisa
are all a little sick of hearing about my "issues" - I've got three possible places to live.
So, yesterday I had a complete breakdown.
M woke GQ up from his nap an hour and half early, and she and E were actually kicking each other over their Polly Pockets (but Moooom, she kicked me first!) ..... so I put everyone in their beds, and we all
cried/moaned/hollered.
It was fun, boy I tell you what.
Then, I e-mailed Justin and told him to pick where we were moving because I was
DONE/FINISHED/SICK OF IT ALL!!!
Today, I pass the buck on to you, because I am obviously of three minds about everything.
Below are the three homes we're looking at now (someone should block Craigslist on my computer).
Where would you live and why?
Option #1 - The Townhome
$820 with carport
2 bedrooms
1 1/2 baths
half finished basement
optional add-on carport
on busline for school
in boundaries of "the best" elementary school
Option #2 - The Duplex
$990
3 bedrooms
1 3/4 baths
fully finished basement with additional living room
attached one car garage
on busline for school
in boundaries of "another" elementary school - Title I because poor people like us live there
near a park
no dishwasher
large, unfenced yard that we are responsible for tending
Option #3 - The Country Home
$800
3 bedrooms
1 1/2 baths
30 minutes from the city
one neighbor - the owners next door (good/bad/scary)
in country school district
there is room for a garden
Even if I don't know you, you have to comment. I need all the
help/advice/counseling
I can get!!!
16 comments:
First of all, never sign more than a one year contract. You will probably find a fantastic place to live once you've lived there a few months. Be prepared to move even if it is a hassle because it will be worth it!! Number two, have you seen these places in real life? Do you know what the rest of the neighborhood looks like or if it's close to major roads? Reasons you should see it in person--MOLD. Mold is a huge problem in the midwest and if your rental has it in the walls, you and your kids will be very sick year round. If you are having someone look at it for you, make sure you ask them to snoop around and smell everything. Also, have you checked the sex offender list in the area to make sure there are no sex offenders on your street or in your neighborhood? And thirdly, I vote for #2, even if it doesn't have a dishwasher. The first looks tiny and as your kids get bigger, you will be so thankful for the space. Also, in townhomes you have a lot of neighbors to deal with and it will be noisy, even at 2 a.m. On the issue of space, however, I would NOT live in the country. Have you asked about the sewage system? It is probably a septic tank. Talking from experience, those things are NASTY NASTY NASTY. Also, 30 minutes outside of town will really isolate you from everyone. You may not think you want to be in playgroups or meet at McDonald's at lunch with friends/ward members, but you will. It gets very lonely. Not to discourage you, but we've been living in this area for 6+ years and I know exactly what you are going through. And to make things worse, there are probably more slum lords than not. Did you ask the current renters what the landlord was like? How quickly do they fix things? Are they kind and friendly? Also, don't forget to ask if they allow pets. Pets tend to trash things. Good luck! You know you can call/email/text me if you think I'd be helpful. Sorry for the novel.
Wow. Uh, you should probably listen to AnnalisaG over me since it sounds like she actually knows what she's talking about. Whereas I have very little experience with this type of thing.
But, you asked, so here's my thoughts. Before you were really looking, you on more than one occasion talked about the picture in your head of living in the country. Does this maybe tell you what you'd really like? If so, I'd lean towards #3. If all that was just a bit of silliness, I'd lean toward #1. Because it seems the most convenient for both Justin's schooling and for kids. Although only 2 bedrooms isn't that many. Especially if you plan on expanding your family anytime in the next few years. I shied away from #2 immediately. Probably because of the yard maintenance issue. I'm lazy like that.
Yeah, I'm not much help. Sorry!
eeny, meeny, miny, mo! that is the present mode of decision making for Annie and Ellie!
I'm for #1. it seems the cleanest, although does seem small. Bigger than my basement (look at it that way).
I also like #3. You could wear overalls and a straw hat everyday, and start talking with a midwestern accent (cool). Really, it might be fun to try country life. I drive 30 minutes everywhere I go - so you know I'm not sensitive to that issue.
The duplex seems -hmmm- depressing, I don't know why.
I think you should just stay here and be my sister - so there.
I vote 2. Convenience and space. And holy cow your rent is cheap.
I'm with Libbi - only stay here and be my cousin.
I also agree with #1, yes it's small, but as Annalisa said, you're probably going to want to move, and you can always shove the children in the unfinished basement. They can pretend it's a fort, or a cave!
The duplex does seem depressing for some reason. And the country sounds fun, but lonely. You're going to want to be within walking distance of things....
Or you can come live in my basement and I'll make cakes and play with glitter with E. and M can play with the dogs, and GQ, well, he can just be here... good idea? Justin will enjoy the single life in Iowa....
I say listen to Anna, she's lived back there and knows what she talking about. I vote #2 mainly because it has 3 bedrooms and it's on the busline for school. Just try to imagine 2 bedrooms with your children!
I vote #3. I'm so different from the other commenters. I like the country and not sharing common walls. I'm content playing outside instead of living in town. I still have playdates that are 30 minutes away, the drive isn't a big deal to me. Living near owners can be weird but who knows that ahead of time? I wish I had signed a 3 year contract (I love our place and after our 1 yr contract they want to raise the price, I do NOT want to move a family of 5 so I'm caving into the rent raise) BUT we have a TON of stuff so moving is my enemy. Having the option of moving after a year could be nice I suppose.
It can smell bad and not be mold; and mold doesn't mean toxic mold. If the 30 min drive "drives" you away then go for #2, cause of the space. I wonder if you could hire a neighborhood boy to mow it? The public transportation could be a plus.
PS. I couldn't find the Scadlocks at the university, the family I knew in Des Moines. Sorry.
I say number 2. I think that the space and the convenience is essential for me.
two bedrooms will drive you completely insane, Jamie. We lived in 2 bedrooms with 2 kids for a while and it is not enough space. I'd take Anna's advice. You can always get one of those portable or countertop dishwashers if no dishwasher is a deal-breaker.
i know nothing, that said--i would prob. want to be near people so that would take away the "country house", and i agree on needing more space in the next 5 yrs. --what if you add two more kids?? (LOL)
lastly, (and you have prob. done this) but have you ck'd. w/the local bishop to get advice/ideas/thoughts on places to live? i know that our friend who is a bishop in manhatten is a WEALTH of info. for people moving to the city. (as in he knows the good neighborhoods, schools, areas, etc.)
i grew up in the midwest for a part of my youth (wisconsin) and the mold thing is real!
Sorry, Jamie, but Mark and I just looked at the options and thought and thought and decided...KEEP LOOKING!!!...Just what you wanted to hear, I know, but....these are our thougths...
30 mins. away in the winter with the snow...TOO FAR!
2 bedrooms, TOO SMALL!
Title one...MMMM...no...
Sooo, we are back to praying HARDER for you!
I DO UNDERSTAND!, well, sort of! I am sure you don't want to hear about it but I remember being so frustrated when Mark and I were looking for a house in Reno/Sparks that I had a migraine for days and was throwing up! I am NOT proud of that, but its the truth!
I also remember looking for a month straight in just about every spare minute when we left Provo for Salt Lake City, but AT LEAST WE LIVED WHERE I COULD GO SEE ALL THE POSSIBILITIES IN PERSON! I can't imagine what you must feel like.
Both times, we eventually found what we needed, but the process is nightmarish, I KNOW!
Love,
Mark and Paula
I say keep looking, too...you still have a couple of months. Is someone there who can look at places for you?
We're heading to MN in a month or so to do the same housing hunt. Blah.
Hhmmm...First off, just remember, you can always move next year if you make a wrong decision/find a better deal/just like to move :o)
#1 I think you will go crazy in a two bedroom. With my busy kids it's all about space to play and run. And a place to sleep. You know your family dynamics better than me of course, but three kiddos in a two bedroom has got to be pretty miserable. We all know Ellie is a genius and doesn't need the best school district to succeed.
#2 seems like a great option, besides the dishwasher of course. Have you considered a portable dishwasher?
#3 quesitons- 30 min+ for J's commute? Owner, as in landlord next door? Only neighbor? You haven't met them right? That could go either way pretty fast. I do like the garden option. :o)
Are you guys working with a realtor? Our Philly house had just popped up in the nick of time for us to get it, and our Boston house hadn't really even been listed. Sometimes that's the way to go. They can get you stuff before it's even been shown. Kinda nice.
Holy crap. This blog post is like reading a multiple-choice quiz.
I'm with Sorensen: Option B, get a portable dishwasher.
I'm for option #4. I know that there is no option #4 yet, but I'm sure that there must be somewhere because I think that you'd know where you wanted to live immediately. If you really wanted to live in any of the places thus far, you'd already have one picked out, and you wouldn't care a hoot what the rest of us thought. :)
Other than that, I don't have a clue about living in the Midwest, so listen to Anna. While it's cool to be an old cat lady, it is NOT cool to be an old mold lady.
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