Far and Away
March 29, 2007
It's that time of year again – it comes several times a year, I think – the time that Roger and I battle with whether we want to buy a house instead of renew our apartment lease. Our lease expires in two days, and we have yet to make a decision. It's not because we haven't thought about it – believe me, we have – it's because we make decisions very slooooowwwwwlllyyyy. We should have begun making this decision back in January (oh, wait – we did), back when we had time to shop around and pack our home and apply for mortgages.
But back then we didn't know what we know now – or maybe we just didn't take the time to sit down and figure it all out on paper. And so we're starting the process again, undoubtedly just so we can decide, "Huh. No, we'll just sign again for another year, sit on our assets, and see what develops."
The house we found in January is still empty, still pristine, still beautiful with its atrium and modern lines. I think I fell in love with it simply because a tree was growing through the center of the house – and who, pray tell, wouldn't want that? When I saw that the home had finally been listed, I nearly choked. The price tag is more than twice what we can afford, which makes me feel very, very poor and very, very envious of the person who will one day purchase it.
We've outgrown our little apartment in the city, both in space and in want. And yet getting us to commit to buying our own place right now is like pulling nails – fingernails, perhaps with a rusty old pair of pliers – it is torturous. It feels so permanent. And there's so much to consider: what if one of us decides to go back to school? What if we get pregnant? What if something happens and one of us loses our job or chooses another career path that forces us to take a lower salary?
As much as we love spontaneity, we love security more. We love knowing that EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY. We love having a safety net and not feeling so tied down. And a mortgage? Ties us down.
With a mortgage we can't just pick up and move to Thailand, live in a beach hut and sell trinkets to tourists. (I haven't managed to convince Roger of that plan yet, so I suppose it's just by-and-by anyway.) Still, a girl can dream.
Edited 3/30/07 to add: My dream house? Has sold. I'm crediting myself for that sale, even though I didn't link to where it was listed.
Comments
That beach looks very inviting right about now.
I can see where one could be seduced by a house with a tree INSIDE. OMG it's pretty. But mortgages are definitely permanent and a totally not all their cracked up to be. read: I have to pay for my own repairs?! ::sigh::
Posted by: Aimee | March 29, 2007 02:10 PM
Jes you had a tree inside a house once, remember our nice old non-insulated home with the tree in the enclosed porch? I miss that house and aside from the no insulation thing if I had the money I would have loved to buy it. Hey if you do move I volunteer my services for packing, moving, and house decorating duty.
Posted by: Katie | March 29, 2007 02:25 PM
Katie: You're right - our first house together had a tree in it, also. But the difference? Our tree was a potted plant. This tree is planted IN THE GROUND. And it is so tall that its leaves stretch ABOVE THE ROOF.
Also, my first volunteer! Wheeee!
(Or do you volunteer because you're aware that we're likely just going to sign our lease again?)
Posted by: jes | March 29, 2007 03:02 PM
No Jes, remeber the big tree in the porch, growing inside the house, with the leaves that we had to sweep up all the time. The reason we called it the "Tree House", oh wait was that a potted tree? Maybe . . . but it was HUGE like with branches all over the ceiling. Oh well. Hmmmmm I guess I did volunteer knowing that my services wouldn't be needed immediately.
Posted by: Katie | March 29, 2007 03:16 PM
Katie: Wait. Was it? I thought it was a potted plant. But maybe not. I just remember that the sunroom had a concrete floor, and we bought carpet so our sweet little toes wouldn't get cold.
Posted by: jes | March 29, 2007 03:21 PM
It's tough to decide what to do about a lease. I'll be in your shoes in a few months, only my situation will be that my lease term is much longer than what I'll likely need my apartment for. So frustrating!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | March 29, 2007 04:55 PM
A lease is still a commitment--just like a mortgage, in a way.
But I do wish we didn't have to pay for our own repairs. That's something that sucks about being a homeowner.
Posted by: Marmite Breath | March 29, 2007 09:26 PM
To this I say: it's a buyer's maker sweetheart! And fixing up a house and making it a home is so much fun!!! Think of all the good fights you and Roger will have over trinkets and wall colors!
Posted by: Em | March 30, 2007 06:50 AM
Em: That's the part that scares me!
(The fights with Roger over trinkets and wall colors!)
Posted by: jes | March 30, 2007 08:42 AM
My house doesn't have a tree in it. So sad. It has many asian beetles in it though... so it feels like we are living outside at times.
Posted by: ben | March 30, 2007 12:23 PM
i know the feeling! we opted for the house so that we could live more comfortably while we are here. And, if we move, then we sell and recoup the money unlike it going to rent.
i understand your dilemma!
Posted by: Mrs. M | March 30, 2007 01:18 PM
Buying a house is an investment! Paying rent is like flushing your money down the toilet!! In 25 years, you will never have to pay for your dwelling again! I say get in a house ASAP! :D
Posted by: Heidi | March 30, 2007 04:17 PM