If the commute is truly a 10 minute difference then i don't see that as a big enough time savings for 100k.
What size houses/differences are we thinking?
I also wouldn't want to be near the mall
Top 25 is good for schools!
If it's like 1000 square feet in the nicer area then I'd choose the place you are now.
How's the crime, same or different crime level?
Both are very low crime areas.
The basic commute is totally okay. 10 minutes doesn't make or break. I'm more concerned about the location of the schools down the line.
For Option A, the schools are in the opposite direction, the farthest being the middle school. So, whenever I'd have to pick a kid up at school, I'd drive 40 minutes home, 15 MORE minutes past my house, pick up said child(ren), and then drive 15 minutes back home. Noooo!!
Option B, the schools are located along the way home from my work. So, it would not add any significant amount of time on.
The houses are significantly nicer for the $ out by where we live now (option A) and we could even get new construction, which is why my H is really pushing it. But, he doesn't commute at all ever, as he mostly works from home. We can still get a great house in Option B, maybe just a little older. But still big and nice. He wants it all.
Haha fryjack2! We're not set on a specific house yet, but we do have our eye on a community in Option B. I'll PIP a picture of one we looked at (but it already sold) in that community. These homes are beautiful, but built about 18 years ago.
A home in Option A would be the same price for this size/quality, but new construction. Or, about $100k less for the same thing that is also about 20 years old.
This is the home we looked at last year, in Option B, that already sold. I loved this house! But it's expensive for being almost 20 years old and needing some updating. We would definitely be "buying the school district" as someone said earlier!
Also, fryjack2, are you thinking of moving to the same area as devonpow? I think you 2 are in the same city, right? My sister used to live there and I know that it's city, but not. Amazing schools. We loved that area... and the most delicious cupcakes you could ever have are there too!
Well I have a new home and new homes are overrated lol. We didn't design it so there's still lots of things I don't like and want to update. If I could get that house under option B I would for sure do it!
Well I am moving to the suburbs and the houses that look like that are 2 million dollars lol. The town we are currently looking in has depressing , small 3 bedroom homes for 800k. Sigh.
Post by onehitwonder on May 12, 2016 11:06:05 GMT -5
I'm leaning toward Option B. As they get older, it may not just be a daily commute. They will have school plays, sports, parties and other events they you may want or have to attend or they may have different schedules so you could end up either making multiple drives or having to miss events because it's just not doable.
jg183, my parents are helpful, but won't do anything on a set schedule for us. So, we can't count on them for helping with pickups regularly. Boo.
TrudyCampbell, I should have clarified - move to the Philly suburbs! Do you have any idea what kind of sprawling mansion 2 mill could get you around here. It would blow your mind!!
onehitwonder, that is a great point! It's not just pickup and dropoff. There are so many other school events too. This is a good arguing point I will present to my H!
Post by LilsLove418 on May 12, 2016 11:38:01 GMT -5
When we moved in January we definitely wanted to stay in our current school district. Lily will go to a different elementary school than we had originally planned, but she'll still be with her friends.
ok with the added detail of school stuff down the line I'd say move.
anyway new construction isn't always "better". I love the character some older houses have.
Our house was built in 1949 and it's solid. We've been living here 6.5 years and haven't had to do a thing. While new construction can be great, sometimes it can also be "rush jobs" and you have no guarantee it is actually structurally better than an older home.
A - a 10 min reduction in commuting is not worth $100k to me. Unless I had a child with a particular need for a particular program I wouldn't be terribly concerned about the distinction between top 10 vs top 25.