How much is housing location important to you?

[Deleted]

Location is my number one determinate of where I live. I don't need my place itself to have a lot of character (although it's nice bonus) but I do need to be in a walkable neighborhood close with an easy commute.

[doriswe]

I love the location of my house....close to a lot of the things I love. But I'd struggle to justify $600!

That being said, I think you, personally, will regret not picking a place that you love the location and will probably be looking to move again once your lease is up.

[Deleted]

I love the location of my house - I am about one mile from work, but we are a ten minute drive from Downtown Raleigh. It was always more important to me to be closer to work since I can't stand commuting every day and only go into downtown maybe one to two times a week. Right now my commute is about 2-3 minutes so I never feel like my life is wasting away in my car.

I agree w/ others though that sacrificing location in your case may not be the greatest idea for you!

[lookingup]

If the place with the fun location wouldn't put you in a financial bind, I would live there. The cheap place close to work is great, but quality of life is always so much better when you love where you live.

[Eureka1984]

Location is really big to me. I mean I need to be close to the things I do. Walking and Driving. I think for my house it doesn't really matter. I could justify living in a smaller space if it were closer to things rather than have a big place and be far from things.

I am currently researching places to live for the summer. My sister lives in Austin, TX, and part of me wants to go spend the summer out there rather than work for the same ol non- profit I've been working at along side teaching. I know it is a big jump, and of course I will have to see if I can find a better job. but anyways.

[winecat]

How is the commute to work for the area you like? Good location is important but you could take some awesome trips with the $7k you'd save.

[cuddlyevil]

For me, location is big but more because I need something that will not complicate my commute or make it difficult to get my kids to school. Where I live currently is close enough to the super cool, fun places without the traffic/parking headaches.

[Deleted]

I would do cheaper and closer to work. I figure I spend more time commuting to work than I would on weekends.
I also would want to save that 600 to travel with and buy things

600 a months is a few vacations each year.

[spindle92]

I am with mags. Closer to work and that money you save can go far for other fun stuff.

[doriswe]

30 minute commute? I change my vote....I go with cheaper option.

[stephreloaded]

I would pick the closer/cheaper option. I guess that says a lot about me haha.

[spindle92]

Feb 27, 2014 12:38:25 GMT -5 mp said:

Feb 27, 2014 12:37:07 GMT -5 doriswe said:

30 minute commute? I change my vote....I go with cheaper option.

Well, 30 minutes is very reasonable in LA.

But 4 minutes is awesome!

[doriswe]

Feb 27, 2014 12:38:25 GMT -5 mp said:

Feb 27, 2014 12:37:07 GMT -5 doriswe said:

30 minute commute? I change my vote....I go with cheaper option.

Well, 30 minutes is very reasonable in LA.

I hate killing an hour in my car everyday just going to/from work.  A few minutes would be freaking awesome!

I say, saving $12,000 a year AND almost an hour a day, is no contest in my book.

But keep in mind, I'm old and practical!

[Deleted]

Feb 27, 2014 12:37:07 GMT -5 doriswe said:

30 minute commute? I change my vote....I go with cheaper option.

Yeah.. no. I'd go batty in a car for an hour a day. 

[doriswe]

Feb 27, 2014 12:42:06 GMT -5 mp said:

Feb 27, 2014 12:39:34 GMT -5 doriswe said:

I hate killing an hour in my car everyday just going to/from work.  A few minutes would be freaking awesome!

I say, saving $12,000 a year AND almost an hour a day, is no contest in my book.

But keep in mind, I'm old and practical!

$600/mo <> $12k/year. LOL! $7200.

On the weekends, I am realistically only 15 min from those awesome places.

Holy shitty multiplication skills, batman!!

[doriswe]

Feb 27, 2014 12:44:54 GMT -5 doglove said:

Feb 27, 2014 12:37:07 GMT -5 doriswe said:

30 minute commute? I change my vote....I go with cheaper option.

Yeah.. no. I'd go batty in a car for an hour a day. 

Plus increased wear and tear on your car

[pinkdutchtulips]

w a kid entering kindergarten .. good schools were a must when i moved. also something ALOT closer to work (i still have a 1hr+ commute but that's down from the 2hr+ it used to be!) that i could afford in a hcol area on my salary alone.

i ended up in a place close to great schools, lots of restaraunts and shopping close by and MUCH closer to dcp and work for me that i could afford on my own.

[pinkplasticdoll]

I am all about location. Traffic in my city can be a clusterfuck and a half so I want to be close to work which I am currently not but my H is close to his job.

[gault]

Location is important. But a 600 savings a month is HUGE to me and I'd take the cheaper lease in a heartbeat.

I know that you will flourish in a place that fits your needs and your soul... so if you can swing it, I'd choose the good location for you.

[Deleted]

How easy is it to get to fun places from the cheaper place? Do you have to drive to them? If so, is parking or traffic a big issue? It might be worth the extra money to be able to walk to places if it's going to be a hassle to go anywhere from the cheaper option.

If it's not that bad, I'd go with the cheaper one. I guess I've never lived in a great neighborhood so maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but when I'm home I'm mostly inside my house anyway. If I want to go somewhere, I get in my car and drive there. I do like being close to work and close to things like groceries stores/takeout places/bars but I don't mind having to drive a few minutes to get to them. $600 is a lot of money each month and a 30 minute commute means more gas/car costs on top of that.

[redredwine]

I moved to my city (from another state about 5 years ago) and ended up living in the 'burbs and a 5 minute drive from work, because I didn't know where else to live, so "close to work/nice new condo" worked out. Which is FINE, and it worked well for a few years, but my city has so many rad areas that I wanted to actually "live in the city proper" in one of the many great walkable neighborhoods. So, I moved to a rad part of town-super walkable, near the river, near trails and a great running/biking trail, dog park within walking distance, etc. I found an old funky 100 year old 1 bedroom house with really reasonable rent for my area. It's not fancy, but I love it. And it's bigger than my old condo, which is nice.

I traded a 5 minute commute for a 45 minute commute (and that's taking the backroads. Traffic can often be 1hour +, but it's worth it to come home to a place/neighborhood I love.

I love it. LOVE IT. I love that I chose to move here. When N and I talked about moving in together, I'm so happy it ended up working out that he moved into my place. I never want to move from this part of town, but if N and I want to buy a house (or move to a bigger place), we'll probably have to move out towards the burbs. What's awesome is that I've gotten to experience my city and what it's known for...Location is super important (as is cost and being in a safe neighborhood since I often run/walk the pups at night)

I vote cute hipster neighborhood.

[Deleted]

I'd go for what's cheaper.  I live close to where I grew up, so I'm comfy there.  I work in a cool/fun hipster neighborhood---where apartments go for double what I pay.  Work and home are 10 miles apart--in Brooklyn this equals a one hour drive.  

[becwheat]

It is hard for me to answer cause I have a kid... so saving time with a short commute and all that money every month would be good for my family.

BUT my #1 thing when looking for a place to live is schools, so like I said before I am no help!

[redredwine]

Feb 27, 2014 13:00:40 GMT -5 mp said:

Feb 27, 2014 12:54:54 GMT -5 redredwine said:

I moved to my city (from another state about 5 years ago) and ended up living in the 'burbs and a 5 minute drive from work, because I didn't know where else to live, so "close to work/nice new condo" worked out. Which is FINE, and it worked well for a few years, but my city has so many rad areas that I wanted to actually "live in the city proper" in one of the many great walkable neighborhoods. So, I moved to a rad part of town-super walkable, near the river, near trails and a great running/biking trail, dog park within walking distance, etc. I found an old funky 100 year old 1 bedroom house with really reasonable rent for my area. It's not fancy, but I love it. And it's bigger than my old condo, which is nice.

I traded a 5 minute commute for a 45 minute commute (and that's taking the backroads. Traffic can often be 1hour +, but it's worth it to come home to a place/neighborhood I love.

I love it. LOVE IT. I love that I chose to move here. When N and I talked about moving in together, I'm so happy it ended up working out that he moved into my place. I never want to move from this part of town, but if N and I want to buy a house (or move to a bigger place), we'll probably have to move out towards the burbs. What's awesome is that I've gotten to experience my city and what it's known for...Location is super important (as is cost and being in a safe neighborhood since I often run/walk the pups at night)

I vote cute hipster neighborhood.

Sigh. Yes. This is what I want.

I just don't know if it's worth $7k/year to do it.

true...but I guess I'd play devils advocate and say it's not $7k MORE than you're paying right now, right?  If it's not a stretch for you to be where you are now, then I'd still consider it. True, saving more $ is great but if it's a place you don't like is it worth it? 

What if you held out for another few weeks to find something a little cheaper in the area you want to be in?

[llh0211]

Location is extremely important to me.  I get that $600 is hard to justify, but you would likely be commuting during your off time to the fun, funky area that you love so much.  I'd much rather live where I like to hang out. 

[starburst604]

When I was single I sacrificed location for cheaper rent, I'd say probably to the tune of $600 a month as well (this was living just outside the city vs. living in it). My neighborhood was kinda crappy but my apartment was adorable (LOVED it), I had a parking spot, a beautiful deck and was a 5 min. drive or cab ride to the city. My commute was about the same as it would have been if I lived in the city. I guess I've never really lived someplace where I could walk out my door and be in a cool place, so having to drive there was always the norm. I honestly loved that I had money to DO things, to travel, buy clothes (oh and save, but yeah I didn't do that). For me, being house/apartment poor didn't appeal to me.

Maybe you won't like Option A or B, and will find something that is a happy medium of the 2

[formerlyak]

I know you live in LA, so here are my questions based on my commute experience in LA. Is the 30 minute commute with or without traffic, and what variables affect the traffic between that area and your office? Is 30 minutes the max you anticipate driving with traffic and all potential variables? If so, I'd go with the place in the neighborhood you like that is a little more expensive. I don't have to do the LA freeways to get between home and work. Without traffic it is a 15 minute drive. However, during rush hour I tend to hit every light between my office and my house making my commute about 30 minutes. It isn't bad at all. And on weekends, I can walk to a lot of the places I like and can walk to the beach. That is totally worth the 30 minute commute during the week to me.

[formerlyak]

Feb 27, 2014 13:41:37 GMT -5 mp said:

Feb 27, 2014 13:35:11 GMT -5 formerlyak said:

I know you live in LA, so here are my questions based on my commute experience in LA. Is the 30 minute commute with or without traffic, and what variables affect the traffic between that area and your office? Is 30 minutes the max you anticipate driving with traffic and all potential variables? If so, I'd go with the place in the neighborhood you like that is a little more expensive. I don't have to do the LA freeways to get between home and work. Without traffic it is a 15 minute drive. However, during rush hour I tend to hit every light between my office and my house making my commute about 30 minutes. It isn't bad at all. And on weekends, I can walk to a lot of the places I like and can walk to the beach. That is totally worth the 30 minute commute during the week to me.

With traffic - less than 10 miles, side streets no freeways. I also generally go into work at like 10am, so I would miss a lot of serious traffic anyway.

Ok. If I don't love this place tomorrow, I will hold out for cute area.

If it's 30 minutes with traffic, I'd hands down look in the area you want to be in. So much better for your social life and overall mood!!

[formerlyak]

BTW, the commute you describe for the better 'hood (less than 10 miles, side streets no freeways) is exactly my commute and it isn't bad AT ALL.

[lookingup]

A lot of people are mentioning commute to work (5 days/week) vs time spent in the fun neighborhoods on the weekends. I like to be able to go out any night of the week though, not just weekends. I have a sneaking suspicion that we have that in common, mp. If the quirky hood is where you want to be, do it.