Housing Situation

What to do, what to do.............

We are still up in the air with what we should do about this situation we've been put in. There is a possibility that we could buy this home at the sheriff's auction. We've called around and supposedly there is 146,xxx still owed on the house. I'm sure they (the bank) would at least like to get that much and we've heard that they will be there bidding on it......either to get it themselves and try to resell it or just to up the bid to something reasonable for them. The last appraisal of the house was at 174,xxx, or somewhere around there, and the bid has to start out at a certain percentage of that.........I think it will start out around 116,000. We're going to the auction no matter what so we can at least see what the house sells for. If we do decide to bid on it we won't go over the max we've set for it. We have to pay 10% right there at the auction.

We've been looking at a lot of houses that are for rent. Some are in Xenia, some in Beavercreek, Huber Heights, Tipp City, and Fairborn. They've all been nice, for the most part, and we could definitely deal with it for our last 15 months here. One was exceptionally nice and is making our decision of whether or not to just move now and rent it or wait it out for the auction and take the chance of it possibly getting rented in the mean time. Most of the homes we've been looking at are comparable to the one we're in now but rent is going to go up $150 a month for us no matter what we rent. There was one that was bigger, but a lot older and we would be paying about the same there. I think it's been rented since we've looked at it because I can't find it on the rental site anymore!

We've talked with several different people on what we should do and we've heard pros and cons of both and in the end it almost equals out. We'd just be taking more of a "chance" with buying the house. It's all been so stressful. Of course, we're all sick once again and it seems to be dragging on and on. Probably because of all of the stress, lack of sleep, etc. I finally just went in to the urgent care yesterday to get some antibiotics b/c I just knew I had a really bad sinus infection. The entire right side of my face was throbbing, swollen, tender to the touch, etc and I just couldn't deal with it anymore. I think Allie is pretty much over it now, but she still has a nasty sounding cough. Avery, my poor baby, I think is finally starting to feel better. She has so much phlegm that she is constantly choking on it and spitting up. Every time she sneezes she has tons of snot pouring out and then we get to perform "surgery." Hopefully it's over soon!!! All of it!

Anyway, so there is a new poll for you guys to vote on what you would do in our situation. I'll try and list the pros and cons of our options below so you'll know a little bit more about the situation and options we have..

Buying the house we're in

Pros:

• we won't have to move!
• could get a great deal on it and no matter what our mortgage payments will be even less than our current rent
• we'll get to stay in the same ward at church (9:00 am!) and Allie will get to stay in the nursery that she has FINALLY started to really enjoy
• IF we are able to sell it or rent it out it would be an awesome investment
• We'll definitely try and get a follow on here so we'd be here for 2 - 3 more years

Cons:

• We might not be able to sell or rent it and would have to be paying a mortgage and rent wherever we move to next
• If we rent, we might get stuck with someone who won't take care of the house
• We'll have to pay 10% at the auction
• If we don't win the auction we'll have to wind up moving anyway and now have less time to do it

Renting

*the house we're looking at was built in 2004 (just like the one we're in now), in a nice subdivision, in Fairborn (which is really close to base), two story, 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, full unfinished walkout basement, nice big and flat back yard, huge deck, small garage*

Pros:

Won't have to worry about selling or renting a house

We'll be closer to base

Walkout basement would be nice (especially during the move)

I think it's a little bit nicer (maybe) than the home we're in now

We'll be closer to the soccer complex that Derek will be playing in for the next 3 months

We'll be closer to our friends for game night

We'll make about $4,000 in the move (DITY)

Cons:

• We'll be paying more in rent
• We'll have to change wards at church
• Allie may have a hard time in nursery once again
• We'll have to find a place to store our boat and pay whatever that fee would be
• We'll be further from the lake
• We'll have to move and we've only been here 9 months

I'm sure there are some things I'm forgetting. Derek is meeting with the JAG today so after that meeting we may be able to find out some more and, if so, I'll post it on here. Anyway, if you feel up to it you can vote. If not, that's fine too. Thanks for all of your prayers and support at this stressful time in our lives!