3 Reasons Why We Are Ready to Buy a House

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Hi there + Happy Monday! Summer fun is in full swing, and we are slowly crossing activities off our summer bucket list. For the past week or so, I find myself in shock of how the day has simply flown on by. How about you? Has your summer been slow or have you had a full schedule too?

Later this week I will share more about what activities have been crossed off our bucket list, and what fun we have planned for the weeks ahead. But today, I am going to share a topic that has been weighing heavily on my mind and heart… buying a house.

I know, I know, it has only been two years since we moved back to Long Island from San Diego, and you can read more about that here. But, we may be moving ourselves off of the Island again. And, this time, it just might be for good.

OUR CURRENT NEIGHBORHOOD

Our family is currently renting a very old home, on the North Shore of Long Island. In all honestly, this house was the best option for getting us back on our feet while transitioning back into life here on Long Island. From our home, we can walk around the block to a local beach, head on down the street to the village or visit a Nature Preserve a little bit further down the road.

There is a ton to do here, and I love how many opportunities there are to enjoy nature right at our doorstep. It was a godsend during the pandemic. Another reason we chose this home was because it is equidistant between both of our parents homes, and the school district is one of the best on Long Island. This of course (the school district) carried a lot of weight before we decided to start homeschooling during the pandemic.

So, yes, in many ways this rental has been perfect for us. So much so that we even asked our landlord if there was an option to buy the home. Sadly, they said no. But, in hindsight…I am glad they did.

A LOT HAS CHANGED

I’m sure you would agree that a lot has changed over the last two years. The pandemic really sent our world into a tailspin. But, with the craziness and uncertainty of it all, so much was brought into focus. It caused our family to take a closer look at our lifestyle in so many ways.

We always knew that Long Island would not be our forever home. During a date night, after moving back, Justin and I chatted about what the timeline would be for our next big move. However, we always thought that we would own a home here on Long Island.

You know, have a spot of our own to return to so that we can easily visit with family whenever we want. But, with my brother and his family moving to Florida, my parents looking to spend a lot of time in their second home in Mexico, and house prices (along with property taxes) being obscene here on the Island, it just doesn’t feel right to dive into the market here.

Work Life Balance

Regardless, Justin and I have been talking more and more lately about the possibility of buying our own home. With our five year timeline, we do not want to throw all of our money away in rent. That would be a huge chunk of change we can use to finance our next big move.

So, where are we focusing our house hunt if not on Long Island?

North of the city, in Westchester or Dutchess County.

While I am primarily at home with the girls each day, Justin has started commuting back into his building for work. And, that commute is slowly killing him. It can be anywhere from 90 minutes to 120+ one way each day. That’s a minimum of 4 hours in the car every day. That would drive me nuts.

So, our plan is to look in neighborhoods North of the city, where our money could go a little bit further, and we can get more property as well.

3 Reasons We Are Ready to Buy a House

Equity. I highlighted on this already but, I think home ownership is one of the wisest ways to invest your money. Of course there are a number of factors that come into play with such a huge purchase. But, when you plan and make a well thought out decision you almost always come out on top when it’s time to sell.
Renters Remorse. There are so many things I would like to do to our home to improve our space. However, I am frequently reminded that we can make changes or improvements – “when we own”. In other words, Justin doesn’t want to spend any extra money on a space when he won’t see the return.

I get it. But, it’s hard to be confronted with little (and big) things that drive you crazy each and every day – like linoleum floors in the kitchen, generic lighting fixtures (or “boob lights” as Justin likes to call them), or old drafty windows.

Another thing is, we are quickly running out of space here. A two bedroom house was okay when we moved in with a five and two year old but now, the girls are ready for rooms of their own. And, I am ready for a backyard to send them out to when things start to get a little crazy.
Laying Down Roots. For us, renting makes it nearly impossible to lay down roots. That’s because as a renter, you are giving up a lot of control to your landlord. Every year I worry that the rent will go up or they might decide to sell the home. And, that kind of uncertainty doesn’t bode well for someone with anxiety like me. Owning a home feels more permanent.

An End of Summer Trip

Toward the end of the summer we are planning to spend a few days in some of the neighborhoods we have our eye on. Being able to do this is a huge blessing because we were not fortunate enough to do so before we moved to San Diego, and boy did we suffer for it!

I cannot wait to plan our trip, and see which area we all like the best. Maybe we will be able to cross some more activities off our summer bucket list while we are at it!