[quote author="gypsyuma" date=1241137952][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1239844971][quote author="gypsyuma" date=1239822981]This is harking me back to the post where someone was asking why in the world two kids would be a motivating factor to buy instead of rent, as if the lady was daft...... well, this is it in a nutshell. It might be easy to pick up and move on when you are single or DINKs. But when you have kids, especially ones that are in school, this is every parent's worst nightmare. I totally get why that woman was against renting - for exactly this kind of scenario. Nothing against the bachelors/bachelorettes or DINKs that have the flexibility....that is great for you guys. But for people like us who have a lot of kids, the dynamic is totally different. We need stability. Our kids needs stability. I hope you guys can be a little more open next time when a parent disses renting.</blockquote>
Well... I have kids so I think I'm qualified to reply to this post.
1. The money saved by renting vs. buying right now allows me to buy the things my kids want... and send them to college if/when that time comes.
I TOTALLY GET THAT - I JUST CAME TO A SIMILAR CONCLUSION AND HAVE DECIDED TO CONITNUE TO RENT. BUT, ALL I AM TRYING TO SAY IS THAT PARENTS WITH KIDS IN SCHOOL HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS THAN A SET OF DINKs THAT ONLY NEED PACK THEIR SUITCASE AND MOVE ON. PACKING UP A SUITCASE AND AN ESPRESSO MACHINE IS ALOT DIFFERENT THAN MOVING WITH FOUR KIDS. YOU MUST KNOW HOW MUCH STUFF KIDS HAVE, RIGHT? ALL I AM TRYING TO POINT OUT IS THAT MOVING MID-SCHOOL YEAR WITH KIDS IS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT DYNAMIC, AND SOMETHING THAT PARENTS THINK ABOUT WHEN MAKING THEIR DECISIONS ON RENTING VERSES BUYING. FOR SOME, IT IS SIMPLY WORTH IT TO BITE THE BULLET AND HAVE PEACE OF MIND, SO WHY TREAT THEM LIKE DAFT RETARDS? I AM JUST SAYING TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE MORE SLACK.
2. If it comes down to it, I should be able to find another rental in the same area.
REALLY? WELL, MAYBE WHERE YOU ARE LIVING. BUT I KNOW IN TURTLE ROCK THEY ARE VERY FEW REASONABLE PLACES TO RENT. SO MAYBE THIS EASE OF TRANSITION VARIES BY AREA?
3. Even if I can't, most schools will allow your kids to stay there even if you move out of their "district".
SO WHAT IF THESE PEOPLE WORK, AND NOW THEIR OLDER KIDS CANNOT GET THEMSELVES HOME AFTER SCHOOL? THERE IS ALOT MORE TO IT FOR SOME. NOT EVERYONE HAS CAREFREE LIVES.
4. Kids do need stability... but as long as they have their same parent(s), same bed, same toys, same pets and same friends... they'll be okay. Having broke parent(s) who can't afford the basics because they overextended themselves is probably worse for the kids.
TRUE. I AM JUST SAYING IT IS PART OF A PARENTS DECISION MAKING PROCESS TO TRY AND PREVENT THIS TYPE OF SCENARIO. FOR ME, I SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY RENTING AN APARTMENT - PROBLEM SOLVED. FOR OTHER PARENTS, THEY JUST DONT WANT TO LIVE IN AN APARTMENT, SO OBVIOUSLY HAVE MORE TO CONSIDER.
5. Having to foreclose and then moving into a rental is just as bad if not moreso than having to move from your current rental to another. I think if you explain to the kids what renting is... they'll be fine. My kids are young but they know to be careful because Mr. Landlord will be unhappy.
I understand your side of it... the last time I rented was when I was single... but it's not that bad. Many families do it with no problems... I think it's more of a perception... one that I had to get over (and convince my sig-oth of) once we decided to sell our home and rent.
I ALSO AM A RENTER RIGHT NOW, AND PLAN TO CONTINUE. I JUST DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO BASH ANOTHER PARENT FOR COMING TO A DIFFERENT CONCLUSION BASED ON THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AND DECISIONS BASED ON THEIR NEEDS. IF THEY WANT TO JUMP IN NOW AND BUY A HOME THAT COULD DEPRECIATE ANOTHER 10%, AND THEY DECIDE IT IS WORTH IT FOR THEIR STABILITY BECAUSE THEY PLAN ON LIVING THERE LONG TERM, THEN FINE. I DONT THINK THAT PARENT IS ANY LESS INTELLIGENT FOR COMING TO THAT CONCLUSION BASED ON THEIR JOB STABILITY AND FAMILY NEEDS.
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Thanks for your responses. Some people on this board fail to see both sides of an argument. I have to stay in this city 8 more years due to a custody agreement. My landlord has not paid the taxes on the condo we are living in, nor on her own home. It's stressful knowing we could come home with a notice to pack up and leave in 30 days and I am looking at rentals now. Not alot of choices within my neighborhood. Kids can't even take the bus now because technically we are one mile out of range from the bussing area and I won't pull my daughter out of the middle school that she has one year left in. I also won't send her to a high school where she has to start over making friends. Tenth grade is the biggest transition for a student hence the highest drop-out rates are for 10th grade. There are many variables to any equation involving renting vs. owning.
