The cost of moving ...

**ironmaiden** · 05-09-2006, 10:52 AM

We are debating whether we should move or not. Developers have found our town and this end of it will simply not be the same 5 years from now. We might be living across from a shopping mall and all the stores on Main St. on this side of town at least will be bought by major chains as they continue to expand their way through. This sooo not what I picked in a town. My house was originally on the non-abutting side of a very quiet office building with lots of greenspace on their land. The shopping mall developers wont give up and will take as long as it takes to wear everyone down. Then they'll buy up all the houses on the abutting side of the mall and put another mall entrance on our street.

But moving is such downer from more than the emotional perspective.

Financially:

Our current loan is 4.5% for 10 years and we have 7 years left.
We'd never get a loan that low again. So even if we made a lateral move, it would still cost us more in interest between restarting another 10 or 15 year loan as well as the difference in interest rates.
Our house price is dropping because of the controversy and will defintely drop more due to the shopping mall and increase in traffic.
We'd have to pay a real estate agent fee.
We'd have to pay for moving. DH is adamant on this.
We'd have to pay closing costs.
Any house we'd move in to would need some work.
And there is no way that ALL our furniture would be right for a new house.
Window treatments.

**treeluva** · 05-09-2006, 11:00 AM

I know what you mean about the furniture not fitting. I lived in the same house for 7 years (lucky, seeing as how I am in the military) and thus all my belongings were bought for THAT house. When I had to move here, well, lets just say a year and a half later, I am STILL rearranging stuff, trying to get it to fit properly, or at least better, and by the time I find a plan that fits, it is going to be time to move from here again. Argh.

**PrairieRose** · 05-09-2006, 11:22 AM

I can see how disappointing this is for you but maybe you can find a nice place in another town and the cost will be worth it for you. Keep your chin up, start looking and put a for sale by owner sign in your yard

**freedeal** · 05-09-2006, 01:32 PM

Not sure if this will help but talk to some realtors, zoning board etc. to see if you can have your house rezoned to commercial. Commercial property commands a much higher price than residential. I know that in our town we have several areas that were residential and have been rezoned for commecial since other businesses were moving in.

One older man had a Kmart built literally all around his house. His house had a fence around it but was surrounded by the parking lot on all sides except for the main street. He lived like that for years and his property sold for several million dollars.

**leezza** · 05-09-2006, 03:37 PM

Ironmaiden,

Sorry to hear about how your best laid plans are not working out......sounds like you guys did a lot of planning too! Anyway, there have been some good idea's so far so the only thing I might suggest is:

If you start looking maybe look for a house that butts up against a National park or National Forest. I know someone who did this, they are so excited because they don't have to worry about someone building behind them.

leezza

**guest32** · 05-09-2006, 04:56 PM

Personally....I'd make a break for it now. If this is *really* going to happen, your house value will continue to drop...and interest rates are on the rise....
Pay now or pay later....JMO. I absolutely could not live in an area like that.
This is happening a lot. In some newer areas around here, they are backing up to subdivisons with Walgreens, etc....
As far as your furniture, etc....that's minor, and you can always work with what you have and add or subtract as you need. You might be surprised what works by just moving things to different rooms, etc.
Things happen for a reason...maybe there is a plan for your family that you are unaware of :-)