not a peep

[Trixi]

ARGH!!! I was telling my DD about getting the rental house, etc and she said "if you need a roommate....." Which got me to thinking.

Originally, one of the motivators to rent was to not get tied into a house if H and I were going to stay married. Now that it is clear we are NOT going to stay married, that changes things.

There is one house that I sorta liked that was for sale; it has enough space that she could actually have a good amount of separate space. The rental house does not have that. At the rental her room would be smaller than any bedroom she has ever been in.

The biggest con to this house is that it is in the city that my H would probably shop and dine in. I really don't want to have to accidentally see him with someone. Of course, theoretically I shouldn't always have the concern.

Okay- here's the list:
PROS to buying:
Home ownership/tax benefits
Can help DD and DD can help me by paying rent
Purchase price $40K LESS than purchase price of rental
Savings on rental only temporary until next year
Fenced backyard
I can have a dog if I want
House only a couple years old (rental is old, but charming)
BIG master
BIG master bath

Rental house is "cuter" and affords more privacy (until he gets done subdividing.) If my DD pays me $400/mo in rent, the payment will be $300/month more than the rental. But that is an amount that I think I *would* get back in the way of tax benefits and potential appreciation.

If I had to buy the rental house now, the mortgage would be $275 MORE per month than the other house. If I factor in getting $400/mo rent from DD, that would make the rental house cost $675 MORE per month.

Rental house has an awesome gazebo. Lots of old world charm...but it does need some updating in the bathrooms and the master is VERY small; as is the master bath. Purchase house is a split level (not as desirable for resale) but it is not a typical split, so it might be okay.

I feel "better" in the rental house, but I think part of that is that it has trees and all the walls are painted nice warm colors. It feels homey. The purchase house still has white walls and doesn't feel as homey. Of course, I can paint and I can make it feel much warmer.

What a weekend. I have to decide by tomorrow what I am going to do because the landlord wants a non-refundable deposit to hold the house til the end of the month.

I am totally torn down the middle on this one.