So, the latest main site posting had got me thinking. Life is limited; we all know that, some tend to ignore it and pretend it's not.
My question is this, and I'm seeking opinions...
I live in a perfectly adequate suburbia house. 12 years old, good condition, no problems, etc. However, I'm not really happy here. I need WIDE OPEN SPACES. Land. Right now, the house has .2 acre yard, not really enough to do much of anything, other than pick up dog poop. Plus, it's noisy - barking dogs, constant lawnmowers, weedeaters or leaf blowers. Add in the streetlight right above us, and the complete lack of any nature, and it's not for me.
So - why am I there? This house was bought as a "temp" house during a 24 hour house hunting search in advance of a new job in a new state. I purposefully picked one with easy resale, and low maintenance. We weren't sure if the job would work out, if the new state would work out, and if we would miss family. Well, everything is going well, and now we want to stay. It's been about 20 months. We spent $182K plus 10K for a fence and shed and repairs. So, $192K invested.
I'd like to buy a small acreage so I can plant a garden, lay out in the sun, let my super high energy 2 year old run around, sip a glass of wine in peace and quiet on my southern front porch, and see the occasional bird or squirrel or heaven forbid, deer. It's what I want, and feel I need to be content.
I can get what I need for about $250-$275K. So, about 75K more in principal. I can afford it, easy, on a 15 yr, with 20% down. No other debt at all.
However, the thing that gets me, is that I'll LOSE about $15,000 in realtor fees and new mortgage costs.
Given that, should I stay and (kind of, but not really) suffer or move and blossom on a small farm?
If I should stay, how long until it's "worthwhile" to move?