Hindsight being 20/20 and all, I'd opt for secure, no question.

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Kathi - wife to Sean, Mama to Sam (6/26/02) & Grace (8/29/06)

we are saving right now in hopes that DH can retire early, but we often look at bigger homes, I guess to keep up with the Joneses.

what gets me off the idea is the cost and inconvenience to actually move; renting storage area to stage this house, keeping the house constantly clean to show for who knows how long, 6% to realtor, closing costs, repair costs here, several thousand for moving company and a higher interest rate than we have now.

we are in a bad district though and we drive quite far to go to another school. we may have to move by high school.

I'll opt for security. I figure that when we are OLD, we will need to sell our house and move closer to civilization (doctors and hospital), but we would then be downsizing from the house we have now (although this house is small). I have no desire to stretch my finances just to have a larger house. If I ever have that desire, all I have to do is open the paper to read all of the forclosures and the desire goes away!

Marlene

Then I would wait, hands down. I was just thinking of the other because we are sort of in that predicament now. We want to move to a bigger house (not in a keep up with the Jones's sort of way, but in an investment sort of way - our neighborhood is changing and we are not crazy about it) in a different school district for middle and high school. We like the elementary school we are in though and the middle school, too, but when to move the kids? That is the on going question. Our oldest is in 2nd grade.

I'd probably wait too. When we built our home, we paid over 50% in cash; didn't get a construction loan until the house was about 50% complete. How in the world we were able to save that kind of cash in such a short time I have no idea...of course, we didn't have the kids then, so that might have helped! lol Also, Brian did 85% of the work himself; the only things he didn't do or help with are: hanging and finishing the drywall, installing the chimneys, and laying the foundation-everything else he did, pretty much by himself (I was pregnant, and then caring twin infants). We saved a considerable amount of money with him doing the bulk of the work.

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~*~ Angie~*~
Wife to Brian
SAHM to Sarah & Andy 2/11/2000

Our situation is that we have a really nice house now. We are planning on moving but, if anything, I want to downside. We would also be leaving with lots equity so the next house we buy might be mortgage free. I wouldn't trade a mortgage on a more expensive house for no-mortgage on a perfectly satisfactory house at this stage in my life.

IF I was just starting out, though, and it would be the first house I was buying, I'd split the difference. I'd buy a better house based on the raise and I'd do it as soon as feasible. However, I recommend never buying more house that you can comfortably afford. First time homebuyers need to get into home ownership as soon as they can manage. I generally don't recommend waiting.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I think going bigger is really dependant on what size your home is. I dream of a bigger newer home all the time, heck all I want is a second bathroom. I think the kids play a part. We have one now but want a few more, want better schools.

I would be affraid to wait I have seen the housing prices in my area go up and up and up. Even with the market slump. Interest rates are still on the low side, prices are not dropping so I would be tempted to at least look if "THE" house came up then yes I would move on even with things being tight.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006 &

Organizer of the Coupon Clippers of Tacoma

I'm in that predicament now. DH works from home and needs the 3rd bedroom but we are also TTC. Now I could put the kids in the same room for a several years but I'd rather move to somewhere they can establish some friends they can go to school with. Also with the way the housing market is in our area we could easily get a larger home for our needs BUT selling ours would take forever. I'm also trying to find a home with an actual yard for the kids to play in that isn't in a deed restricted neighborhood (the norm here in FL).

Luckily I can put away while I look since 4 bedroom homes with my requirements are hard to find unless we build. And if we build I would only have to purchase the land atm and sit on it until we are ready

With our situation, we would probably move. We have really outgrown our house. Our twin DDs are 11 and share a room. They fight constantly and are jealous that their two-year old sister has a room by herself. If we waited too much longer, what would be the point of moving when the twins are say 16, 17..
However, we would not buy as much house as the mortgage calculators say we could afford.

We would buy our land and then stay where we are until we have a good bit to put down once we close the construction loan. We always put at least 20% down. We have decided that we don't want to ever have a mortgage payment over $1000 again.

We had outgrown our house when we bought it and we plan to build our olde house again once I have gone back to work for a year or so (banking my salary). Our kids will still be young enough to adjust well.