Well folks, it looks like I'm moving...

I'm sorry you're having to deal with this. I do believe that in this economy people are being much more forgiving of credit issues and foreclosures. You can bounce back, there are so many in the same position as you. I also think you should just stop paying and save your cash for the future. It's the unknown we are afraid of. God always has a plan. I'm sure you're future is bright and includes a washer and dryer.

Hubby and I were looking to sell our house and buy a better one

Then came the sad reality that a neighboring house (built at the same time, similar size and floor plan) sold for ONE THIRD what we owe on this house. We can't sell our house. We saw that a company is offering to pay mortgages if you allow them to paint your house into a houe-sized billboard. Seriously. If they think our house is in a well-enough-traveled area, we might easily be living in an advertisement-house. But if it pays the rent, and allows us to purchase another house, we're going to do it. Eventually our house will be worth something (optimism)

Alas, the universe has gone crazy

Wanna move out here, live in a "viagra house", help fix it up, and cook yummy foods for me? *grin*

The lower-level education here sucks, but at least there are good math and science teachers at the local high school (me and hubby, of course) 

Nik,

 

I was in your shoes about 11 years ago when the economy wasn't as bad as it is today; I feel for you!

 

My ex-husband was in the Army and we purchased a home outside of Fort Campbell, KY. At the time it made sense to buy and not rent because the homes were cheap and he was going to be stationed there for 4 years. Well, one year after we purchased the house he started making some very bad choices; drinking, living a single man’s life and one fine day decided that I was going to be his new punching bad. He hit me once and never had the chance to do it again. He was out the following day.

 

With a failed marriage I found myself alone in a place I didn’t know, surrounded by people who didn’t care. I was so afraid of the unknown that I made the situation a lot worse for myself…I tried to hang on to the house. I was living paycheck to paycheck with barely enough money to buy milk for my son.

 

I was afraid of permanently losing the security of that marriage; I got married at 19 to my high school sweetheart and that was all I had known (yes, I was very sheltered), I was afraid of how I would be received back home, what I would do with my life after I left, how I would support my child alone…how I could ever be enough mother and father to him. I was confused but I asked The Good Lord to give me strength and to guide me. After months of the hardest living I ever experienced, I decided to stop paying the mortgage. When I had enough money saved up, I moved back to MA with my 2 1/2 year old son and never looked back.

 

The foreclosure shot my credit and that hurt me in more ways than I care to admit but it also taught me how important good credit is. In short it was the best decision I ever made. Moving from not only that house, but that whole situation opened so many doors and created so many opportunities, not only for me but for my son as well. Today I have a career I love, I am financially stable, I just purchased a home and my children are both Honor Students; my 9yr old daughter in elementary and my 14 yr old son in high school. I am a very proud mother and accomplished woman and thank God for guiding me that fateful day.  

 

 This was about you and somehow I turned it into a memory walk! I’m sorry! 

 

I think, however, that it’s important to know that you are not alone and other people have been through this and came out OK. Taking the first step is hard, but you are a strong and self sufficient woman…you will be just fine.

 

 

Rose

Oh Nik - I DO feel for you - the "neighborhood" thing -  I live in a small town of 2400 people - the town my husband grew up in. I commute to work in a larger centre. We have been in our home for 24yrs. Never lock stuff up, can trust the nighbors, crap - even the local store - if I need milk - I can run over and they will "mark it down" - and hand me the monthly bill at the end of each month when I'm next in. Talk about small town familiarity. But I do appreciate it.  But - we won't retire there - so  we will move in the next 5 yrs or so - where we don't know for sure. And you are in a tough spot - you really have to move. But - please think of change as a positive thing - I'm such a believer in the feeling that everything happens for a reason - as corny as it counds - and I know it doesn't ease the pain for you at this moment. I have no doubt that wherever this change takes you - it will be great! Because you will make it great! Take care!