OT.. Opinions please..

So, we have miraculously found three apartments that will have us, we can afford to move into on the 15th, and in our kids school zone. Yay. Now I have till tomorrow night to pick one. Hubby has put the decision on me.

I am gonna lay the three out and just gimme your gut opinion and why. Thanks!

1. One bedroom apartment in a private home. There is a great room (living-dining-kitchen), a den (would be used as 2nd bedroom), a bedroom, and a bathroom. There is also a large screen porch, and 17acres to roam. It is $1100, includes all utilities, cable, and internet.

Negatives: it's in a private home... Of elderly people.. Who may not appreciate the noise and rambunctiousness of kids. We would feel like we were walking on eggshells for a year.

2. A duplex, second floor, 2 bed apartment in a 200 year old carriage house on the grounds of a top rated bed and breakfast. This has two beds, living room, separate dining room, kitchen, and bath. It has a very large back yard. It is $1200 a month, including heat and water, and possibly internet. We would pay electric (we would skip cable)

Negatives: the higher price and it's less inclusive, and the steps will suck for moving and post op TT.. It also comes furnished, so we would have to store a LOT mor stuff..

3. A two bedroom in an apartment building. It has an eat in kitchen, living room, bathroom, two beds, and a patio. It is the right size and place, and price. It is $800 plus electric and internet. We saw it before it was renovated from previous tenants, and it was GROSS. It smelled terrible and looked worse. There are new carpets and paint going in.. But who knows if that will fix the smell.

Negatives: the lack of general upkeep around the building, and the apartment is in an appalling state..

So whatcha think peeps? Spend more or less? More rooms or less? Everything is a trade off, I know. We are really tight for the first month or so, or we wouldn't be so torn over a couple hundred bucks..They all include lawn care, garbage, and snow removal (a biggie where we live!)..

 Just my thoughts here, good for nothing.  I like the sounds of all three, though #3 scares me a bit.  I like #1 most.  Have you spoken to the seniors?  They may like the idea of children running around, they may miss that in their lives.  I love screened in porches too, we have one and it's our favorite room.  But #2 sounds good too.  I HATE stinky places, which is why I'd be VERY cautious about #3.  But really, you've gotta chose what works best for your family.  Good luck and keep us posted.
Marie

They weren't keen on kids moving in.. We took the kids over and introduced them to sway them.. We hate stinky places too.. And bugs even more!

I would say either 2 or 3....highest or lowest price.  If you think you will stay awhile and you have some money in the bank,  I would do the carriage house. More like a home with a yard for young (I assume) kids. The steps will only be a pain for short periods of time...moving and recouping.

If you think this is a temp move and you need money in the bank,  I would do the cheapest and bank the difference for the future.

The reason I hesitate on #1 is "walking on eggshells"  With kids?  I don't have any but.....
Also, I lived in a very nice, contemporary, in-law suite (separate apt) in a private home for a number of years. It was lovely but ....THEY CONTROLLED THE HEAT AND AIR.  I was fat...they were thin.
Get the picture??!!!!

Good luck

We will be there for one year.. No more or less. The house apt has it's own thermostat.. But I just worry they don't want kids around.. And it is more on the down low, so I worry about school registration..

#3 is a complete crap shoot and I'd hate to live in a place where I wasn't certain the owners would be quick to fix things that went wrong.  However, they may have had no control over the previous tenants until they evicted them and then had to clean up the mess.

#2 is a lot more expensive when you factor in the cost of storage for a year, but the carriage house sounds delightful except for the first weeks after your surgery.

#1 sounds best to me, but that depends on the seniors.  I'm considered a senior at 60 and would be great to live in the same house.  How old are the people?  Can you ask questions regarding what time they expect quiet in the evening?  Do they mind your kids having noisy friends over?  Have they been renting the unit for a long time and therefore are more used to relinquishing control?  Is there a chance you could speak to former tenants and get a sense of what it would be like?  All of those acres would really be a big draw for me.  But the questions and answers are more important to me.

You have a tough decision.  I think you're going to have to make it, then don't second guess yourself and don't look back.  I know this is big for you so test your gut and see which way you're being led.  I had looked at dozens of homes and condos and knew the second that I walked into my place that it was home.   After each place I looked at, I closed my eyes and imagined myself coming home from work and spending my weekend there, then I checked in with how I felt about my answers.

Good luck!  You'll make the right decision for you and your family, but I'd certainly ask DH for some guidance so that you share in the perfect/less than perfect final outcome.

We would be their first tenant! That's why we are nervous- they had the apartment built for their grown daughter until she got married... At first they didn't want a family, but my kids charmed them. Ha ha. They won't be having friends over probably... Too small. The first scares me, the third scares me, and the second I am not sure we could afford the deposit, moving truck, AND storage rental all in time.. You are right. Gonna have to jump and swim!

Eta: the hubby and kids want 2... But I am truly not sure I can make it work.. And still have food.. Gas..

Oh golly, no food?   Holy Schnikes!  That would be a tough call.  Maybe none of them are actually your right place?  Have you continued looking?  Check the Sunday paper.  Maybe something great is about to appear right before your very eyes! 

We live in an area of $700,000 homes. So at under 1500 including utilities we are not in the typical price range for a family of four, lol. If we dont move before my tummy tuck on the 25th we will be homeless come august 1st, as we already gave notice at our current place. I am thinking and thinking and thinking and have imposed a deadline of dinner time tomorrow to make a decision- if I wait too long, I risk losing all of them.

Go check out #3 again and see if smell is gone.