Should I stay or should i go?

[Boneroni]

K, here's the TLDR:
I live in Santa Barbara, CA.

Lease is up next year, and will be likely priced out in 3 years at the most.

We were chosen 2nd in a local resale of an affordable housing unit.

We could be offered a 950 sq' condo (2bdrm) for $485K, with HOA of about $500.
This condo could not be resold at market for (I think) 30 or more years.

We are 2 adults and a teen daughter, and we have way way too much stuff. Our current place is more than twice that size, and the garage is full to bursting, so this would be an enormous lifestyle change for us. I would need to rent studio space somewhere to play drums/guitar/record.

Is this a terrible idea? I've been open to moving away from the coast, and $485k anywhere could get us a fvcking mansion.

Appreciate any opinions. (even Al Soldano, though I can imagine what it would be)

For your troubles...

 

[Senor Sopa]

We were chosen 2nd in a local resale of an affordable housing unit.

We could be offered a 950 sq' condo (2bdrm) for $485K, with HOA of about $500.
This condo could not be resold at market for (I think) 30 or more years.
We are 2 adults and a teen daughter, and we have way way too much stuff. Our current place is more than twice that size, and the garage is full to bursting, so this would be an enormous lifestyle change for us. I would need to rent studio space somewhere to play drums/guitar/record.

You won the lottery. Out of how many, 10,000 entries?
Moving away to the mansion is also enormous lifestyle change.

How long can you ponder?

 

[silentbutdeadly]

485 will barely get you a condo in San Bernardino am I far off?

dang that’s a tough one but having lived in sb and the fact that you’ve called it home for so long I’d say stay there

 

[SteveT]

Man, that's a toughy.
One thing is for certain... If you leave SB, you'll never be able to afford to come back. (with the exception of N. County/Santa Maria)
How long 'till baby girl fledges out on her own?
Stay here and make it work.

 

[Autoprax]

You get used to whatever size place you live in fast.

.

 

[Kento]

Remote work so you can live anywhere? Do you get a lot of time off?

I think it's hard to live far from the ocean but if you have the ability to go on several 1-week+ surf trips a year to good, uncrowded locations, it's not the worst tradeoff in the world.

But if you're talking about reneging surfing entirely, yeah I dunno if that's a great idea. Months become years and then WTF happened?

 

[Boneroni]

How long 'till baby girl fledges out on her own?

She is a Sophmore this coming year, so we would probably tough it out renting until she's done and then move somewhere else after.

If you leave SB, you'll never be able to afford to come back.

I know. Even after my parents die, I have 4 younger siblings so I probably couldn't live in their house for long.

Going to see the place on Sunday to try and imagine it.

 

[jkb]

Do you really need all the stuff in the garage?

I say downsize and live in SB.

 

[Boneroni]

You won the lottery. Out of how many, 10,000 entries?
How long can you ponder?

Only 11 entries. This was a resale and I guess not a lot of people know about it

I know we have at least a few days to ponder, but I don't think much beyond that.

 

[grapedrink]

Can you realistically downsize your storage? I understand having hobbies and if that is all stuff you actively use in pursuit of what brings you value then great- keep it all. If not, consider tossing some stuff.

Either way, be sure that this is a unit that you can live out your days in. 30 years is a long time to wait to sell for a profit.

 

[Boneroni]

Do you really need all the stuff in the garage?

No, we can trash a TON of stuff.
But the reduction in space means no piano (my wife is a professional pianist) and no drumset/home studio for me.
So it's a big change

 

[jkb]

No, we can trash a TON of stuff.
But the reduction in space means no piano (my wife is a professional pianist) and no drumset/home studio for me.
So it's a big change

Does she have a grand (or baby grand) piano?

I know this is probably blasphemy for a professional pianist, but some of the electric pianos are pretty damn good and save a ton of space.

 

[Your Moms Dildo]

You gotta go bro.

Leave it to your daughter when you're dead.

 

[doc_flavonoid]

dump ur overload and stay in sb. ur kid grew up there right? its her hometown. she'll be stoked years down the road that she can come home if only for visit

 

[Al Soldano]

We could be offered a 950 sq' condo (2bdrm) for $485K, with HOA of about $500.
We are 2 adults and a teen daughter,
I would need to rent studio space somewhere to play drums/guitar/record.
Appreciate any opinions. (even Al Soldano, though I can imagine what it would be)

I'm glad the rented studio where you'll play drums/guitar/record is also where you will sleep 7 days per week, while your wife and teen daughter sleep at the 950 sq' condo.

 

[surf-shot.com]

. . . way way too much stuff . . . the garage is full to bursting . . .

 

[surf-shot.com]

. . . some of the electric pianos are pretty damn good and save a ton of space . . .

wooden weighted keys!



wife plays through headphones - teacher calls it "marriage saver"

 

[One-Off]

Moving away from the coast... do you plan to surf?

If not, ask ifall. I hear Pheonix is a hot market right now.

 

[gbg]

How often are you surfing? I am betting not much May to Sept. Lots of options outside of CA where you may be surfing just as much if you are working remote. North Carolina would be a good option. Just inland from Nags Head. Have the OBX out the back. Even just inland from Ocean City MD is a good bet. Florida too.

 

[PRCD]

My friend had 5 kids in 850 square feet. He had outbuildings to store other crap but you’re 3 not 7 so you can definitely downsize. Lemme know if you need me to come over and start putting your stuff in the trash can. I have been drinking .