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What would MN rather? (housing)
I'm currently dealing with the housing office at the new base and there's only really two options on the table and I'm trying to be open minded and take a good look at each option.
Option A
Not available for move in right away. I would experience a gap in housing that would most likely be filled by an animal friendly hotel. Also DH is moving ahead of me and is trying to get a barracks room but one may not be available. Worst case scenario he can live on the boat for a little while. The house itself is quite new (2007) and quite large compared to anywhere that we've ever lived before. Two stories, garage and driveway so that we don't have trouble parking either of our cars. It's townhouse style and unfortunately I don't think it's an end unit so we'd have likely have shared walls in sensitive places. We just got our special POA from legal today so I should be able to sign the lease and get myself all moved in. This option does not have a fenced in yard only a small flower garden out front which is what I want.
Option B
Available sooner. I'm not sure when exactly but less likely that our HHG would have to be in storage for long. Much more likely that DH will be home at move in to help me, including driving the second car so that I don't have to make arrangements for someone to help me transport it. This home is much smaller than Option A but is about the same size as our current living space so I know that we'll fit comfortably. It's a single family home so there's a great deal more privacy. It's a one story floor plan. This option may possibly have a fenced in yard area (waiting to hear back) that I would have to maintain myself which is not really something I want.
My question MN, is can you think of any pros or cons that I haven't listed that might be really important? Currently the housing office is holding Option A for us and I would need to tell them ASAP if I want to switch to Option B. I'm trying to work something out so that I can take a day trip to tour similar units but I don't know yet if anything will actually be available for me to see.
Re: What would MN rather? (housing)
Does option B have a garage?
That is in our top three for our next place. From the sounds of it, I'd probably go with option A.
Good luck with your decision!
For you, I can see why Option A would be best. I personally would probably go for B and trade the smaller digs for the outside space with dogs and an active 4 year old. I'd rather pay someone to mow ( if I couldn't do it myself, which I would attempt first) than to go without a big fenced in yard. Plus, I hate waiting to get into a place because I am an impatient bish.
Slightly less than a year, maybe 10 months or so unless he gets extended then it would be more like 16-18 months. The likelyhood of extension is around 15% I would say.
K Everdeen I believe that it does have a garage. Originally we were told that option B was older but I found a listing on AHRN that fits the description of option B pretty well and it's actually more newly renovated (2010 vs 2007) than option A and has washer/dryer, not just hookups. That's part of what's making me reconsider option B.
Also, how much of a difference does it make for your presence of mind to have a second floor bedroom vs. a first floor bedroom when you're alone? I don't know the proportion of time that I'm going to be alone but alone time is going to be a major factor.
Personally, I like second floor bedrooms. I feel a bit more protected and removed from easy access. Do you know anything about either neighborhood? Can drive-bys, to scope things out, be done during the day and in the evening?
Both places are practically in the same neighborhood. For administration purposes they are considered to be in separate neighborhoods but they're about equidistant from the main road and from base. Basically the whole area around base is military housing. I do have friends who would be willing to drive by for me if I ask them to.
Personally I would go with option B so I had the yard for the dogs. After 4 years of townhouses and non fenced in yards I am so over having to put them on leashes or always walk them. Having a fenced in yard now is the best thing ever and the dogs love it as well.
First floor bedrooms don't bother me because have an alarm system. Our house now that we bought has the master on the first floor and then the 2 other bedrooms upstairs. We had ADT installed though and I don't even flinch about it. So I would look into getting that at if you're nervous about it.
I vote for B. Unless you really want to live in a bigger place.
The connivence of not having to live in a hotel for an extended amount of time is what would change my mind, that and having more privacy. We had a shared wall unit in Florida, and you could hear everything. It was awkward. The yard is also a plus for us with our dog.
You are already used to the space, and wouldn't feel cramped. I say go for option B, so you can move in and get settled quicker.
All that stuck out to me was fenced yard. I'd live in pretty much any situation to have a yard for my dog.
I don't care about space. Our 1000 sq ft suit us just fine.
ETA Sorry, I realized that you don't want a yard. I understand not wanting to maintain it, but it's so nice for the dog. Regardless, you don't want it. There's nothing in B you want except time, right? That's unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Living in a place that's the right fit is so much more important than suffering another few weeks in a hotel.
Don't worry about shared walls if the construction is good enough.
Thanks everyone!
Yes, a fenced in yard provides no benefit to me whatsoever. We might get a dog one day but not in the near future. I just realized I should probably ask around to find out if anybody thinks that the walls are thin in that neighborhood. With so many units of the same construction someone is bound to know.
Plus, I could always use my homelessness as an excuse to board my animals and take a vacation or something. I told my mom I would visit this summer.
I think for now I'll stick with option A. I'm pretty sure DH supports my decision either way. And who knows, something else could even become available as a third option in the meantime.