When you're standing in deep water, and you're bailing yourself out with a straw
So, I've officially gotten word:
I have to move. Out of my apartment. In roughly 3-4 months, at the absolute latest.
I know, I know, it's not quite a crisis. I have lots of time. And it will be much easier than the last time I moved, as I have a) my own freaking transportation, b) knowledge of the area and c) an idea of what I want.
The story is this: Our apartment building got sold, effective June 1st. Half of the building (not my half) got their 90-day vacancy notice at the same time. The other half will get theirs in 30-60 days. The new owners are going to convert to condos. I have the option to buy my current unit, or move somewhere else...
I have the option of buying my unit, and if I do, the incentive is that they will knock $18,000 off the asking price, which would bring it down to $222,000. If I buy (which it looks like I won't, for reasons below), I would have to leave for about 6 to 8 weeks while they are remodeling my entire unit, installing washer/dryers, etc. This option requires me to find temporary housing, plus putting all my crapoola into storage. Then hauling it all BACK OUT, and into old living space with new paint and carpet and granite countertops.
Now, I love my apartment - I like the physical location to other stuff in the area, I like the size, and how my stuff and I fit into it. But I dislike the option of buying, because I simply can NOT afford mortgage payments, plus condo association fees, plus everything that comes with being a homeowner. Not when I just bought $900 worth of fun, not expecting to have a wrench thrown into my life, and not when I still owe my parents a fair bit of money that I haven't even BEGUN to start paying off. It's not smart.
So, my other option is to leave, wave adios to the Graham Street Apartments, and find another place. The incentive for this option is I would get $500 from the city in moving assistance money (I fall below a certain income bracket). If I move out by June 30th, I could get $1000! But I don't see it happening THAT quickly! So, I will need to get back out, on hoof or on wheels, and find a new place that is comparable in size, rent and location. FUN! And then move. In the heat of summer. ;-_-;
There's a fair amount of upside to this option. As much as I love my place, I'm quite likely to find another I like just as well. Moving is, generally, a one-day major hassle with a month's worth of unpacking (who wants to carry 300 books worth of boxes?! anyone? anyone? Bueller?) for minor hassle. Financially, it is by far the smarter option (since I'd be considering an apartment, as opposed to a condo somewhere else - if I can't afford this one, I bloody well can't afford another!). Although, I run the risk that the next place will be sold for condos too, and I just don't like moving when it's not MY choice, in MY time. But that's a fairly minor bone to pick. Technically, I have like 3 months at least to do all of this.
Something that I would not have thought of before, would also be to move out of West Seattle - which has like a 5% chance of that happening. I love West Seattle, I seriously, seriously do. I fell in love with it the first time I drove through here with Milo, and I said "YES! This is where I want to be, this feels like home!" But. I have no friends in the immediate area. To see anyone, I have to drive a good 15-20 minutes in any given direction, usually North. Apparently most of my friends are too good to live below Downtown ;P Just kidding, guys! But, seriously... there's other areas in Seattle to consider. But this one is pretty close to my current job (which is awesome considering Seattle Traffic), although I don't want to be there forever...so that's maybe not the best reason. I don't know. I think maybe I'll stay in West Seattle, and gas prices be damned! I love it here, and well... if I ever want to move someplace else, those places will still be there. And I clearly have no problem going to out to see friends like every other night, haha.
It really all just comes down to the fact that I seriously dislike moving - the packing of boxes, the hauling of heavy-ass furniture, the dismantling-reassembling of every third thing... I just get so worn out by the whole damn process. And this bend in the road was not foreseen, this was not my choice (and I like to control everything in my life, you all know this... not having control rather makes me want to kill myself. For reals.), but I am just going to have to suck it up and deal with it, as one does when one is an adult.
So, Pros/Cons List!
Condo at Graham Street (sidenote: the new name? is Graham Street, the Condominiums. Who the hell came up with that name? Horrid.)
Pros:
Know the area
Love the unit
Comfortable location
$18,000 off the asking price
OWNING my own place
Sentimental attachment to first home (okay, so not a pro, per-say... but damnit!)
Cons:
Buying a home = WHOA
Financial difficulty for mortgage + other expenses + addition of condo fee
Have to move out for 6-8 weeks at some point in the middle of renovation - and then move back
Small bones to pick about the unit/area (busy street, hot water lasts 7min. 30 sec., etc... but no place is perfect)
New Apartment
Pros:
Will probably like just as well as this place
Financially much smarter
Not as difficult to search for as last time
Move ONCE!
Opportunities for new experiences (like moving to a different area of town... see above)
Cons:
Moving is a huge pain in my ass
Hate apartment hunting, SO stressful!
Apartment options in the area = not lookin' so good at the moment according to Craigslist
Moving in the heat of Summer = blech
Possiblity that next place will get renovated into condos, too (slight, though... maybe)
Hmmmmm. Okay, so by looking at my lists up there - I think I must needs begin the Next Great Apartment Search 2k7. Tomorrow will probably start that process - probably going down the street, looking at apartment with vacancies (there's some decent-looking places), and probably some off the main California drag. Maaaaaybe even up towards Alki - I saw places up there tonight, like 4-plexes, and those might be a bit cheaper than an apartment (keep on dreamin', girl). South is not an option (that's what we call "the ghetto"). Probably 50 people from the apartment around going to be out doing the same thing, so the area is going to be rather flooded for a while with people in search of an apartment, or so I would guess. But that.... that will be tomorrow's problem.
Maybe this would be a good time to chuck it all and leave for London, yes? :P
I need a hug. Or tea? Definitely sleep.
I have to move. Out of my apartment. In roughly 3-4 months, at the absolute latest.
I know, I know, it's not quite a crisis. I have lots of time. And it will be much easier than the last time I moved, as I have a) my own freaking transportation, b) knowledge of the area and c) an idea of what I want.
The story is this: Our apartment building got sold, effective June 1st. Half of the building (not my half) got their 90-day vacancy notice at the same time. The other half will get theirs in 30-60 days. The new owners are going to convert to condos. I have the option to buy my current unit, or move somewhere else...
I have the option of buying my unit, and if I do, the incentive is that they will knock $18,000 off the asking price, which would bring it down to $222,000. If I buy (which it looks like I won't, for reasons below), I would have to leave for about 6 to 8 weeks while they are remodeling my entire unit, installing washer/dryers, etc. This option requires me to find temporary housing, plus putting all my crapoola into storage. Then hauling it all BACK OUT, and into old living space with new paint and carpet and granite countertops.
Now, I love my apartment - I like the physical location to other stuff in the area, I like the size, and how my stuff and I fit into it. But I dislike the option of buying, because I simply can NOT afford mortgage payments, plus condo association fees, plus everything that comes with being a homeowner. Not when I just bought $900 worth of fun, not expecting to have a wrench thrown into my life, and not when I still owe my parents a fair bit of money that I haven't even BEGUN to start paying off. It's not smart.
So, my other option is to leave, wave adios to the Graham Street Apartments, and find another place. The incentive for this option is I would get $500 from the city in moving assistance money (I fall below a certain income bracket). If I move out by June 30th, I could get $1000! But I don't see it happening THAT quickly! So, I will need to get back out, on hoof or on wheels, and find a new place that is comparable in size, rent and location. FUN! And then move. In the heat of summer. ;-_-;
There's a fair amount of upside to this option. As much as I love my place, I'm quite likely to find another I like just as well. Moving is, generally, a one-day major hassle with a month's worth of unpacking (who wants to carry 300 books worth of boxes?! anyone? anyone? Bueller?) for minor hassle. Financially, it is by far the smarter option (since I'd be considering an apartment, as opposed to a condo somewhere else - if I can't afford this one, I bloody well can't afford another!). Although, I run the risk that the next place will be sold for condos too, and I just don't like moving when it's not MY choice, in MY time. But that's a fairly minor bone to pick. Technically, I have like 3 months at least to do all of this.
Something that I would not have thought of before, would also be to move out of West Seattle - which has like a 5% chance of that happening. I love West Seattle, I seriously, seriously do. I fell in love with it the first time I drove through here with Milo, and I said "YES! This is where I want to be, this feels like home!" But. I have no friends in the immediate area. To see anyone, I have to drive a good 15-20 minutes in any given direction, usually North. Apparently most of my friends are too good to live below Downtown ;P Just kidding, guys! But, seriously... there's other areas in Seattle to consider. But this one is pretty close to my current job (which is awesome considering Seattle Traffic), although I don't want to be there forever...so that's maybe not the best reason. I don't know. I think maybe I'll stay in West Seattle, and gas prices be damned! I love it here, and well... if I ever want to move someplace else, those places will still be there. And I clearly have no problem going to out to see friends like every other night, haha.
It really all just comes down to the fact that I seriously dislike moving - the packing of boxes, the hauling of heavy-ass furniture, the dismantling-reassembling of every third thing... I just get so worn out by the whole damn process. And this bend in the road was not foreseen, this was not my choice (and I like to control everything in my life, you all know this... not having control rather makes me want to kill myself. For reals.), but I am just going to have to suck it up and deal with it, as one does when one is an adult.
So, Pros/Cons List!
Condo at Graham Street (sidenote: the new name? is Graham Street, the Condominiums. Who the hell came up with that name? Horrid.)
Pros:
Know the area
Love the unit
Comfortable location
$18,000 off the asking price
OWNING my own place
Sentimental attachment to first home (okay, so not a pro, per-say... but damnit!)
Cons:
Buying a home = WHOA
Financial difficulty for mortgage + other expenses + addition of condo fee
Have to move out for 6-8 weeks at some point in the middle of renovation - and then move back
Small bones to pick about the unit/area (busy street, hot water lasts 7min. 30 sec., etc... but no place is perfect)
New Apartment
Pros:
Will probably like just as well as this place
Financially much smarter
Not as difficult to search for as last time
Move ONCE!
Opportunities for new experiences (like moving to a different area of town... see above)
Cons:
Moving is a huge pain in my ass
Hate apartment hunting, SO stressful!
Apartment options in the area = not lookin' so good at the moment according to Craigslist
Moving in the heat of Summer = blech
Possiblity that next place will get renovated into condos, too (slight, though... maybe)
Hmmmmm. Okay, so by looking at my lists up there - I think I must needs begin the Next Great Apartment Search 2k7. Tomorrow will probably start that process - probably going down the street, looking at apartment with vacancies (there's some decent-looking places), and probably some off the main California drag. Maaaaaybe even up towards Alki - I saw places up there tonight, like 4-plexes, and those might be a bit cheaper than an apartment (keep on dreamin', girl). South is not an option (that's what we call "the ghetto"). Probably 50 people from the apartment around going to be out doing the same thing, so the area is going to be rather flooded for a while with people in search of an apartment, or so I would guess. But that.... that will be tomorrow's problem.
Maybe this would be a good time to chuck it all and leave for London, yes? :P
I need a hug. Or tea? Definitely sleep.