Need advice
All right. I've been looking for houses now for a while, and I'm starting to think I'm just not going to find something decent in the right neighborhood that I can afford. (Keep in mind my definition of "decent" basically means "structurally sound;" I'm happy to live in a tiny house with shagadelic carpeting.) The only possibility that *might* be affordable are non-townhouse style condos in Dorchester. I'm very leery of these because of various horror stories about structurally crappy recent condo conversions, crooked/draconian housing associations, and the usual neighbor issues. Neighbors wouldn't be as much of an issue in a townhouse style condo, where you have no common spaces or shared floors/ceilings, but townhouses are more expensive for that very reason.
Then there's also horror stories about one unit getting foreclosed on, and the other owner(s) have to pay their condo fees. Not a big deal in a ten-unit block of townhouses, but a very big deal in converted double and triple deckers, which make up the bulk of the market. I'd be less concerned about this in Somerville; that market is hot enough to make vacant units unlikely.
I don't know how much longer I'll be able to get month-to-month extensions on my lease.
Finally, the overwhelming desire for a garden and a dog is getting almost unbearable. Given this, what do you think I should do?
OPTION A: Keep looking and hope I get lucky trying to find a detached house or townhouse.
>>Pros: My preferred type of housing with regards to owner rights, privacy, etc.
>>Cons: Highly unlikely to find this. Potential for costly repairs high. This would almost certainly necessitate moving to Dorchester or otherwise further afield - these are good neighborhoods, but I'm not as fond of them as Somerville.
OPTION B:
>>Keep looking and try to find a non-townhouse type condo in Somerville.
>>Pros: Can start building equity. Word on the street is that dog-friendly condos are more common than dog friendly rentals. Would get to stay in Somerville, which is a more dog friendly community than Dorchester.
>>Cons: Highly unlikely to be able to afford this. Condos in Somerville cost as much as small single families in reasonable neighborhoods in Dorchester.
OPTION C:
Keep looking and try to find a non-townhouse type condo in Dorchester.
>>Pros: Out of all purchasing options, most likely to be able to afford a unit of this type.
>>Cons: See above concerns about neighbors, housing association, etc. If I end up with evil neighbors, I'm stuck with them until the market improves enough/I build enough equity to sell, likely a minimum of 5 years. Plus I'd have to leave Somerville; I'd mind this less if I had my own place, but if I hated my living situation it would be nice to have a community around me with a lot of resources.
OPTION D:
Throw in the towel and try to find a dog friendly rental with a yard in Somerville.
>>Pros: More affordable than buying, no matter what. Probably represents the greatest chance I have of getting a decent apartment that allows dogs. I get to stay in Somerville. If the landlord or neighbors suck, I can leave.
>>Cons: Landlord can kick me out. Neighbors may suck. Either may develop dog-hate at some point. If I have to leave the apartment, finding a new dog friendly apartment, especially with a larger dog, can be extremely difficult.
OPTION E:
Give up on dog ownership and rent whatever.
>>Pros: No risk of suddenly finding myself unable to find housing for myself and my dog.
>>Cons: High risk of long term total misery. My income is unlikely to rise significantly in the forseeable future, so if my plan is to hold off on dog ownership until I can afford Boston real estate, I may never be able to get a dog. (I am not being melodramatic when I say that.)
Your thoughts?
EDIT: Ha ha, originally wrote this with two "Option C"s. Way to go, me!
Also: ryxander wisely advised me to try ranking what's important to me in terms of housing. I think right now, in order of preference, the things I want can be listed as:
1) Dog
2) City location with transit access
3) Garden
4) Ownership of detached dwelling
Sometimes I struggle with which one should be in slot #1 - viscerally I feel the need for a dog more, but I haven't forgotten how isolated and bored I felt renting in Newton, which is hardly in the hinterlands. Plus, if I live far from my job in terms of travel time, having a dog will likely be not feasible, as it would be sitting at home for so long every day.
Then there's also horror stories about one unit getting foreclosed on, and the other owner(s) have to pay their condo fees. Not a big deal in a ten-unit block of townhouses, but a very big deal in converted double and triple deckers, which make up the bulk of the market. I'd be less concerned about this in Somerville; that market is hot enough to make vacant units unlikely.
I don't know how much longer I'll be able to get month-to-month extensions on my lease.
Finally, the overwhelming desire for a garden and a dog is getting almost unbearable. Given this, what do you think I should do?
OPTION A: Keep looking and hope I get lucky trying to find a detached house or townhouse.
>>Pros: My preferred type of housing with regards to owner rights, privacy, etc.
>>Cons: Highly unlikely to find this. Potential for costly repairs high. This would almost certainly necessitate moving to Dorchester or otherwise further afield - these are good neighborhoods, but I'm not as fond of them as Somerville.
OPTION B:
>>Keep looking and try to find a non-townhouse type condo in Somerville.
>>Pros: Can start building equity. Word on the street is that dog-friendly condos are more common than dog friendly rentals. Would get to stay in Somerville, which is a more dog friendly community than Dorchester.
>>Cons: Highly unlikely to be able to afford this. Condos in Somerville cost as much as small single families in reasonable neighborhoods in Dorchester.
OPTION C:
Keep looking and try to find a non-townhouse type condo in Dorchester.
>>Pros: Out of all purchasing options, most likely to be able to afford a unit of this type.
>>Cons: See above concerns about neighbors, housing association, etc. If I end up with evil neighbors, I'm stuck with them until the market improves enough/I build enough equity to sell, likely a minimum of 5 years. Plus I'd have to leave Somerville; I'd mind this less if I had my own place, but if I hated my living situation it would be nice to have a community around me with a lot of resources.
OPTION D:
Throw in the towel and try to find a dog friendly rental with a yard in Somerville.
>>Pros: More affordable than buying, no matter what. Probably represents the greatest chance I have of getting a decent apartment that allows dogs. I get to stay in Somerville. If the landlord or neighbors suck, I can leave.
>>Cons: Landlord can kick me out. Neighbors may suck. Either may develop dog-hate at some point. If I have to leave the apartment, finding a new dog friendly apartment, especially with a larger dog, can be extremely difficult.
OPTION E:
Give up on dog ownership and rent whatever.
>>Pros: No risk of suddenly finding myself unable to find housing for myself and my dog.
>>Cons: High risk of long term total misery. My income is unlikely to rise significantly in the forseeable future, so if my plan is to hold off on dog ownership until I can afford Boston real estate, I may never be able to get a dog. (I am not being melodramatic when I say that.)
Your thoughts?
EDIT: Ha ha, originally wrote this with two "Option C"s. Way to go, me!
Also: ryxander wisely advised me to try ranking what's important to me in terms of housing. I think right now, in order of preference, the things I want can be listed as:
1) Dog
2) City location with transit access
3) Garden
4) Ownership of detached dwelling
Sometimes I struggle with which one should be in slot #1 - viscerally I feel the need for a dog more, but I haven't forgotten how isolated and bored I felt renting in Newton, which is hardly in the hinterlands. Plus, if I live far from my job in terms of travel time, having a dog will likely be not feasible, as it would be sitting at home for so long every day.