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View Full Version : Searching for a new rental in suburbia (small living - it's a trick)



SimplyL
10-24-12, 3:36pm
Our landlord had contacted us earlier in the year, regarding whether we had interest in renewing our lease (when it's up late December). This would go into year #3 living here. We responded that it's our intention to stay, however, it was too premature to make that decision/sign a lease renewal. He has yet to provide us with a renewal, so we're at the stage where we're just double checking rentals in our area.

We both agree that some of the cons to this place are:
A) so much wasted space, including a bedroom that won't even have a bed in it and huge open areas in the living room, empty cabinets, drawers, closets.

B) two flights of interior stairs, which are really bad for me on days when my Rheumatoid or Spondylitis are at their worst.

We're not able to move into the cabin on the homestead full time, as the commute is too lengthy for husband and his erractic military schedule. We actually tried this in 2009 by moving into a 900 sqft mobile home that was a halfway drive between where he works and the homestead. After a few months, he couldn't take it anymore. And then, I began weekly treatments for my condition, that requires me in the city anyway. We're not in a position where we can have husband rent a cheap room and then come home on weekends. He's been deployed 8 times in 16 years plus all of his future travel, when he's home we need consistency of being together. So.. a rental out here is important for the work/school week. Oh, also we have the factor that the schools the homestead is zoned for are the bottom of the list for the entire STATE. I'm not in the condition to homeschool until my health improves, especially without dad being there to support/help regularly.

Anyhow.. I searched for rentals and everything that I've seen available that is cheaper is still huge square footage or not suitable in other ways. There's a couple that are in a rural town not far from here, that may work. We'll see what husband says. Will require a school change, no more biking.. but I'd be able to have chickens, a garden.. that would be great.

Where we are now, there's very few cottage/carriage house set ups. They do exist, however, they are primarily rented out word of mouth to singles/couples (not a couple with 2 children). Hmm.. so I emailed my friend who is an Associate Broker to see if she has any ideas, and I wrote a wanted ad. We'll see if anything pops up.

Anyone else find a challenge with locating a smaller home in their area? It would be great to find something smaller and less expensive, which would help us reach our goals more quickly. The potential is to save an additional $350-$400/month and still live in something comfortable and central, if it happens to be on the market in the right timing. We could ask landlord for a month to month, after our lease expires. However, during the Winter break is the ideal to move, we've found.. since kids are out of school/husband has leave that he's available to take.

Hop in and let me know if you've contemplated reducing housing expenses further, even if like us, you've already reduced to begin with. It would be amazing to find that ideal place in this same area that we live, knowing I've seen them advertised (not in MLS, though) before.

Aqua Blue
10-24-12, 4:18pm
Not thoughts, tho I wanted to add that I sympathize as I have ankolosing spondolosis. I moved 5 years ago to house with minimal steps and it has been a god sent. I am especially glad I no longer have to carry laundry up and down.

SimplyL
10-24-12, 5:19pm
Aqua, thanks for posting. I have a MRI update that they are wanting to schedule for the Spondy. The hospital called to schedule it today (and my doctor's appt was just yesterday - that was quick) They did an MRI on my hands, earlier in the year, and already found erosion. I know there's some deterioration already in my lower back, and I also have that bilateral sacriolitis, which maybe goes in hand with the Spondy? That was diagnosed in my late 20's, but I did not have the full pain up my spine and into my arms/legs like I do now. They're keeping me on my current 2 injection treatment for 6 more weeks, then they'll make a decision on whether to switch the one TNF blocker injection to infusions. I'm on max dosage of the MTX (if you're familar with that injection, which is also used for chemotherapy). Anyhow, I am able to walk (and was biking 5 miles but that is on hold till they check my spine out - so much pain right now and nothing is helping). They also said that Fibromyalgia is resurfacing. I only seem to have that myalgia issue when my Autoimmune pain/inflammation is out of control. They want me to start something different for that - but wow. I'm already battling nausea and other symptoms from the MTX, which Folbic helps. And then, I am still having trouble with my eyes (inflammation), so doc wants me to go to a specialist about that. Lots of doc appts, I'd go nuts with those (plus the kids, braces..) if I was at the homestead full time. It's a 25 minute drive just for the family to go to a grocery store, much less a specialists (in fact, my doc is probably one of the closest Rheumatologists in our entire 2 hour radius).. know that even my MIL has to sometimes come to our city for specialists and another aunt who has a property off of the homestead, had to get her eye surgery here in the city.

Not to get off course, but it's nice (yet so sorry under circumstances, I feel your pain glad you nolonger have to contend with stairs ) to meet someone else with AS. I'll have to put a pic of the stairs that I have to contend with on my blog, so you can see what I'm dealing with over here. I try to get the kids to help with bringing things up and down. Sometimes I toss laundry from the railing down onto a chair below (it's all open so at least I can aim and do that successfully!) :)

It honestly may be more hassle than it's worth (in savings and for the sake of simplicity) to move. With that said, if we could get into something, we'd A) save money that can go towards the homestead B) I would not have stairs C) utility costs lessened D) I would have a more efficient space for cleaning/managing. Vaccuuming alone takes forever, and then I have to vaccum the stairs, too. We actually brought the Dyson (it's an older one but still works) to the cabin, because it was too heavy for me. I now have a Hoover that is light as a feather that I can at least carry up and down stairs.

A lot to consider, if the right rental does present itself.
As far as the physical moving, we're used to that with being military. And as a plus, we do not have a lot of stuff. We usually can load up the households/small items in a few trips with the minivan and the moving company takes care of the furniture. Takes a few hours and with this past move, I had everything put away by the next day.

Aqua Blue
10-25-12, 5:41pm
About 15 years ago someone I saw said I probably had SA. I had been able to somewhat keep it on the back burner until recently. It really flared and I have an appointment with a rheumatologist on Halloween. I have had major side effects to other meds I have taken and so have been very reluctant to try any of them for SA. I have been thinking that what I would like from this Dr is a definate diagnosis, a trial of Celebrex(I used it about 10 years ago and it helped) and something for sleep/pain when i have a really bad day. I am in my late 50's and think I have had symptoms since childhood. I have done pretty well during that time. Altho now I am having quite a bit of trouble, since the first part of June I have had trouble walking any distance. Probably my worse symptom is fatigue.

This is the first fall I have hired someone to rake for me. Next summer I will get someone to mow. I like living in a house over an apartment, so hopefully I can find reasonably priced yard help so I can continue living here.

I have found that it cycles and hopefully yours will cycle soon to better things.

Spartana
10-25-12, 5:57pm
I symphathize with the effort of trying to find a smaller place. It seems like it should be doable but in my experience - at least here in Southern Calif - it's actually very difficult to find small houses - at least in the city areas. Usually the choices are either between a huge house (and the huge cost to go with it) or a condo/townhouse. Doesn't seem to be alot inbetween. My only advice would be to live as close as you can to DH's base and to the kids school rather then trying to live close to the cabin since you'll probably spend less time there on a day to day basis. Maybe give up the idea of gardening and chickens for now (until your DH retires and you can move full time to the cabin) and rent a condo or a townhouse with a small yard and just spend whatever free time you have at your cabin. Use the extra money you save on housing/rent for improvements to the cabin for the future.

SimplyL
10-25-12, 9:38pm
Spartana, thanks for the input. Yes, a townhouse is what we have now. And we are pretty close to base. As close as we can get and be in a good school district with a fairly short commute that does not require interstate. However, there are smaller townhouses in our very neighborhood that are 3 bed/2 bth, average between 1000-1100 sqft, have the same back porch, 1 car garage. (2 of our neighbors have those models, so I've been in them) :) *When there's one available, I've seen them rent for around $850/mo. We're paying $1150 per month for this huge (double the square footage) 4 bed/3 bth.

If one of those came on market, before we sign our lease renewal, that would be perfect. Then, we'd keep the same schools, same access to friends, bike/walkability, church.. even the same fishing pond. So, I'm hoping that may be the right thing to do. The condos that are adjacent to our neighborhood were okay on the exterior. However, they were horrible inside (and stairs straight up to where if I had a bad arthritis day, I'd be stuck in the house.. at least where we are now, I can choose to just stay downstairs all day and be able to leave the house).

The small floorplans in our neighborhood, that I wrote about above.. those are one floor also, that would be more favorable for me. And on top of the rental savings, our utility bill would be much lower (half the square footage).

Aqua. So sorry to hear.. and I went through that same issue with treatments. Intolerance to several things, just did not work out with the first 5 or so meds that they tried me on. I hope your appt goes well. The fatigue and flu like feeling with RA/AS also can be rough. However, days like today, I managed to cook dinner, soup, make rice krispie treats, dishes twice, do 3 loads of laundry, clean the carpets in the main living area (we own a carpet cleaner). I just take a slow pace. Also find it better to rest in between tasks. Being still in my 30's, it's really aggravating. And the kids are school aged and very active when they get home, so I've done all I can to keep a nice flow at home so the family isn't too affected on my bad days. And I do also expect them to pick up slack, when I need help. They're really pretty good about that, especially husband.