Which would you choose?

harvestmoonfarm · #1 02/04/13, 11:36 AM

If you had the choice between a 2000 sq. ft house on 2 acres vs. a 1000 sq ft home on 5 acres, which would you choose? This is the choice that's facing us right now, and I'm leaning toward the smaller house on more acreage. The biggest issue we have is that our adult son and daughter live with us, as well as my daughter's 18-month-old son. I've told my children and my husband that I'm beyond "catering" to them at this stage in our lives, but we're torn as to what would be best. The larger home would be ours (a Clayton) on a leased lot, while the other is stick-built, being completely remodeled and the guy is willing to do seller financing for us to buy it. Pros? Cons? Hubby and I are going to discuss it tonight when he gets home.

BarbadosSheep · #2 02/04/13, 11:41 AM

I take it the larger "house" is a mobile home? Easy answer for me if that's the case. A mobile home, no matter what someone wants to call it or what kind of foundation is under it, is always going to be a mobile home and will not go up in value. plus the lot is not yours. If the guy who's leasing it decides to sell it or looses it to the IRS or something, you will have to move your trailer which is VERY expensive. I'd take the smaller house with more land. And owner financing? GREAT! Get a lawyer, make sure the financing arrangements are all ok and go for it. you could always let the kids move into a single wide on your new land....there is plenty of space for it and gets you your own space back.

mnn2501 · #3 02/04/13, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestmoonfarm

The larger home would be ours (a Clayton) on a leased lot, while the other is stick-built, being completely remodeled and the guy is willing to do seller financing for us to buy it.

Leased lot but big mobile home that would cater to your kids who sound like they really should be out on their own?

Or a real house, being remodeled with owner financing on a larger lot.

Do you really need to spend time thinking about this?

luvrulz · #4 02/04/13, 11:46 AM

I'd shoot for the smaller house on more land. Hopefully, the children won't be living with you guys forever and you will still have the 5 acres. Plus, they aren't making more land. Would not want a mobile home or manufactured home. You need tags for that baby - not a *real* home in the event of a tornado or bad storm. Used to live in one and would rather have the stick built any day.

harvestmoonfarm · #5 02/04/13, 11:47 AM

In an "ideal" world my kids would be out on their own. However, my son is in college and my daughter stays home and takes care of my grandson, who has CP and epilepsy. They're trying, and doing the best they can under the circumstances.

lexa · #6 02/04/13, 11:55 AM

I would always choose more land over house space. If you own the land you could always add on to the house.

Fat Charlie · #7 02/04/13, 12:00 PM

I couldn't sink my time, money and heart into a place I was leasing.

Mattemma · #8 02/04/13, 12:00 PM

I would go for the smaller home with more land.

We got a larger ranch house with 2 bath and one acre over a smaller house with 1 bath,no garage,basement,and 2 acres.Looking back we should have gotten the other house.Ofcourse when we get old we want a place with no basement.Don't want to be going upstairs or downstairs.One floor living.

More land you can add a home or 2. Heck in Hungary I had relatives that had like 2-4 houses on their acreage.It was pretty neat.Everyone close to help,but you had your own place for privacy and PEACE.

Best wishes whatever you decide.

nostawmama · #9 02/04/13, 12:00 PM

I would not have to spend time thinking this over much. Smaller house on more land with no lease would be my choice hands down. I have found it easier to live in a smaller house then to be limited to smaller land.

Gianni · #10 02/04/13, 12:11 PM

Smaller house more land. Let your kids buy a mobile and pay for the septic tank, power and water line but don't charge them lot rent.

Kstornado11 · #11 02/04/13, 12:12 PM

More acres!! Smaller heating/electric bill, plus more room to grow food/livestock! Easy one for me.

mekasmom · #12 02/04/13, 12:31 PM

Smaller house with more acreage is the better choice.

harvestmoonfarm · #13 02/04/13, 12:34 PM

My gut is telling me to go for the smaller house with more land. My husband and I are not getting any younger, and I have no time for upkeep on a large house (school, hobbies and animals take up the majority of my time)

farminghandyman · #14 02/04/13, 12:36 PM

what is your purpose?

(my way of thinking I would go land over house for the most part)

but if your working off home sted jobs and so on, then maybe the smaller place would be better, with the larger house,

also the shape of the buildings and the land, is one trailer and one stick built?
is the land usable? is all the land usable? 5 acers with 3 that is not usable?

that is a little like do you like fords with V8's, and doges with 6's, with out knowing the the age the truck size, the fuel type, shape of each, I do not know how to advise one,

some may be who are the neighbors?
what is the water like?
is any farm able/garden able?

there is a lot of choices,

for example there is a neighbor how bought a old farm sted, near here, he now drive over the road truck, and the 15 or so acers are now a burden to him to maintain, they try-ed the animals and so on when he had a local job, but since the trucking it is a living quarters, the extra land is not helping now, and since a lot of was not usable (old wind break) not really usable for animals grazing, he said he wanted to get a steer some time and fence in some for it, but he has yet to do that,
his wife is drivng nealry 20 miles to work,

what are your goals and plans?

Jennifer L. · #15 02/04/13, 12:38 PM

To me it sounds like you really need the larger house. But it sticks in my craw that you'd have to lease the land the house stands on. I just don't like that at all. But I also wouldn't want to be stuck in a 1000 sq' house with three other adults and a baby.

Your best decision probably is based on what you and DH want to have in, say, five years. Is your daughter and her boy a long term thing? They are really the fly in the ointment as far as the house decision. Would you want to move again when they move on or would you rather settle and stay in the house long term even if they do leave. And finally, do you have use for five acres? If you don't want to do much with land outside of a garden and chickens, for example, the two acres is enough and you aren't being hampered by the smaller amount of acres. But I still hate the thought of leasing it. That may just be me.

Good luck with your decision!

bluemoonluck · #16 02/04/13, 12:39 PM

My grandmother raised 11 kids (all born in a 19 year span) in a house that was about 1200 square feet. You can certainly fit four adults and a baby in a 1000 square foot house!

You say your DS is going to college, so in a few years when he graduates and gets a job they'll be out on their own, right? At that point do you really want to maintain a 2000 square foot house for two adults?

And I totally agree to avoid living in a mobile home if you have the option of getting a stick built house. There's no comparison - and yes, I've lived in both.

Hands down I'd go for the stick built house on a lot you would own, regardless of the size of either.

Shygal · #17 02/04/13, 12:45 PM

Smaller house, more land. You can add on to a house.

Larger home is on a leased lot, what happens when the lot owner sells and the new owners say get your house off here?
Smaller house would be yours, stick built, remodeled, AND owner financing, theres not even a hesitation here about what I would do.

harvestmoonfarm · #18 02/04/13, 12:56 PM

Right now we live on 64 acres that we rent. The farm is going up for sale and we have to be out by the end of March. We have chickens, horses, American Guinea Hogs and a dairy goat herd, so the land - wherever we decide to go - will be put to good use.

MJsLady · #19 02/04/13, 12:57 PM

More land smaller home.

BarbadosSheep · #20 02/04/13, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestmoonfarm

Right now we live on 64 acres that we rent. The farm is going up for sale and we have to be out by the end of March. We have chickens, horses, American Guinea Hogs and a dairy goat herd, so the land - wherever we decide to go - will be put to good use.

with all those critters, you are going to need every inch of that 5 acres. And since you already know what it's like to be uprooted because someone decided to sell, I'd think you would be reluctant to go through that again.