Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

My mom & I just had this conversation since my stepsister & her husband purchased a home in Chester, NY (well over 60 miles from their jobs in NYC). Mom is curious why they would buy so far away (stepsister is PG). It's probably a 2 hour drive on the average work day since there is no train that I'm aware of.

I have not confirmed but know they got the 4 bedroom 2.5 Bath house with a garage for $350K or so and I know it's a new subdivision and pretty new house - under 5 years old.

I told mom that to get that same size house on Long Island would probably be $450K or more + insane taxes and it would need work. And a new home of that size would probably be $500K+.

I told mom that their only options were to buy far away and save $100K in renovations or buy closer to work/family and have to renovate slowly with a baby on the way.

So, since many people on this board are home shopping - what drives your decision Buying a house that needs work (a little or a lot) and being close to family/work or getting a house that needs no renovation but is not close to work or close enough to visit family/friends often

ETA - We have friends in Peekskill (about 25 miles east of Chester) and we have been to their house ONCE. So I know we are not going out to Chester often, if at all.

Message edited 1/20/2007 2:04:11 PM.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

i could never drive 2 hours to get to work. i would buy a fixer upper and make changes as we went along. also, i like being close to our families (we are 2 mins from IL's and 10 mins from my parents).

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

I think we would always buy closer to work. It's really about quality of life for us, and I cannot imagine doing 2+ hours commute each way, every day.

Instead of fixer-uppers we may eventually settle on a large, 3 or 4 bedroom townhouse. For the same price as we would be paying for a house that needs tons of work, we can get a gorgeous 2 or 3 story townhouse, close to work and family.

If I remember correctly, Chester is near Woodbury Commons, and though there isn't a Metro North station right there, they could drive to one about 5 miles away. That may be easier than driving and parking.

Message edited 1/20/2007 3:41:15 PM.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

I would always opt to buy close to work and family and have fixer upper. For one I will always want to turn a house into my own and will find work to do even if it is new construction. I am really picky and prefer to pick out everything for myself.

Also I think the commute is a HUGEEEEE factor. It means less time with your DH/DW and children every day. It means leaving earlier and getting home even later. Also it isn't good for you. When my dad had a heart attack the first thing the Dr said to cut back stress is to shorten your commute. Either get a new job closer to home or move closer to work.

One of DH's relatives has 4 kids. He wanted a big house on a nice sized piece of land and couldn't afford it on LI, so he moved upstate and had to travel 2.5 hours to work everyday. He was in great physical condition and health. He died suddenly of a heart attack at age 45. They said the stress of the commute everyday had a lot to do with it

Message edited 1/20/2007 7:51:34 PM.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

I would choose the fixer upper closer to family/work

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Posted by MABLE03

I would always opt to buy close to work and family and have fixer upper. For one I will always want to turn a house into my own and will find work to do even if it is new construction. I am really picky and prefer to pick out everything for myself.

Also I think the commute is a HUGEEEEE factor. It means less time with your DH/DW and children every day. It means leaving earlier and getting home even later. Also it isn't good for you. When my dad had a heart attack the first thing the Dr said to cut back stress is to shorten your commute. Either get a new job closer to home or move closer to work.

One of DH's relatives has 4 kids. He wanted a big house on a niece sized piece of land and couldn't afford it on LI, so he moved upstate and had to travel 2.5 hours to work everyday. He was in great physical condition and health. He died suddenly of a heart attack at age 45. They said the stress of the commute everyday had a lot to do with it

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

My uncle lives up in Brewster and commutes everyday to Manhattan....That is insane to me but he does it...He gets up at 4am to take the train from there...He is also going to move to FL this year cause he just cannot take it anymore. He has been doing this for over 3 years and it is too much! Sorry to be negative about it but it is a major factor when buying a house. If you think you can handle something like that try it out...do it for a week or a few days test the commute and see if homeownership upstate is worth it...GOOD LUCK!!!

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Posted by SupportACop

My uncle lives up in Brewster and commutes everyday to Manhattan....That is insane to me but he does it...He gets up at 4am to take the train from there...He is also going to move to FL this year cause he just cannot take it anymore. He has been doing this for over 3 years and it is too much! Sorry to be negative about it but it is a major factor when buying a house. If you think you can handle something like that try it out...do it for a week or a few days test the commute and see if homeownership upstate is worth it...GOOD LUCK!!!

Message edited 1/20/2007 7:39:01 PM.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

I would be closer to family/work. We initially started looking for homes in Suffolk. We have friends that live in E. Patchogue and my GF's commute to work everyday is insane. Her commute is 1.5 hours each way by car. Sometimes more if there is an accident.
Luckily we found a home in my old neighborhood.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Posted by MrsProfessor

Posted by SupportACop

My uncle lives up in Brewster and commutes everyday to Manhattan....That is insane to me but he does it...He gets up at 4am to take the train from there...He is also going to move to FL this year cause he just cannot take it anymore. He has been doing this for over 3 years and it is too much! Sorry to be negative about it but it is a major factor when buying a house. If you think you can handle something like that try it out...do it for a week or a few days test the commute and see if homeownership upstate is worth it...GOOD LUCK!!!

I live in Brewster too- and SO many people take Metro North- I can't imagine. I drive an hour to the Bronx, and it's not ideal, but it's ok. But I really would not go 5 minutes further away, even though we could have gotten a lot more for our money in Danbury.

I agree with the idea of maybe renting short-term to see how you deal. The first month of my commute was hard, but I got used to it. And I love living here, so it's worth it.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Message edited 1/20/2007 11:06:59 PM.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

I live in the next town over to Peeskill and my hubby works in Queens. We moved here for a couple of reasons; one of which did not work out. I changed jobs to be closer to home (26 miles). My hubby travels approx. 57 miles each way - a day and it had become more stressful. I think that it bothers me more. We have been here two years but have decided, since we had a son, that we should be closer to family and friends. What we have here we haven't been able to find in LI. It's such a personal decision. I am sad to move again and leave my home but I miss everyone and if we are going to have any more children, I need the support system. Also the cost to travel so much has been a strain. And after some thought the money for the brindge, gas and wear and tear - we could put towards the taxes. I know many people that do it on their own. I think that if they really want a house to raise their family in a lessly populated area and can do it - then it's a good decision but the commute will be the test - especially with a newborn....

From my own experience I wouldn't approach them especially since they already purchased the house. It might envoke some anger that you're not supporting them (even though you might not be). We've heard many comments over the past two and half years and it has angered DH to the point where he's still hesitant to move back....

I think that you are looking at it in the same way they have made the decision. I'm sure it's not easy. Good Luck!! I hope that it's a good mover.

Message edited 1/20/2007 11:13:56 PM.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

I am in the minority here, I would never buy a fixer-upper under any circumstances and I would never live far away from work/familiy.

Therefore, I would rent an apartment that would allow us to still save enough to purchase a big house that is move in condition, in the town that we want. This is what we did and we heard a lot of remarks from people about why we were renting and throwing away our money.

Fast forward to now, and we are in the process of buying a beautiful home that is move in condition, in a great school district not far from work or friends.

Message edited 1/21/2007 9:06:54 AM.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

This is hard, b/c I see both sides of the coin on this dilemma.

Honestly, I'd prob pick further away from job in a newer home. Why? Jobs come and go - a house is a firm settlement/investment.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

fixer upper

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

You know, I've lived far from family in a beautiful house and I've done the very long commute - it is very stressful. I used to wake up every 20 minutes during the night worrying I wouldn't wake up in time to get to work in time.

I wouldn't be against buying a fixer upper, I just wouldn't want to "bite off more that I can chew"

Message edited 1/21/2007 9:20:50 PM.

Re: Buy far away from work/family or buy a fixer upper?

I would end hating the house if work too forever to get to, my family and friends dreaded comong over cause of the commute. I rather live in a decent house with convenience