Worth to move or not to same/different school districts for a bigger house

[Anonymous]

We are zoned to Rachel Carson ES, Lakeland MS and Quince Orchard HS. We are within walking distances to all these 3 schools, so I don't think the rezone boundary change will affect us at all. We have 2 kids at Rachel Carson ES, and I don't live in kentlands/lakelands. I and DH are debating if we should gets a bigger house in this market because our 1500 sq ft townhouse is too small to accommodate any playdate. Well, we could use a bigger house, and my house is worth around $600k on the market. DH says that if we get a bigger house, this fully paid townhouse will be rented out. And, I think the rental price/month is about $3k/month for the market.

We have an older child that is smart, and that child can take academic enrichment. Another younger child has learning disabilities. We don't want to live too away from current area, please advise if we should look for a bigger house where? Should we stay at current school districts or move to nearby school districts? Should we wait till school boundary rezone is over in 2026/2027 or should we just wait and not worth to move at all? DH is thinking about thurgood marshall ES district. How is it? I hesitate if we should move or not, and I hate packing and moving. Should we move to wotton HS district or stay at Quince Orchard HS district? There are more houses in the market now.

[Anonymous]

I would stay until interest rates drop and then consider a move; unless you are able to pay with cash.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP. Are you buying in cash?

If not, then how stable are your jobs? And mortgage rate is high—about double what we are paying—and property taxes are high.

1500sf is tight quarters but I would try to endure it and save the money.

[Anonymous]

Don't get a bigger house just to do playdates. Much cheaper to do fun playdates outside of the house and not move.

We live in a small townhouse. Playdates at home were over by 3rd grade. Sports and other activities take that time.

[Anonymous]

With 2 kids in elementary I would get a bigger house. You could host get togethers and generally have more space as they get older. I think first PP's advice is good to wait until interest rates drop though.
If you like your zoned ES/MS/HS I'd stay there so kids can have some continuity of friendships.

[Anonymous]

Check the property tax for bigger houses. Often they list older property taxes but it is going up by a large amount in the next 3 years. Look at phased in final value and not just next year.

Then see mortgage rate. Loans are very expensive. Unless price comes down, mortgage has beome too expensive.


Unless you have enough cash, be careful with taking a large finacial obligation. Life can get hard. One of our close friend is struggling after buying recently. They did not realize property tax increase till they went for final docs for loan. I know some some posters, property tax is non-issue but everyone is not flush with cash.

[Anonymous]

The playdate issue will be gone in a few years. In my experience more important is that there is a separate space for kids to hang out. We have found it tough to entertain with an open layout and no basement or other fully separated space. Hard to have adult fun with kids in the room over like you might have in a play date. We looked at upgrading to bigger house but realized all the costs are magnified. Taxes of $1k a month would suck. Plus extra ultities cost, maintenance, cleaning, etc.

[Anonymous]

Id sell the townhome rather than rent it. 1500 sq ft is way too small for 3 children. yes i would move. easier to do in elementary school thsn middle or high

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine your house is actually too small to host a playdate.
My kids have gone to playdates hosted by families in very small apartments. Do you have a few square feet of floor space for them to play? A table where they can eat and do crafts? Outdoor space within walking distance? You can host a playdate.

[Anonymous]

Op here. We have 2 kids. Our townhouse has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The top floor has 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. Our living room is small with a piano, some toys and desk computer. Our no walk out basement is finished with carpet, but I don't like the poor circulation down there. It has a functional treadmill that DH uses a few times a year, and we serve it as storage place and there is a wet bar, an ugly laundry room, and 1 full bathroom in the basement. I hate our basement, and we don't use it. I just wish we have a playroom or a room on the main floor for kids to play toys or do boardgames on a table. I have seen neighbors with 2 teenagers or 3 young kids living fine in our neighborhood. It must be me not knowing how to organize or I buy too many things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. We have 2 kids. Our townhouse has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The top floor has 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. Our living room is small with a piano, some toys and desk computer. Our no walk out basement is finished with carpet, but I don't like the poor circulation down there. It has a functional treadmill that DH uses a few times a year, and we serve it as storage place and there is a wet bar, an ugly laundry room, and 1 full bathroom in the basement. I hate our basement, and we don't use it. I just wish we have a playroom or a room on the main floor for kids to play toys or do boardgames on a table. I have seen neighbors with 2 teenagers or 3 young kids living fine in our neighborhood. It must be me not knowing how to organize or I buy too many things.

You might try a good decluttering and reorg before moving. If nothing else the house will sell for more if it looks less cluttered.

Try to focus on removing furniture and large items first. Can you get rid of the desktop for a laptop? Swap out the piano for a keyboard? Declutter and pare down bookcases, chests, storage furniture and see if you can get rid of anything.

Make sure that any furniture or other items in the room fit with how you actually use the room.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't move. Spend time decluttering and then throw a little money at the basement to make it functional as a playroom or a hang out room when the kids get older.

[Anonymous]

You have enough space.

Can't the kids play in their bedrooms with their friends?

My best friend in elementary school lived in a one bedroom plus den with her parents and two older siblings. I played there all the time.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't move to have kids come over and play, that's silly. Money is better off in kids college fund and take the kids out somewhere instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. We have 2 kids. Our townhouse has 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The top floor has 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. Our living room is small with a piano, some toys and desk computer. Our no walk out basement is finished with carpet, but I don't like the poor circulation down there. It has a functional treadmill that DH uses a few times a year, and we serve it as storage place and there is a wet bar, an ugly laundry room, and 1 full bathroom in the basement. I hate our basement, and we don't use it. I just wish we have a playroom or a room on the main floor for kids to play toys or do boardgames on a table. I have seen neighbors with 2 teenagers or 3 young kids living fine in our neighborhood. It must be me not knowing how to organize or I buy too many things.

Just redo the basement. Get an HVAC specialist to fix the circulation. Get rid of the treadmill, and get nicer flooring, eand redo the laundry room.