Selling Childhood Home
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Anonymous
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Hi all - I am looking for some perspective. Due to death in the family, my brother and I are in the position to inherit our childhood home. He has basically told me that the decision is up to me - we can rent it out if I want to property manage, I can buy him out, or we can sell it. I have my own home that is much smaller than my childhood home, but it is manageable for me (single female homeowner), the taxes are affordable, and I love the location and my neighbors. It truly feels like I am part of a community - I am in a coastal town, but about a mile and a half from the beach. Neighborhood setting, 2 minutes from an elementary school, quiet street. However, my childhood home has much more space and storage (additional bathroom, full basement and attic) yet it is in a large lot on a busier street, and needs a fair amount of updates. My parents loved this house and worked so hard for it, that it would
break my heart to let it go. Yet, it’s not really “me”. Worse yet, I would worry it would go to a flipper or builder. Has anyone been in a similar situation? If so, how did you make your decision? Additionally, is it possible to accept offers from owner occupant only? *Realized I forget to add - in order to buy my brother out, I would have to sell my current house. |
Anonymous
| It sounds like your current house is a great match for you. Stick with it! |
Anonymous
| Idk why you're even considering moving since your childhood home does not seem to meet your needs at all. Did your parents express that they wanted one of you to live there? |
Anonymous
| Why don’t you rent it out for 2 years while you process how you feel and what you really want? Grief is a slow process. Dont rush yourself. |
Anonymous
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Ceiling, walls and floors make a house, the family makes it a home. Sell it, and allow another family to make it their home.
You already have a home you love. |
Anonymous
| Busy road? Girl, no! |
Anonymous
| I would definitely stay in your house op! If you aren’t ready to let go then like the pp said rent it out, but I would generally lean towards starting the process of saying goodbye to that house. It meant a lot to your parents and family, and yet it’s still ok to say this served me for a time and now I’m ready to let go. It may take some time to process but it’s the normal way of things, most homes don’t stay in family’s for generations. A family lives and lives in a home and then they move forward. Sometimes another family comes into the home and it gets another life, or it gets another life a different way. I would definitely recommend against giving up such great community that you have - that’s pretty priceless |
Anonymous
| Lives and loves* sorry lots of typos in my post but you get the drift.. |
Anonymous
This is what I did. My mother's house sat empty for 4 years, then I rented it out for 3. I no longer want to be a landlord and I don't want to live in the house. I just listed the house Thursday and accepted an offer the next day. It took me this long to be in the right emotional place to be comfortable with selling it. You have to do what feels right for you, OP. |
Anonymous
| Sell and take the cash. |
Anonymous
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OP, about how far do you live from your childhood home? Could you easily travel to it if you do decide to rent it out? And would numbers work with fixing it up for rental and possibly hiring a property manager?
Unless you think that you may have a need for a larger home in the future, such as if you may still have kids, I would try very hard to separate your emotions from your decision about your family home and perhaps consider letting it go. Your memories will always be your memories. The house is not the embodiment of your family's past. Selling the house would not mean that you don't cherish the memory of your parents or appreciate the hard work they did. It could be tough to see what renters would do to the home. |
Anonymous
| This is OP. A heartfelt thank you for all these thoughtful replies. To the PP - I am divorced, but no kids. My childhood home is 8 minutes away from my current home - I think that is part of what makes this decision so difficult. |
Anonymous
| Sell it!!! |
Anonymous
Oh that is close. But that almost makes it easier because you know the neighborhood and area well. |
Anonymous
+1 |