I am in a similar position and we ARE renting. But after a while, renting gets old, you know? I'm tired of throwing away rent every month, particularly when rates are so low, and I'm tired of not living in a place I own and can fix up the way I want. We just want to buy a house and be settled!

OP, sometimes the stress of having to make a decision is worse than the stress you may feel if you make the "wrong" decision.

Go ahead and decide to rent. Pick a place that you tihnk will be decent, and then just live with it. Chances are, it'll be fine.

Rent. Homebuying usually only pays off if you stay in the house for at least 10 years. I have bought 2 homes in the past, but rent now after a recent move and have no plans to buy anytime soon, if ever. Homeownership is a status thing, not a good financial move necessarily. Let.it.go.

RENT that will save you another major meltdown when your roof needs repair, new water heater, etc.

As for your siblings, let it roll off your shoulders. Rivalry runs deeps and its really nothing personal. Maybe they want you to fail so that you'll come home and see them more often .

Kindergarten will be great. The first few days might be rough, but then after that you'll be amazed at your little one. Mine just moved into preschool at 2 (!) and he is doing fabulous! I can't even believe the things they are teaching him so young (drawing straight lines, etc).

Rent. Best decision we ever made moving to a new city.

Anonymous wrote:you sound too stressed out to be a homeowner, you rent.

God help your landlord you sound way crazy

you sound too stressed out to be a homeowner, you rent.

Rent -- I'm with the majority.

Kindergarten: It will be okay. As long as your child is healthy, happy and learning, it is going to be okay.

And don't you think most of us think we would have it all figured out by now? Here's a little secret: Very few do.

OP--is part of the problem you don't know what city you're moving to, or where in that city?

what helps me get through things like this is, there's lot of different paths of a good life, not just one, so you will be fine in a lot of different places. And don't let your family of origin (parents, sister, etc) stuff get you down--try to feel lucky you don't have to live with them anymore and that you're an adult who can make their own decisions.

There is no one right school. There is no one right house.

Also, I was fretting about the transition to K but my son did beautifully this past fall and I realized I really over-worried about it. Kids are very adaptable, but your attitude will go a LONG way into how they feel about any changes in their lives.

good luck. Take it one day at a time.

Anonymous wrote:Whether to rent or to buy is giving you a nervous breakdown? I hope you never have a serious problem.

not fair. That's a specific. She's having a nervous breakdown b/c her future is uncertain.

OP: rent. Find friends fast when you get to where you are going. join a club, play-date, anything.

Whether to rent or to buy is giving you a nervous breakdown? I hope you never have a serious problem.

Rent. You'll know more about where to buy after living there a while. Pick the neighborhood you think might be right, and if it doesn't work out then you can move. Switching schools between K and 1 is not hard on a child.

Anonymous wrote:Moving out of the area in a few months - plagued with indecision over renting or buying - dc starting kindergarten next year who knows where. I thought I would have figured all this out by this stage in my life. Also coming to the realization that my siblings would like to see me fail and my parents are starting to age.
No need to respond to this post - I feel better just having written it.

I can solve at least one of these issues for you: RENT, don't buy. Explore your new city for a couple of years. You can buy then.

You're most welcome.

Aside from the sibling/parent issue, I'm going through the same thing!!! Moving in a few months, not sure where, and have have to get my oldest child started in kindergarten. It's very stressful, and I feel your pain. Look at it this way--in six months, the changes will be in full swing, and within a year the changes will be past you and you'll be acclimating to your new digs. Hang in there and good luck!

Moving out of the area in a few months - plagued with indecision over renting or buying - dc starting kindergarten next year who knows where. I thought I would have figured all this out by this stage in my life. Also coming to the realization that my siblings would like to see me fail and my parents are starting to age.
No need to respond to this post - I feel better just having written it.