Anonymous wrote:We've been in our house for 2 years and our landlord is raising rent $50/month. Our commute is already at 40-60 minutes in the am an 60-90 minutes coming home. Together, we spend $450 in gas. We didn't want to go through the hassle if moving but if we increase our budget by $200 we can cut half off commute and gas and almost break even. Is it worth the hassle and extra rent? Lease is up in June, when should I start looking?

Time. YOLO. You really want to spend it commuting. I vote move

Anonymous wrote:We are still young and in our 20's with lots of friends and a Uhaul, we've looked at moving expenses, they aren't that high for us since we are doing it on our own.

Ugh, please just hire movers. Your friends will HATE you for making them help you move.

OP - you need to expect that your rent will go up every year. I don't know why this is catching you by surprise. When we were in an apartment, our rent went up anywhere from $40 - $100/ year.

Even if you move somewhere where your rent is $200/month more, you should plan for THAT amount to go up $50-75 the following year.

OP, I would definitely negotiate this with your landlord. If you have been good tenants, it, frankly, is not worth it to get new tenants for them, as it will likely cost them more than $600. Maybe you agree to sign another 2year with no rent increase, if you can commit.

If the rent is at market, they will lose money. You have to pay for a moving van. They have to pay for painting, cleaning, deferred maintenance and/or advertising, agent fee, lost rent, credit check, their own time, etc.

Anonymous wrote:...so why did you pick your current location?

All we could afford when we moved to the area 2 years ago, when I didn't have a job...

Property taxes went up so $50 is not much around here. Moving costs more than just paying it

...so why did you pick your current location?

We are still young and in our 20's with lots of friends and a Uhaul, we've looked at moving expenses, they aren't that high for us since we are doing it on our own.

Moving closer to work will improve your lives, so go for it!

you need to stop thinking about cost/hassle so much and start thinking about quality of life. quality of life wins.

Moving isn't free

OP -

depending on where your job is, you may not be able to get something as nice as what you have now, so be careful what you wish for. also, moving alone will be a few grand - so don't ignore that cost.

So the questions are:
1) could you get something as nice as you have now if you move closer?

2) how long will it take you to recoup the cost and hassle and stress of moving?

3) do you plan to buy in the next 3-5 yrs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much are comparable places

Around the same, some a little lower, some a little higher.

I know $50 is not too bad, and that's not the deciding factor but that means we could get a lot closer for just a little more. Here what I'm thinking the math would look like.

Old place
Extra rent $600/yr
Gas bill $5500/year
$6100/yr

New place
Extra rent $2400/yr
Gas bill $2750/year
$5150/yr


So we would actually be losing $1000 year by staying where were at now. We need to move.

Of course, moving has a cost, too. Do you have to pay movers? Hire a truck? Take time off? Change schools? Not everything can be measured dollar for dollar.

$50 seems reasonable. If you don't like the commute and gas costs, you should move.

Anonymous wrote:How much are comparable places

Around the same, some a little lower, some a little higher.

I know $50 is not too bad, and that's not the deciding factor but that means we could get a lot closer for just a little more. Here what I'm thinking the math would look like.

Old place
Extra rent $600/yr
Gas bill $5500/year
$6100/yr

New place
Extra rent $2400/yr
Gas bill $2750/year
$5150/yr


So we would actually be losing $1000 year by staying where were at now. We need to move.