Relocation Strategy in the Twin Cities (extended stay, flat fee, apartments)

[chrisroane]

Hello!

First, here is some background: We currently live in Helena, MT and I'm considering a job offer in the Twin Cities. We've never spent a significant time in the city. I'm married and have two young kids (9 months and 3.5 years). We have owned our house in Helena for a little over two years. We also have a medium sized dog.

I've spent a lot of time researching the area over the internet, and it sounds like an area where we would want to raise our kids (twin cities). There seems like a lot of suburban areas that have close access to what we would regularly need, with also having access to everything the Twin Cities has to offer (when we want it).

But the dilemma we are facing is figuring out the strategy in transferring there. We ultimately want to buy a house. Below are the options that we see here:

1. Sell our house and buy a house in the twin cities at the same time.

2. Sell our house, move into a temporary rental from $1000-$1500 per month.

3. Sell our house and find a furnished rental (maybe $1500-$1800 per month) that will work for 1-2 months until we buy a house. We would put our moving stuff in storage during the transition.


The risk we see is buying a house without actually having spent much time in the area. But we also are hesitant about having to fully move two times (which is why option #3 is there).

What do you think? I want to make the transition as simple for my family as possible, but also be able to get into a house that we can live in for the next 20 years (at least). I'm leaning toward #3, but I'm not sure if that option exists.

[Kebinminn]

If you get a short term rental like that you're likely going with an Extended Stay America or something along those lines. I could be wrong but I think a regular rental for just a few months isn't going to be easy. Right now rental property seems to be in high demand.

If you want to get to know the area first, and I can see why, I'd get a rental for a year and just use your own stuff.

[golfgal]

I hear you about not wanting to move twice. It's bad enough to do it it once. Is the company paying for your relocation or are you doing it on your own? If they are paying, can you try to negotiate a second move into the package? If you can do that, I would rent for a year (or 6 months even) have everything except the bare essentials moved into storage and spend that time deciding where you want to live. Ideally if you can negotiate a flat fee for relocation that would be enough to cover 2 moves that would be great.

If you are moving on your own, you could do the same thing as above and for the second move hire a group like 2 Men and a Truck to unload your storage spot and move it to your new house if funds allow.

If neither of these are an option, we can help you pinpoint places to consider. Where will you be working, what kind of community do you want?

Another option is for you to move here, find a small apartment, explore the area, then move the rest of the family in a couple months into a home you have found.

I will also suggest that you sign the kids up for the ECFE classes (Early Childhood Family Education) where ever you end up. It's a FANTASTIC way to meet people with kids the same ages.

[Glenfield]

Divide and conquer. You get the job thing settled. Have your wife do the research to figure out what part of the cities you might want to be in longer term (if the transfer comes with a relocation specialist, so much the better), then lease a house for a year or two in that area. Use that time to get to know the whole area, decide where you want to be, and buy a house there. That's pretty much what I did when I relocated here some years ago, and it worked very well for us.

[1stpontiac]

I definitely understand not wanting to move twice, especially if you are getting a relocation package.

However, that said, I'd give serious consideration to renting for a year or so first. MSP is so large and spread out and with so many different types of neighborhoods that its hard to pick a place to move to just on a visit or two, or even within a month. If you want to live in your next house for 30 years, taking the time to get to know the area will be worth the annoyance of moving twice.

FWIW, my family considered the same options, and ended up renting. While its a little hard to go from owning back to renting, I'm very glad we did. If we had bought, I think we would have bought in the neighborhood we are renting in. Now that we are living here, we can't at all picture staying in this neighborhood long-term, so its nice that we are not tied to it financially, and we now have some great ideas for places that will be a better fit when we do buy. YMMV, of course.

And, not to be a gray cloud, but renting also gives you the chance to get started in your job and make sure it seems like somewhere you will stay long-term. Hate to buy right away, and then get a month into your job and realize its not what you thought it would be (granted, that's less of a concern if you are in a field with lots of other options in the MSP area).

Best of luck with your decision!

[1stpontiac]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

Divide and conquer. You get the job thing settled. Have your wife do the research to figure out what part of the cities you might want to be in longer term (if the transfer comes with a relocation specialist, so much the better), then lease a house for a year or two in that area. Use that time to get to know the whole area, decide where you want to be, and buy a house there. That's pretty much what I did when I relocated here some years ago, and it worked very well for us.

^^ Such a succinct way to say the same thing it took me 3 paragraphs to say :P

[chrisroane]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

I think this makes it clear that renting for 9-12 months is probably going to be the best option. It adds some work in that we will have to move again, but it also frees us from having to try to buy a house during the same time and takes off some of the stress.

I'll probably post again, if the job thing goes through to see what areas we should focus on looking for a rental. Thanks again!

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by chrisroane

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

I think this makes it clear that renting for 9-12 months is probably going to be the best option. It adds some work in that we will have to move again, but it also frees us from having to try to buy a house during the same time and takes off some of the stress.

I'll probably post again, if the job thing goes through to see what areas we should focus on looking for a rental. Thanks again!

Good luck with the job!

[StilltheSame]

I moved into temporary housing (with the rest of the family selling the house and completing the school year) found a rental - put our furniture in storage - and are still in a rental 3 years later. We start looking to buy this fall - knowing exactly what we want in what area.

[golfgal]

You might want to talk to some relocation companies or the relocation specialist at the new job if they have one. Often they have furnished apartments/houses/townhomes to rent. You could then have your things moved and put into storage to save a second pack down the road.