What would you do? -housing question- (Alamo, Alamo Heights: apartment, renter, credit) - San Antonio - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

ltwins93 · 05-10-2008, 01:42 PM

We have been in SA for 2 months now. We are in the military and didn't know that area so we moved to an apt in Alamo Heights. We have three children and a beagle (what was I thinking!). We pay $1435 a month. I know this school district is great and my son will be starting K.

We are considering moving to the NE or NW to a rental HOME. Would it be worth it even if we had to pay to get out of our lease?? Many people we have talked to are renting for around $800 in these areas. Looking for some advice........What would you do?

firstclassflyer · 05-10-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltwins93

We have been in SA for 2 months now. We are in the military and didn't know that area so we moved to an apt in Alamo Heights. We have three children and a beagle (what was I thinking!). We pay $1435 a month. I know this school district is great and my son will be starting K.

We are considering moving to the NE or NW to a rental HOME. Would it be worth it even if we had to pay to get out of our lease?? Many people we have talked to are renting for around $800 in these areas. Looking for some advice........What would you do?

Depends on how much they will soak you to break the lease? Give us that figure and I'm sure you'll get more opinions.

There are plenty of other good schools in SA...you don't have to be in AH.

Bo · 05-10-2008, 01:50 PM

The answer depends on how much of a financial hardship that big rent payment is placing on the family budget. You're going to benefit greatly from having all 3 kids in good AH schools within the next 5 years. Also, the location of AH is convenient to a lot of amenities that people who live in NE and NW outlying areas have to drive a long way to get to, so you'll get some savings on fuel and vehicle expenses there.

I wouldn't move from where you are if I could afford not to. But if you're having trouble making ends meet, you're in a place that you can't afford to stay in.

ltwins93 · 05-10-2008, 02:17 PM

We will only be in SA for one year then PCSing back to TN. They will charge us 2200 unless we can find the renter then we have to just give a 30 day notice. It isn't that we can't pay the rent. We can save about $300 a month living here. We will be able to save about $1000 a month if we can rent for under $850. (We are trying to purchase land in TN!)

sapphire · 05-10-2008, 02:22 PM

I'd stay where you are as long as you are making it there. You also have to figure in moving expenses, plus utility transfers, plus the general PITA that moving always is.

ltwins93 · 05-10-2008, 02:31 PM

Didn't think of utilities.......

sapphire · 05-10-2008, 02:37 PM

Another thing--an apartment is going to charge you a hefty pet deposit--and unless your pet really lives somewhere else

, you will more than likely not get any of it back.

rd2007 · 05-10-2008, 02:42 PM

for only a year I would definitely suck it up. If it was a three year tour it might be different, but your situation doesn't seem worth the hassle IMO

Paka · 05-10-2008, 04:59 PM

Assuming you are stationed out of Ft Sam, you would probably spend a lot of time and gas $$ if you were to move further from the post.

If you are stationed at another base/post, perhaps a move would be worth the time/expense of the commute.

shenane · 05-10-2008, 06:41 PM

Well, my caculations show you would save about 300 a month (not 1K) when you ad up the cost of breaking the lease, the cost to move, set up utilities again, pet deposit etc.. But if your neighbors are fine now and your school is good I would seriously consider staying. You could move and save money but get awful neighbors in your next neighborhood. I'm suprised that you are able to have that Beagle in an apartment without the neighbors complaining.
I'm a dog lover but Beagles are LOUD. What if you move and your new neighbors don't want to put up the sound of your dog - even though a house would get you further away from your neighbors, they could still hear a beagle.

According to my calcuations, right now you would pay about 17K a year. If you find a decent 800 a month house (note - for this price the neighborhood might not be so great) you would pay about 9.6K plus 2.2K for breaking the lease plus moving expense, etc.. you wind up paying about 13K for the year. Which comes out to a savings of about 300 a month. (see attached)
Oh yeah -- does breaking lease affect your credit or affect the next rental application? That's something to think about. And one more thing - many houses will also want a pet deposit. I figured that into my calcuations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ltwins93

We have been in SA for 2 months now. We are in the military and didn't know that area so we moved to an apt in Alamo Heights. We have three children and a beagle (what was I thinking!). We pay $1435 a month. I know this school district is great and my son will be starting K.

We are considering moving to the NE or NW to a rental HOME. Would it be worth it even if we had to pay to get out of our lease?? Many people we have talked to are renting for around $800 in these areas. Looking for some advice........What would you do?