Hi Southwind,

Have you ever lived in the area where you think that you'd like to live later?

Some recommend that folks planning a move to a dream area rent a place for a year or so before they buy.

You don't require a fancy place - many folk are happy in a modest home, after their family are on their own.

Is your husband's new occupation transferable? Maybe he can practise it while at your new place. Can you find work in your chosen field, there - or some other kind of work at similar rate of return?

Just some ideas that bounced around in my mind after reading your post.

Good wishes as you get used to the new situation.

As one who was willing to be appointed as a missionary helping people get back on their feet in an area where a war was still waging (it was finished by the time of my arrival), I guess I'm more willing than many to take risks. Though I did trust that my Heavenly Father would take care of me (as long as I was reasonably careful - I don't like sticking my head in lions' mouths (or even one lion's mouth, thanks).

But - I say that I hope that you don't give up on your dreams.

Don't take crazy risks, for if they turned out badly, you might end up with an impoverished old age.

Good wishes as you proceed with your plans.

joyful

Thanks for the reply. I think my husband's job skills are in a field where there is more supply than demand. I am really not in a position to leave my job as I am really the main money maker and carry all the insurance which is critical as last year was a bad year all around. Right before they eliminated my husband's job- he had sudden heart problems and had to have a valve replace and a pacemaker put in- so my insurance and job stablity is critical.
I told him for now we should vacation at our dream spot and hope we are in a position in a couple years to pursue our dream again. Maybe when our last child is truly not a dependent. We both know when we finally move down south, we will have to work- just not in such pressure jobs.
Thanks

You might also want to check to be sure before you give up....My husband and I seem to find that people are more than anxious to lend us money now that we are established and don't really just have to have it....If you have some savings and equity etc...you would be surprised what people will lend you..many times without even asking..We just called our advisor and told him we would need to free up about 30K to use during a transition period of selling our home and building another. We intend to buy a small RV so that we can live in it on the property while our house is being built.....The advisor called us and told us they would give us that money in an interest only loan for 3 years so we could leave our monies in tact..He also asked if we were sure the 30K would be enough..they were prepared to go much higher....Since we only intend to keep it a few months and sell it, that arrangement works great for us..It will cost us about $85 per month to live in that RV....

So if you have good records/histories and some monies to back you up, you might just be surprised at what people will lend you...

So if you have good records/histories and some monies to back you up, you might just be surprised at what people will lend you... Very true BigMomma that's how I bought my house in 2000.

I would be very cautious of having two mortgages. Could you pay both mortgages on just one income if either of you had to be out of work for an extended length of time? The job security is just not there anymore and we never know what our health is going to be from one day to the next. I don't mean to be negative but just trying to be factual. Could you perhaps start putting some money away for your "down south vacation home" and when the right time comes, make your move? If something else came up and you needed the money, you wouldn't be overcommitted to two mortgages.

You know you could always buy a vacation place and rent it until you were ready to move. If you would be at a desirable area you could rent it weekly. Be warned though I was told by a lady who does this that you can't love your stuff in the rental too much. Hubby wants to rent out our mobile home on Chincoteague Island next year but I am not too sure about other people using and abusing my stuff. We started out buying a lot and then paying cash for all the improvements. That would be another option for you too. That way at least you would have property but maybe not such big payments.