I would sell it now. I recently owned a rental home in FL, so have an idea about the stress related to this. It is a carefree feeling to NOT own a rental. I am still dancing on air after selling it! #1) Your homeowners insurance MIGHT not have coverage if the home is vacant for, say, 30 days. Read your policy. ALso - you need to have a policy for the home as a rental. #2) Even with decent renters and even if the home is in good shape, you will have to maintain the home for things that naturally need repair/replacement. For example, appliance the break or need repair, plumbing back-ups, garage door stops opening/closing, etc. You might find that the home you live in(as far as maintenance) comes second to the rental home. #3) Landscaping - Renters will mow the lawn if you are lucky and that is about it. Forget about weeding, mulch, watering during drought.(Even if it is in the lease). And if you pay for lawn cutting, it is hard to find someone that shows up when needed. I went through 4 lawn companies in 2.5 years. Some would not show up but swear they did. Others scalped the lawn so bad in areas that there was no green grass showing after they were done. #4) There is a chance that the renters are dirty and/or will destroy some of your home. Expect to repaint the interior, possibly recarpet. Have Before and After photos of all rooms and as much detail as possible. When you recarpet, you can't charge them full cost. You have to prorate based on how old the carpet was when they moved in (even if it is in great shape.) #5) Your insurance is subject to cancel at any time -merely due to the shakey Insurance situation in FL. It is stressful to have to get a new carrier. #6) What if the home burns down, or has storm damage? Then the renters move out and you no longer get rent income, but then YOU have to redo the home before selling. (unless someone buys it from you for dirt cheap.) #7) The home might have periods of vacancy that are longer than what you expect. #8) It is a hassle to track every detail for Income Taxes. More tax forms to fill out each year.

Yes, the mom has paid support, not on time or in full most times but after they attached last years income tax, we are now up to date. It is a small amount, we pay for health insurance. She is responsible for very little. We had custody of the 3 children, 1 is moved out on her own, she is in her 20's, the other is going to college here but will transfer to the new state. So, the last one is the youngest minor. SD has not said alot about the move, it has been a well kept secret. She did say that she wants to experience life and see different places. SD is very well adjusted, well liked at school and a top honor student. But she is close to her mom and I would imagine that she feels very very torn about this. I would like DH to talk to her when it actually becomes a reality and tell her that 2 years will fly by and she can apply to colleges there. this may sound petty, but I hope their house doesn't sell before the fall so SD will not have to make a decision. She has made it very clear to us that if this does not happen in the next 5 months and the move happens during the summer, she will not move if she starts her junior year, she will finish her jr and sr year here. That would pretty much solve this whole mess. Bio's DH will not make more money, he will be closing the doors to his business and I guess find a job/business to go to. Bio mom will work 20 hrs a week I assume and attend this program. She has attended 3 schools in 5 years and has not gotten very far, she flunks many of her classes so I have no hopes that she will actually complete this process. I don't know, I am a rambling kind of mood today. I think this is a selfish decision to make at this point. This education could be attained here and she could wait until her youngest is 18 and go where ever she pleases, she is causing a tremendous amount of unhevel and there is no home, job, family she is going to... just the acceptance into a community college? Who does that? And don't drag your kids along, wait until you are settled yourself. Who is going to support them and my SD? Our child support? Beginning to look that way. We will subpeona her payroll records if this actually happens and our arguement will be that she is leaving a good paying job, so we should not have to pay more because of that.

I think you are on the right track, Lynn.. and with much great guidance! College graduation was much less about a big party for me and more about my personal achievements. My parents did much what you're planning-- a nice dinner with a few of my closest college friends (a few days before graduation in my case.. we had a week between the end of finals and graduation) None of my nieces or nephews had big college graduation parties either-- nothing like their HS graduations. However, the two who moved away had "launch parties" which ended up being more send offs to their grown up lives. I was the only one to go on to grad school right after college.. and honestly, I'd have LOVED a trip! The only college graduation party was my parents' party.. the "no more college tuition party!!" which was marked by my youngest sister's graduation.

We built on the Sound. Remotely from 1400 miles away. Our home was finished about 16 months ago. It's a challenge. I'm on my phone so this might be somewhat cryptic: Choose an architect who has worked with remote clients. 1. Specify everything. Have your architect specify everything from door stops, hinges, to paint brand, colors, sheens. Literally everything. If you don't, you will end up with change orders or builders basic. 2. Write into your builders contract that you wish to have a FaceTime meeting weekly, on Thursday at 2:00. Or whenever...be specific. Require that the builder use MS Project or similar and that the builder update it at least monthly. Use the weekly meetings to review status. 3. Determine when during the build you will need to be there. We came 3 times. Not enough in our case. 4. Your architect may charge as much as 2% of the build cost plus travel to manage the process. Whatever it is, get it in writing and be specific know the contract about your expectations. Have plain language discussions over email if necessary. Have an attorney review your contract with the architect and the builder. 5. Do not make the mistake we did, assuming we were the customers and it would be them giving us an exceptional customer experience because we were spending money. You must take on the role of project manager. If a decision is made, you write it down and send it to the builder. I.e. "You don't need to have your hardware selection done yet. We will install those at the end." "OK." "Where's the hardware? The master carpenter is here and he wants to finish this up..." Another one: "We decided this door was going to have obscure glass not clear...at that meeting in January." "We did? It's not in my notebook..." Stuff like that. 6. It's difficult to save money building like this. Your plan needs to be 100% complete and decisions all need to be made before it goes to bid. You save on design and selections etc. Don't try to squeeze a percent or 2 on materials or whatever where the builder can make it up on things you won't be able to see. Good luck!