Speaking as one who becomes too attached sometimes to inanimate objects, such as houses and cars, I say if you can make it happen with the housing market as it is, do it. We stayed in our previous home too long and when we built a new home 11 years ago, everyone was in tears on moving day. My two adult kids still drive by; my daughter wants to buy it someday. We too had millions of hours and tons of money invested in that house, but I'm so glad we did it. But in a declining neigborhood, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. My parents should have moved out of their neighborhood 10-12 years ago. Their home now is probably worth the same as it was 10 years ago. I also understand not wanting to leave a peaceful backyard. In 37 years of marriage and 3 houses (I told you I become attached), we've never had anyone living behind us and we live in the city. There's a lot of houses out there for you to fall in love with. Good luck with your decision.
Dee

what I also imagine is that IF I agreed to move, that I'd need a full year to "dig" up all my expensive bulbs and plants that someone else would not appreciate. I did this when I lived in San Diego, had my little house all fixed up and loved it, then I met DH and a year or so later, packed up what I could fit in the biggest moving truck on the market and moved to GA. I just visited San Diego and drove by the old house, fortunately they have kept it just as I had it, and it's great to see rose bushes that were once small, nice and filled out, fruit trees that I planted now all grown and lovely. But I had to leave a lot of stuff behind, like my treasured HUGE fountain, I loved that fountain, but it weighed 2 tons and was not going to go in moving truck.

I just found out that they took the fountain down. How is that possible? it really was a beautiful fountain.

I know that I would love decorating a new more modern home, and that part does appeal. But I like my house now, I really do...sigh

You want to live in "the hood"? No.....so you'll be moving....right? :0) I'd move. Never get too attached to material things.

I believe that the "hood" reference may be a gross exageration on DH part.

My anxst (spelling) is that to redo what I have done here would be terribly physically demanding, and I have an injured back, so the odds of ME redoing it again somewhere else without help, are unfortunately slim. And the odds for finding a place EXACTLY as I'd like it (especially the outside) would again, be highly unlikely.

Plus, I think a move would be very hard on my fur family. One senior cat, who had serious trouble the last time we moved (to GA in 04) and then 2 recently adopted ferrel/turned semi tamed, mainly outdoor cats. I just dont see how it would be easy on them either.

I'm really not overly attached to the actual physical/material things, more like I"m comfortable with the surroundings.

DH will just have to adapt for now.

I would not consider a neighborhood where 10% of the residents don't mow their grass very often, as "The 'Hood".

Have you had a lot of break-ins? Is there gang graffiti appearing around the neighborhood? Are you harassed every time you go out into your yard? Do your children feel safe walking to their friend's houses? Do you see drug deals going on on the sidewalk out front? Are their streetwalkers and cruisers on your block? Do the police neglect to answer emergency calls to the area assuming that everyone that lives there "deserved it" when something bad happens? Is it impossible to get cab service or pizza delivery to your neighborhood because the drivers refuse to service the area?

If these things are happening in your neighborhood, and you have the money to move, I would do it. If the issue is merely the height of the grass on your neighbor's lawns, it would seem to be a silly reason. You risk moving and then might not be happy when you find out that some of the new neighbors don't waster their lawns as often as you do or rake their leaves every single day.

Moving is expensive and disruptive. There would have to be a really good reason to move.

If you feel the neighborhood is going to decline, yes I would move. Otherwise, probably not.

Have you thought about contacting the rental company with your concerns? About how you & the other neighbors are quite concerned with the upkeep of the property & the re-sale value of the neighborhood? (talk $$ to them, they will care about that)

Or (this is bad), being on the look-out for bylaw infractions by the renters and then reporting them? Sorry, I know this is not the most neighborly thing, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do...

No our neighborhood is FAR from that description dilly dally. again, more likely an over exaggeration from DH. He'll get over it, or like I told him initially, we shall visit him as often as possible ;)

Tell your DH that moving to a supposedly better neighborhood may not give him the nicer lawn care that he's looking for.

We live in a relatively upscale area. There have been so many foreclosures that unkempt yards are dotted everywhere. One family even broke a window, before the bank threw them out, and that's the view we get to see every time we drive home.

If you're safe where you are, like your home and gardens, you might as well stay put.

The grass isn't always greener, iykwim.

You had me at the word "renters". Not to mention their problems with lawn maintenance!

ACK! MOVE, before your property becomes worthless!

Apologies to decent renters out there, but my opinion comes from experience.

Parma is right about the foreclosures, a lot of houses in "good" neighborhoods are ending up empty and neglected. I don't know where you live, but if it's in the North, the lawns will be covered with snow soon :) If not, tell DH if you were to move, he would have to HIRE someone to dig up all your plants and replant them at the new place and move all your other treasures. He would then have to HIRE someone to completely landscape your new home. He might suddenly see the neighborhood in a whole new light! (LOL)

When I was about 20, we visited my then-husband's grandmother. She was living in an older neighborhood that at one time was very posh. However, as she got older, the neighborhood did, too. She was then surrounded by gangs, graffiti, etc. I was scared for her. But, moving was not an option for her then. Of course, this did not happen overnight.

So, my point is: is your neighborhood declining? Do you see that in 5-10 years it will be depreciating? Be honest. If that is the case, it may be best to get out while your neighborhood is still fairly good. If, however, your neighborhood is still safe, and still desirable to the majority, then stay. Tell your DH that you want to go to Paris with the extra money. Or something else - trust funds for the kids, a repeat of your vows with all the trimmings. Whatever! The point is to give him a goal to reach for without it being a new home.

Good luck in your decision. Our homes are much more than houses to us, aren't they?

rjinga,

How about this? Look into some new houses, existing and model homes just to see what is out there. Then have some realtors come in and give you an idea of what you can get for your house and typical time on the market for your area.

That way you will have some hard information to base a decision on which may appease DH, over your immediate emotional one. It may be readily apparent which decision is the best financially. If you have been in your home for 5 years that isn't too long, so I can understand your reluctance to move. The cats can adjust, they are more resilient than we think (have gone through 4 moves with 15 year cat).

I think just getting out there and seeing what's there can help, whether you decide to go ahead with it or decide to stay where you are. Plus you get the fun of seeing some other homes and may even pick up some new ideas for decorating, that sounds like a win-win. Good luck.

Jill

Your initial description hardly warrants a "hood" label. Is there more or is dh just tired of the upkeep? On the other hand, you said the thought of a new and bigger house appeals to you, so maybe it would be a good idea to start looking. Kitties will adapt and you can always create new gardens even though they won't be the same as what you have now.

I think to make the best decision for your family as a whole you need to look at the direction your entire neighborhood is taking. See if there has been some decline in ratings with the local schools, look at how many rentals they are now vs. 2 years ago. Many people are renting their homes now because they can't afford to live in them themselves, I understand that, but when things get better, the odds are they will find another alternative for that house and move into a different one. As you can see, while the people living in rentals may be the nicest people in the world, they're not going to be interested in maintaining another's property to the same standards as a typical homeowner. I would do some research and let the direction your neighborhood is taking be the deciding factor on whether it's time to find greener pastures or not.

I think one key question is whether you want to spend the next ten years in a new house building raised beds and pergolas, painting, obsessing about light fixtures, etc, or do you have other things you want to do now that all that stuff is DONE?

Someone is going to live in your current house, and someone is going to live in your potential new house - which one do you want to be? I think you can think about the neighbourhoods and the market all you like, but the question is really, what do you want to spend the next ten years doing?

KarinL

I have to agree with the comments dilly dally posted. my neighbourhood is not the best, it has a lot of break ins and other trouble so things like unkept lawns or gardens aren't something that would worry me so if that's all there is to it then I wouldnt move based on that.

remember too that people who rent generally wont even own a lawnmower or gardening tools, it's often just not a priority at all when you dont own a house and maintaining someone else's property to the nth degree (when often a renter has trouble getting the landlord to fix essential items) is also usually not a priority for renters but I dont think it's a reflection of their character or that the neighbourhood has gone to hell. :)

as someone mentioned above, you could move somewhere else and find the same problem any way and with the current economic problems there are most likely more people renting all over.

Yes, we would move, and have done so in the past.

Sounds like what you have done to your current home has raised the value and you have made it "sale ready."

I would not move. Renters that do not keep up with their yard would not be enough to get me to move out of my quiet, peaceful, wooded lot and home that I have put hundreds of hours of work into. Renters come and go. Who's to say you won't have renters that move near you in another home that do not keep up with their yard? Contact the city and file a neighborhood complaint. Or contact the Landlord. Also, just for kicks, contact a lawn mowing service and ask them to stop by the renter's home and give a quote.

As long as the area isn't falling into crime, which you said it's not, I wouldn't move but I'm not a fan of change. This is coming from someone who has no desire to move unless it's to an old folks home. I would also be worried about the pets. I know most adjust eventually but I hate to put them through it if you don't have to.