WWSBD

AllAboutTheBenjamin · May 2012

Halp halp, rent problems.

Ben and I are renting a townhouse and were informed that our rent was going to increase this June, which is now... in a few days, haha. Anyway, it will go up 20 bucks if we choose to sign another lease, and 30 bucks if we choose to go month to month.

Thing is, we have to sign a year lease. Me, I'm okay with that. Ben is working part time and is looking for something more full time with better pay and I've been taking a slight pay cut in order to pay off my flex benefits for my lasik surgery. Ben isn't so sure he wants to sign a whole year lease - which honestly, I don't get. I know it's only ten extra bucks, BUT - that's on top of the additional 20. Doesn't seem like much, but we make shiiit. I'm completely fine with signing a lease if we can save 120 bucks.

...Or am I being dumb? I dunno, if I was more confident that we could buy a house within the next year, I'd be all for it. But I am not confident.

Thoughts? Reasonings? Or recipes. I also take recipes, for those of you who don't care about this mundane annoyance of my life.

LetsHikeToday · May 2012

Why doesn't he want to sign a lease? If you don't really have plans to move in the year then I obviously would sign it. But are you guys hoping to move or buy when he gets a full time job?

cheeseandrice · May 2012

If I could chose to pay only $120 and not sign a full lease, I totally would've done it. Unless you're absolutely sure you're going to live there another year.

What about a 6-month lease? Is that an option?

lbarr088 · May 2012

I'm tenant at will now and I love it. I'm of the mindset where you never really know what could happen and I would much rather pay 120 extra for a year then have to pay to break a lease God forbid I had to.

AllAboutTheBenjamin · May 2012

Nope. Has to be a year lease. Dumb, I know.

Hike I honestly have no idea where his confidence comes from. I'm making a considerable amount more than he is, but honestly... it's not a huge salary to begin with, lol. He's been looking for jobs and says he thinks he can get one within the next few months. Well, that's just not concrete enough for me.

And TBH, a year sounds like a long time, but I don't think it will be that bad.

ErinG93 · May 2012

I'm not really a fan of being locked into a rental property. I would probably pay to be month-to-month. I really wish we had that option now. Unfortunately, we're going to be 'homeless' come August if we don't buy a house by then, or find a different month to month rental.

In February when lease renewal time came, if we could have had the option to go month-to-month I would have been much happier. $120 in the long run is nothing.

lindseyann410 · May 2012

How flexible is your landlord? FI was having to commute, and we were worried about signing a year lease in case something were to happen. Our landlord let us write into the lease that we could give 2 months notice and we could be let out of the lease without penalty.

anna.oskar · May 2012

I'd take the lease-free option. Worth it if you want to get out.

Here is a recipe: http://www.cookingquinoa.net/cheese-wontons

Now will you cook it and tell me if it's good? I haven't tried it yet.

AllAboutTheBenjamin · May 2012

Not a flexible landlord, linds. UGH.

Anna, I probably will cook those. Those look delish.

arwo · May 2012

Can you be sure that they won't raise the rent more (at will) if you don't have a lease? That's what I would be scared of, and one of the reasons that I won't live in a rental without a lease. I always see my lease as protection against rent increases. I am pretty sure that our landlord would have raised our rent a few times over the last few years if not for our lease locking us in at a lower rate.

LetsHikeToday · May 2012

I don't know. We rent all the time because we are never in one place over 3 or 4 year so a year lease isn't a huge deal to me.

But $10 a month extra to be month to month doesn't seem like much either.

lindseyann410 · May 2012

If you don't forsee a need to move in the next year, then I'd save the ten bucks and sign the lease.

specialk84 · May 2012

Even if he landed an awesome job tomorrow, are you two going to be ready to buy a house? Have you saved for a down payment? Are you prepared to deal with costs that people often forget about, such as higher insurance costs, yard maintenance, and being responsible for all the appliances?

SIL and her H say they wish they'd never bought their house. They've realized they both hate yard maintenance and neither is handy or good at fixing things.

I'd sign a year's lease until you have a solid plan for buying.

AllAboutTheBenjamin · May 2012

The thing is, I do like the freedom of being month to month - which we are now. Our last lease was up in November. But I have a feeling whether we sign a lease or not, we'll prolly be there a year anyway.

I think my mind is made up.

For real guys. I make no money. 120 bucks doesn't sound like a lot but yeah... it is a lot to me, haha.

ETA - he has most of a down payment, special. It's his inheritance from his grandma. I want to save some more, though. I'd just feel better if we were a LITTLE more secure, if that makes sense.

dmiller9274 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wwsbd-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:e70c7d31-ef4a-4cb5-a89b-0a74970a0c8dPost:5f7e2c95-2300-437a-bb85-cf70cb24d7a3">Re: WWSBD</a>:
[QUOTE]Can you be sure that they won't raise the rent more (at will) if you don't have a lease? That's what I would be scared of, and one of the reasons that I won't live in a rental without a lease. I always see my lease as protection against rent increases. I am pretty sure that our landlord would have raised our rent a few times over the last few years if not for our lease locking us in at a lower rate.
Posted by arwo[/QUOTE]
This is what I was thinking, too. If you go month to month, there's nothing stopping them from upping your rent anytime they need to make a few extra bucks.

calixtine · May 2012

If there is not a strong possiblity that you would need or want to move in the next 12 months, I would sign the lease.

Think about it, if it takes him a few months to find a job, you would then need to start the application process to buy a house and some lenders require you to show two months of POI before they will approve you. So you are looking for 6 months before you can even start looking and then when you find one, closing would take about 30 days. So your lease would be over halfway up by then and that is not even counting house hunting time.
When we bought our house, we were running up against our current leases expiration deadline and had to find a house before our lease expired I kind of regret now feeling so rushed. I wish we had more time to look at houses and weigh our options instead of having to worry about finding a house before we were homelss..I kind of wonder if we would have had more options if we did.

AbbeyS2011 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wwsbd-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e70c7d31-ef4a-4cb5-a89b-0a74970a0c8dPost:ee8bdd49-15e6-41ca-9c83-a77e35ca75b5">Re: WWSBD</a>:
[QUOTE]If you don't forsee a need to move in the next year, then I'd save the ten bucks and sign the lease.
Posted by lindseyann410[/QUOTE]

I was thinking this too.

Even if he finds the plum job tomorrow, it is not like you would be able to go house hunting the next week. Unless, of course, you win the lottery. Then, whothehellcares if you have to pay to get outta the lease.

I can tell you how to make jalapeno poppers that are heavenly, especially when grilled.

specialk84 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wwsbd-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:e70c7d31-ef4a-4cb5-a89b-0a74970a0c8dPost:0884ea1d-891e-4fe9-9c88-a1b7c8dc3ed4">Re: WWSBD</a>:
[QUOTE]The thing is, I do like the freedom of being month to month - which we are now. Our last lease was up in November. But I have a feeling whether we sign a lease or not, we'll prolly be there a year anyway. I think my mind is made up. For real guys. I make no money. 120 bucks doesn't sound like a lot but yeah... it is a lot to me, haha. ETA - he has most of a down payment, special. It's his inheritance from his grandma. <strong>I want to save some more, though. I'd just feel better if we were a LITTLE more secure, if that makes sense.</strong>
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

<div>That makes complete sense. H had this crazy idea that we'd sell this house and upgrade to a larger one in the spring. I'm not graduating until December, so we're 1) not likely going to be approved for another loan, 2) not going to have as much in savings as we'd like, and 3) not sure if we'd need to relocate for a job. He's agreed to wait until the following spring.</div>

AbbeyS2011 · May 2012

<strong>In</strong> Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wwsbd-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e70c7d31-ef4a-4cb5-a89b-0a74970a0c8dPost:95111744-28dc-4260-ac2b-2df99dc81306">Re: WWSBD</a>:
[QUOTE]Even if he landed an awesome job tomorrow, are you two going to be ready to buy a house? Have you saved for a down payment? <strong>Are you prepared to deal with costs that people often forget about, such as higher insurance costs, yard maintenance, and being responsible for all the appliances? SIL and her H say they wish they'd never bought their house. They've realized they both hate yard maintenance and neither is handy or good at fixing things</strong>. I'd sign a year's lease until you have a solid plan for buying.
Posted by specialk84[/QUOTE]

Don't forget the yearly property taxes also. Alot of people do not think about that one, and the counties/cities can get really nasty when they do not get paid on time. I think they are factored into mortgages, but I am not sure.

The yard maintenance and fixing things is something to think about when you are deciding between an older home/fixer upper type or a newly built or almost new-built home. Lots of people do not think about all that comes with home ownership. My old neighbor used to say the yardwork was one job you can never retire from.

AllAboutTheBenjamin · May 2012

Lol it's not harsh, Dot.

specialk84 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wwsbd-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:17Discussion:e70c7d31-ef4a-4cb5-a89b-0a74970a0c8dPost:a05dea68-059b-453e-9fee-1d87f17ec8a4">Re: WWSBD</a>:
[QUOTE]This might sound harsh but if an extra $10.00 a month is a deal breaker for you then I would not recommend you buy a house any time soon. Every freaking time I turn around there is something I need for the house and it always costs more than $10.00. So for that reason I say sign the year lease.
Posted by Dot Dash[/QUOTE]

<div>Agreed. When our water heater busted (and flooded our hallway), it was under warranty, but we still had to pay the labor charge. Neither of us was counting on spending $100 that week.</div><div>
</div><div>When tree roots clogged the main drain, we had not planned to spend $150. </div><div>
</div><div>Little stuff comes up all the time, too, like the $15 hose splitter or $10 to replace the tube from the water line to the refrigerator ice maker.</div>

sleepyb · May 2012

My lease has a clause that if we buy a home, we can get out of the lease without paying any early termination penalties. I think that's required in Texas leases. Have you re-read yours to see if it has anything similar. Not implying you didn't look - just asking cause most people I know here don't realize their lease says that.

AllAboutTheBenjamin · May 2012

Yeah I am not thinking we have a clause like that, sleepy.

I am not completely naive to everything that comes with home ownership - I mean, it's why I feel confident in signing the lease. I need to pay off this flex thing and Ben needs a better job. If he doesn't get a job we aren't moving, the end.

sleepyb · May 2012

That clause is the only reason we're not moving out of our current place. The rent is going up $200 a month. Makes me want to cry. But I hope that we can purchase a home over the next year and I don't want to pay to move and then again if we find a place we want to buy.

Lambbop · May 2012

You could sign the lease for another year... and even if he gets a better job you just can keep saving until the lease is up and you'll have extra money for painting/remodeling/furniture/etc for a house.

AllAboutTheBenjamin · May 2012

Lamb you are getting MARRIED this weekend! Ba-ding!!

Lambbop · May 2012

I know! I am at work right now and can not for the life of me concentrate on anything. I just obsessively check the weather because it changes every hour. But that's North Dakota for ya.

peekaboo2011 · May 2012

Agreed. I'd definitely go ahead and sign a lease. 3 months after my parents bought our house, the septic tank practically imploded. It was not fun. Nor had they planned on spending 10K on fixing the entire system. And then a month later the AC died. It was a good year last year.

AbbeyS2011 · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wwsbd-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e70c7d31-ef4a-4cb5-a89b-0a74970a0c8dPost:4a4acb33-a8a2-4c98-8e49-8714c23ec482">Re: WWSBD</a>:
[QUOTE]Lamb you are getting MARRIED this weekend! Ba-ding!!
Posted by AllAboutTheBenjamin[/QUOTE]

Are you going to wedding crash? Since you are both in ND?

Congrats Lamb - woo hoo!

Lambbop · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_snarky-brides_wwsbd-9?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:17Discussion:e70c7d31-ef4a-4cb5-a89b-0a74970a0c8dPost:0578e386-07e3-4eb8-8ca4-ca20dc81e95b">Re: WWSBD</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: WWSBD : Are you going to wedding crash? Since you are both in ND? Congrats Lamb - woo hoo!
Posted by AbbeyS2011[/QUOTE]

Awwww thanks! I'd be pretty impressed if AATB found my wedding and crashed it.

AbbeyS2011 · May 2012

I agree - AATB is about ten kinds of awesome!

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