Movin' On Up!...Maybe?

Does anyone have confusing living accommodations? When I moved out of my ex husbands house, my mom and step-dad were amazing and let the kids and I move in while I tried to figure out my next steps. I do have to give credit where credit is do; they absolutely did not have to help, let alone take us in and I will always be grateful for the help we received when we needed it most. This was all done with the understanding that it was only temporary, until I got back on my feet and found a place for the kids and I.

When I moved in, I began looking for a job; I found one within a month and I love my new career. Then, I moved to housing. The area where I live has been a small farming village for the past century. No house in the area is worth more than $300,000, even in todays market. That doesn't include the big farms with land, I am talking just a regular 3 bedroom, single story house, with maybe a quarter acre. Nothing fancy, nothing extra. However, housing in my area, is astronomically over priced! At the low end of the market, the houses are over $250,000 for a 2 bedroom, 900 square feet, single family home, that hasn't been updated since the early 90s. I am well aware that I am lucky enough to not have to take what I can get, I can stay where I am and take my time to find what is best for my family.

That being said, living as a single mom with three small kids in your parents 100 year old farm house can take it's toll on everyone: they wanted peace and quiet, the kids wanted their own space, and I wanted my independence. Since buying a house was out of the question, renting it was! I don't mind renting, I actually prefer it. However, like the housing market to buy, to rent wasn't much better. The same, small, 2 bedroom house would be for rent for the monthly fee of $1400, plus utilities. In much larger cities, that may sound like a steal, but in a small, rural, midwestern village, that is just ridiculous.

In my search, I did end up finding a nice condo. It was a bit pricey but it was brand new and close to the store and school. After thinking it over and talking with my mom, I decided, for the price, I should just stay where I am and continue to save. I was disappointed but realized that was what was best. Until my mother started sending me links and adverts to houses for rent. I took the hint and arranged showings and meetings. Finally, I found a house that was small, but enough for my small family to start over, at least for a year or so. Once I tell her, I get a "You should just stay here", because, of course...

The moral of the story is; no one knows what they want in this kind of situation, not even moms. There is no satisfying conclusion to this story, mainly because I'm still in the middle of it. What would you do? Would you take the freedom offered by a small, albeit, empty house? Or would you not look a gift horse in the mouth and stay for as long as possible at the cost of your, and your mother's, sanity?