[tbristow]

Some of you may remember that I relocated from Missouri to South Carolina about this time last year. Fast forward a year...my youngest dd and I don't have allergy problems, Hunter is hardly ever sick, and we love the weather.

Now for the rest of it...the job really stinks. I'm in automotive quality and things are going backwards at this facility rather than forwards. There have been some long hours and the job is killing DH (has been 80 hours some weeks). The house in Missouri has been on the market for 10 months today and has gone through 4 price drops for a total of $15K. We have gone through our savings and have started having to like pretty much check to check. Like many of you, we have adoption bills that we were starting to get a handle on until DH went from contract to full time. My oldest dd just suffered a miscarriage and D & C all 1000 miles away from mom.

They question is, do we give up and start trying to move back? I've had a request from a company up there for my resume' (wasn't looking). The pay would be about the same for me and 40-45 hours a week in a non-automotive setting. The area is currently pretty economically depressed though. DH has nothing lined up there. There would be the cost of the move back, uprooting the kids again, etc... I really want to make things work here, but we're facing financial disaster if anything goes wrong. It keeps backing adoption #2 up as well. I really just don't know what to do anymore. This is all just so stressful (as in medication stressful but I don't want to mess up an adoption). Any advice??

[Katie63011]

I think that you should talk to the other company and find out if it is something that you are interested in . I would also have a serious discussion with your realtor. I am in MO and the market has changed, but a year on the market says that is either the location, condition or price. If you know condition of the house and location are good, then it has to be the price. To have the house on the market for a year, most buyers wouldn't offer close to asking in our market here.

Personally, I love SC's weather and lifestyle but love the people in the midwest. I moved from the southeast to midwest and am very happy here.

I know I am rambling, but I always say that you have nothing to lose by speaking to someone about a potential job. Usually it's how you make large salary jumps.

Good luck!
Katie

[Mykidsmom]

Hello,

If you would take the new job would they pay for the moving back cost? Would the SC home be able to sell quickly. If any of these things would work, even if it takes alittle for your husband to find work, it sounds like you would be in a better financial place.

I know someone in St.Louis (Forest Park, Central West End area) who put there house on the market last week, had an open house on Sunday and a contract was written with several other interested parties if that contract falls through. I know this person through the adoption circle on another forum.

[thmc1215]

I'm sorry your job is not going well. The added stress of a house that hasn't sold and family distance is enough to bring anyone down.

Have you thought of applying at the other automotive based companies in the area? I think most are in the next county up from us, but it may be worth checking into.

[pequele]

If you moved back won't you still have a mortgage in SC? What is the difference if that is the case (except maybe working about 40 hrs a week less)!!

[GCS]

Theresa,
I am reallly sorry to hear that things aren't going well. I know its hard to have a house on the market today (we're going on month 10 now too and have been in the new house 4 months, its rotten! Maybe we've got that St Joseph in the wrong place!)

I would interview with the company and see what they are really offering. I would look at the real estate market in SC and see if you could realisticly flip the house easily. It may just be that you are moving and then stuck in the 2 house situation again. I would look for a new job in SC and see what your options are there since DH has a job there now.

I wouldn't make any decisions now. Just do some fact finding. Above all I wouldn't talk to the kids about it yet. (even your oldest daughter) If they think they are moving back then they may not try to acclimate to their new situations.


I really do think the housing market is going to pick up this spring! Good luck!

Christina

[tbristow]

I'll respond to a few of the comments. First, the house in Missouri is a 2900 square foot, 6 bedroom, 3 bath that had 25K in improvements done between 2002-2006. I'm asking just under $175K now. It has a new roof, gutters, driveway, most windows, doors, floors, most carpet, patio, deck... This is in a subdivision that goes anywhere from the upper 160's to around 200 or at least it did. The contractors absolutely flooded the market in the last 2 years and there are a lot of houses standing empty. A lot of people have liked mine, but the backyard slopes (a lot down here do too, but most people don't care). The house was also built in 1973. Many just want the new ones even if the footage is way less. I've had two offers (both fell through) of just above the price we are now asking.

We don't own the house here in SC. We took it as a lease purchase but we had to make an offer by 2/15 and we obviously didn't make that.

Now for the realtors...I fired the first one because I found out she was lying about advertising it. The 2nd one took over in Dec., but things really slow down up there over the winter. I have been tracking on realtor.com so I know the realtor (2nd one) isn't lying and she sends me the papers, etc... It has shown, but it's been on the market long enough to be stale.

My youngest dd does NOT want to move back. She misses her sister and her gradnparents but she and her dad do NOT get along well and distance has helped a pretty bad situation. I was really pretty messed up awhile ago with my oldest dd, but I really don't want to go back. I spent 23 years trying to get back down here. I know if I go this time, it really will be for good.

As for finding a new job, in the field we're both in, yes, that is very possible. I'm just afraid of rocking the boat with the payments the way they are.

As for the other job, it's out of my comfort zone so to speak...similar to my current job but not exact. At best, it will pay the same salary I have and no, they probably won't pay to move us. The KC area is really struggling right now with the situation with Ford and now GM is getting ready to lay off. I am really worried about it. Thanks for allowing me to vent. It really does help.

[mcanvasback]

Theresa - I can only give you real estate advice, as I'm a Realtor!

I just sold my own (beautiful) house for much less than the appraised value, just because it needed to be done. I know it hurts, but the market is what it is, and it is so, so price driven. Unfortunately, as I learned, the upgrades are not giving the return they once were. I know you need to make a decision whether to stay in SC - based on what you said - my first instinct would be to stay -
I would advise the Realtor to lower the price $10,000 below the last similar comp and relist the property so it looks like a new listing. I know exactly what you are thinking right now, believe me, and I understand but it really works. Does she have great pics and a virtual tour in the MLS?

[ddahl]

Theresa, Do you want talk? email me with your number and I will call you. I have some ideas, not many but some. Do you have equity in the first house? Just wondering.

[cathvash]

I remember reading your posts when you moved, -so full of hope! I am so very sorry for your stress. -Last thing you need right now. I hope things look brighter today. I think that in a short time, your decision will be made clear for you. Please hang in there, and try to make it through day by day!