Hi there, I have a question. I'm a single parent. I want to move an hour north to gain better work (I just finished a degree in February. I want to apply for jobs sooner rather than later and I have saved enough money to buy a small townhouse where I need to work. It's only 2 bedrooms and I have a boy and a girl. It has plenty of living space and a large garage. Am I wrong for thinking I should buy it? Sharing a room is not ideal but I think it's better to own our own home than to rent? The garage has a door straight into the house and also a toilet. I think that I could put a caravan in there for my son when he's too big? Does anyone think I'm doing the right thing?
11 Replies
I personally wouldn't do it. Unless your son is planning to stay a perfect angel it is asking for trouble. I would prefer to sleep on a sofa bed in the lounge room every night than have my teenage son sleeping in the caravan. Yes I know you can't control them when they are out and about but it is at least reducing opportunity.
Only because by nature most teens will get away with what they think they can get away with. It is much harder to smell substances, and monitor comings and goings when someone is in a caravan rather than the main house. Leaving the door open so to speak for easy sneaking out and sneaking in.
So I would go ahead and buy it (make sure you have factored in loss of rent assistance, the cost of rates and repairs) but plan to have the kids in a bedroom each and you in the lounge room on the sofa bed.
I did this for a few years until I could afford something bigger and there are some really comfortable sofa beds now and I quite enjoyed packing and unpacking my bed.
Maybe turn the garage into a third bedroom? My friend has done this and lives in her garage which is adjoint to her parents house where her parents and sister lives- might be cheaper than a caravan?
Yes is quite easy to do in some garages and carports. I'd make sure that the entrance was through the house, so you may need to get a door cut through the brick. You always want the entrance through the house as again too many opportunities for sneaking and isolation.
I would just buy a house with 3 bedrooms. Does he even want to go in a caravan? i would have been so embarrassed to have to live in a caravan as a teen. And he might feel isolated too
I need to move for work. Rent money is dead money and I o.ly have enough for a two bedroom townhouse.
Well done for getting your degree and a house deposit together. I'm hoping I can do the same thing soon as a single mum too. I would get it and see what happens about the caravan. I had a caravan bedroom as a teenager and loved it. You could also share with your daughter and he have his own room in the house.
Thanks for your encouragement. If I could a three bedder I would but I can't afford anything that's nice. I need to move to be closer to where the jobs are. I've saves enough for a small property. It's a town house. It has two big bedrooms. Which arevgreat for now and a large garage with a toilet and a door that leads inside. We will have a caravan anyway. I thought my son might like the space. He's still little and sleeps with me and chances are that we can move on before it matters. If not, he needs to live in the caravan if we buy this place. I can't alter the garage itself as it's a town house. I do feel it's better for us to own a property than to pay rent. If we don't take the opportunity. We may never get into the market.
I have a couple of questions :)
1. How old is he?
2. How does he feel about being in a caravan?
3. Can you just rent for the time being and then buy?
4. How would you feel about yourself being in a caravan in the garage?
In all honesty depending on the age (if he's a teenager) he'd probably love to sleep in a caravan like it's his own house! But it would probably be better to try and turn part or all of the garage into a room.
My husband was moved into a caravan in the backyard when he was a teen as his mum took in another kid to care for. She thought he was fine with this but he wasn't. He still resents her for this many years later. Remember what may be fun for a week may be seen as you treating him as less than his sister's equal down the track. I like the idea of converting the garage. Get a plasterer in to put up walls and insulation in one part of the garage. Use the rest for storage.
If you own the townhouse there shouldn't be any trouble making a room in the garage. I can't stress enough how bad their relationship is. Be careful with this situation. Rent money is dead money but your relationship with your children is 1000 times more important than entering the property market.
If you're considering converting the garage to a bedroom, just make sure you're not in breach of any covenants/restrictions of the complex the townhouse is in. Same goes for having a caravan I guess - maybe it would be okay to have one if it fits entirely inside the garage with the garage door closed. It'd have to be a tiny caravan or a huge garage! Also when buying a unit in a complex don't forget to find out how much the body corporate is. Hope it all works out! Sounds like this year is looking great for you :)