January
17th
2008
City living, semi-city living, or Suburbia?
So, I've never lived in a city.
As a single gal in my early 30s, I'm wondering if perhaps living in downtown Portland for a year would be a good idea. Now is a buyer's market, yes, but most of the predictions I've seen say it'll keep going down for 2 years before it is corrected.
So, I don't think I'd want to live in NYC, for instance. But perhaps in the Hawthorne or Pearl District in Portland would be a good idea. Rent for a year, see if I prefer that life-style? Then purchase, based on that? I really do want to get my investment on, get my first place, etc. - but am I short-changing myself by not even seeing what living in a city is like?
I think I'll hate it. I won't go to the shops, coffee houses, or other venues as often as I think I might like to, and I'll hate the noise and population density. I'll hate not having a yard, and not having dogs. But maybe I will head down to the coffee shops a lot, maybe I will socialize more? Is it stupid to not even try?
I don’t see you being happy in a city ever. For as long as I’ve known you the talk has been of horses, land, dogs and anti-city rants. Even if you do go to the coffee houses and shops and venues I really don’t see you enjoying living in a city. I would look towards the investment potential if for no other reason then that it would make you happier living in a place of your own with a yard for some dogs.
If you’ve never lived in a city, I think that trying it for a year is awesome.
You might not be a city person, but you’ll know for sure.
I think that housing prices have not hit bottom yet—but even if they have, I expect they’ll be stagnant for well over a year. So it’s not wasted time, from an investment perspective, to hold off on purchasing.
Personally, I don’t think you’ll be a lot more social, but you will find yourself going to the coffee shops and bookstores. You might find you like it—I love it, personally—but even if not, I think it’s worth the year to find out.
Or maybe you just get a six-month lease. Six months isn’t long enough to know if you’ll love it, but it should be long enough to know if you can’t stand it.
Speaking of The Big City, though (not that I think Portland counts), any chance you’ll make brunch on Sunday when Laura and I are down in Portland?
This decision is really tearing me apart, honestly. The whole process is just stressful, and not even knowing which life-style I want even moreso. To live in the city would cost so much more money though, and it may come down to that, in the final tally. Even for a year - I really don’t want to rent some place thats $1600/month for 800 sq. ft.
Anyhow - I’d love to see you, J, and meet Laura, but I’ve been not all that healthy this week and I’m not sure how I’ll feel Sunday. I do intend to come up to Seattle in the next 4-5 weeks hopefully (preferably before I go making any sort of offers, so I can decide if I want to try living up there.) so perhaps I can treat you guys to brunch when I’m up there, instead.
I wish I could make it, but I just can’t promise it. =/
But I’m sure there’s something in a shade of grey…
Something in between…
I don’t think I want to return to Salty’s until the figure out that pancakes and french toast are vital parts of any breakfast. ;p
But I’m sure there’s something in a shade of grey…
Something in between…
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