housing choices, HELP!

[badgercat]

I'd go with the closer+smaller place, for what it's worth. My boyfriend and I rent a 2-bedroom house with similar square footage, and inside the house we have a total of 6 bikes, his huge computer setup (he's a comp sci graduate student) and a desk for me too, 3 bookcases for all of our textbooks and papers, my sewing desk and collection of craft supplies and costumes, and a piano, 3 wind instruments, and a formidable collection of sheet music between us (we have a lot of hobbies, none of which are very compact ). We don't have pets like you do, but I have to believe you can make that amount of space work for a year.

Sure, a little more space would be nice, but to me it wouldn't be worth a 3x longer commute (we live ~3 miles from campus [where we're both full-time students and part-time employees] and bike-commute). I had also been one of those people who always liked to spread out, but I've adapted relatively well. If I get stir-crazy, I go for a bike ride.

ETA: I can also appreciate that everyone is used to different things (I'm very much still a student and used to living in cramped quarters, I haven't had an opportunity to live anywhere roomier since I moved out of my parents' house), and there's the issue of what to do with your spare furniture, but maybe there's a reasonable storage locker you could rent somewhere? Anyway, good luck with your decision, I'm sure other folks will have good perspectives and advice here.

[ny biker]

I chose a 1BR with three closets because it's in a neighborhood I like and close to my job. I've found that I've been able to get rid of lots of stuff that I don't really need. I use storage chests as end tables, my coffee table is a storage ottoman, I keep linens and spare blankets in under-bed storage. I have patio benches on my balcony that double as storage. It's not ideal -- I would love a second bedroom to use as an office/bike room. But the convenient location is important, and worth it.

Just my $.02.

What does your gut say?

[KnottedYet]

In which domicile would you sleep better?

[shootingstar]

 I have furniture for a 3 bedroom house (1 doublebed suit, 1 twin bed, and office / sewing room). Ooh, ooh, I could expand easily to a 4 bedroom, anyone want to subsidize me?  

Just for myself, I couldn't have that amount of stuff in a home to maintain. So you must be quite an organized, neat person to want to have this amount of stuff.

[XMcShiftersonX]

A year is a long time. My house is my sanctuary, and I don't do well with things displaced within it. They were doing construction in and around our condo for the last 3 months, and I thought I was going to have a mental break. For me, the questions would be, am I going to be happy with this living arrangement for X amount of time? Why live in misery just to make something work, if it's not really what you want? Are there other options available? I know you've been looking for some time now, and living in a hotel must be hard. I hope something works out soon.

[Trek420]

Location location location. I'd go for ease of commute, errands, shopping, close to public transportation options as well as cycling.

You don't want to spend your life driving to work.

What area feels best to you?

[bmccasland]

The apartment is up in the hills, and I'd have an end unit, but on the bottom. So there'd be people above me.

The house is one block from a freeway and near the airport - jets fly by on a regular basis.

Not knowing who my immediate wall neighbors would be, it might be a toss up on which would be quieter, but for ambient outside quiet - the apartment complex definitely wins.

[badger]

I personally hate communal living. I live in a condo now, and if I can do away with noisy/inconsiderate/unfriendly neighbours, I would. If you're not on the top floor, you'll hear people stomping around upstairs.

Another thing that you may want to consider is: I'm assuming your cats are indoor cats? if they were in a house, would they be tempted to go outside?

I suppose what you could do is try out the house and if you absolutely loathe it, maybe you can at that point look for a spacious apartment. $400/mo is a lot, that's $4,800 a year - you could get a pretty swanky bike for that kind of money!

I feel for you, I hate decision making, too!!

[badgercat]

The apartment is up in the hills, and I'd have an end unit, but on the bottom. So there'd be people above me.

The house is one block from a freeway and near the airport - jets fly by on a regular basis.

Not knowing who my immediate wall neighbors would be, it might be a toss up on which would be quieter, but for ambient outside quiet - the apartment complex definitely wins.

I hadn't realized noise was a concern. I grew up in a house a few blocks from two expressways, a few blocks from train tracks, and basically on a flight path for planes landing at Chicago Midway airport... so ambient noise doesn't really register for me. Just another example of how it's all relative to what you're used to and what makes you (un)comfortable. My parents moved to a less densely populated area a little while back (after spending their first 60+ years in/around Chicago) and found it unsettling at first because it was TOO quiet!

Does reading advice from those of us who leaned towards the house give you "that sinking feeling?" If so--your gut is probably telling you to go with the apartment, and maybe you should follow it. If not, deal with the smaller space, put away that rent differential, and get yourself a fabulous place in a few months that makes both you and the kitties happy.

[ClockworkOrange]

For the sake of 12 months, the cheaper place sounds a good option, then with the money you save you could upgrade and go for a Specialized Allez Sport 27 2011 Road Bike or similar..........

Being realistic, it's only four walls, with the winter coming along it will be cheaper to heat and smaller means LESS HOUSEWORK!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Clock

PS I shall be sending you my invoice for Consultation fees all in due course.