Couple Weighs Moving Away to Afford Bigger Home Before Third Child Arrives

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A couple in New York with two young children and another on the way is struggling to find an affordable house in their current neighborhood. They are considering moving further away to a different state where they can more easily afford a larger home, but are conflicted about having to uproot their kids from their schools and friends.

Why it matters

The decision highlights the difficult tradeoffs many growing families face when trying to balance the need for more living space with the desire to maintain community connections and school stability for their children. As housing costs continue to rise in many urban areas, more families may be forced to make similar choices.

The details

The couple has been saving aggressively to buy a home, but prices in their New York neighborhood are too high. They've been living in an apartment for 9 years and now with two kids and a third on the way, they desperately need more space. To save money, they've been living in an unoccupied basement apartment belonging to the wife's in-laws. However, even with this arrangement, it will take them at least another year or two to afford a decent home in their current area. As an alternative, they are looking at houses in other states where they can get more for their money, but they are conflicted about having to pull their 5 and 8-year-old kids away from their friends and schools.

• The couple has been married for 9 years.
• They currently have two children, with a third on the way.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The couple will need to weigh the pros and cons of staying in their current neighborhood versus moving further away to find a more affordable home that can accommodate their growing family.