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Want to Move But Don't Want to Sell House

Mark Cappel
UpdatedAug 24, 2010
Key Takeaways:
  • You must set one No. 1 priority to decide the best course of action.
  • Sell the property if you do not like the local schools or tax rate.
  • Lobby your local school district to improve the schools.

I want to move but I don't want to sell my house and can't afford another mortgage. What can I do?

I currently live in a bad school district. The township keep raising my taxes by thousands over the last two of the three years i have been here. We're in desperate need to move. I am currently paying a mortgage on time and we desire to move over the next month ot two. My credit score is good bu i cant get approved for a mortgage because i don't have 25% of equity in my home. i wanted to rent the property but i was told i need to rent at least two years to count it as income and i may still need to have 25% of equity. We really need to leave this area and i'm trying my best to protect our credit. i'm at stand still and i don't know what to do. Can you help?

Allow me to rephrase the facts in your question: You want to move to a different area because you do not like the school system or the tax rate. You want to keep the house and turn it into a rental. You have less than 25% equity in the house. You have a good credit score you want to maintain. I infer you cannot afford another mortgage because you mentioned you cannot include rental income on the property because there no rental history.

You need to set your priorities. What is your single top-most priority? Is it moving? Renting the property? Maintaining a high credit score? You are at a standstill because you are trying to keep three priorities as No. 1 and there can be only one top priority.

You have several solutions. The most obvious is sell the property. That way you preserve your high credit score, free yourself from the mortgage payment, and liberate equity you can use to buy a property in a county with low taxes and excellent schools.

Or, rent and move into a residence in a county with low taxes and excellent schools for two years during which time you build a rental history on the property you own.

Another solution is to become involved in the school district to affect the changes in the school system that you want to see accomplished. Alternatively, attend county supervisor meetings and understand where and why your tax dollars are being spent so that you can speak out to your representatives about the local tax rate.

The least desirable solution is to default on the loan and walk away from the property, especially if you have equity in the property. A foreclosure will free you from the property, but at the expense of, among other things, your credit score.

However, if you have no equity in the property, consider a short sale.

I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.

Best,

Bill

Bills.com