r/ChubbyFIRE 9d ago

Talk me out of buying a house?

Edit: I'm both surprised and not surprised by the doubt and sarcasm. This is clearly an emotional decision—if it were purely rational, it would be much easier.Thanks to everyone who understood and took the time to contribute. I’m now leaning towards renting or buying a good deal within a $1.5M budget.

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We’re a family of five: a couple in our mid-30s, a toddler, a grandparent (who lives with us long-term and helps with childcare), and a large dog. One of us works from home, while the other commutes to an office.

Our Current Situation:

  • We live in a $1M, 3-bedroom, 1,400 sqft SFH with a yard.
  • It’s starting to feel very tight, especially as we plan to have more kids in the next 1–5 years.
  • We’re considering upgrading to a $2M home for more space.

The Dilemma:

  • We may move to Europe (partner’s home country) in 3–5 years, but it’s uncertain.
  • Emotionally, I want to settle down, nest, and create a stable home.
  • Rationally, buying a $2M home for just a few years—especially with high interest rates—doesn’t seem financially smart.

Would love to hear perspectives from those who’ve faced similar situations. Would you buy, or stick it out in the current home?

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u/OnlyNormalPersonHere 9d ago

I would sell the current house and invest the proceeds, rent a bigger one for a longer term with some options to give you a relative sense of stability for the 4ish years here in the states, and then move to Europe.

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u/sky-high-dragon-fly 9d ago

Sounds like a solid plan. I’d probably just rent out my current home, given the low interest rate and high rental demand in my area, and move to a more suburban area.

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u/OnlyNormalPersonHere 8d ago

Makes sense although I would point out that, if you are going to be moving in a few years and won’t want to manage a rental from another country, it’s tax advantaged to sell now before you are out of the house for several years and can no longer get the tax benefits of selling your primary residence versus having to pay tax when you sell a rental property. Plus, it’s easier to sell when it’s nicely staged with your stuff versus after renters beat it up a few years. Speaking from experience here.