Stuck between a rock and a hard place

Earlier this year, I began dating the most amazing woman. She has this awesome 3 year old son that I’ve become incredibly attached to. I recently moved them in to my cozy, historic Ybor home.

Seriously. Look at this place.

But now, I’m being forced to make a decision for our financial future. Do we stay here where I love the location, or do we move into the home I purchased last January? I love the other home, but it isn’t exactly in the nicest of neighborhoods. Luckily, both the previous owners and my current tenant have had no issues due to location.

Fixer upper

This other home is very cool and since I bought it with cash, we will be able to live rent free. It also has a large detached workshop that would allow me to close my current off site shop rental. Combining both would save me about $1800/mo. This would also allow me to put money into the home and remodel it for the next few years in an effort to possibly turn a profit. Or who knows, maybe the neighborhood will improve further and cause us to stay? I just don’t have the money to invest into the home to suit another possible tenant’s happiness while paying for a rental myself.

Either way, moving into this home will save us a ton of money each month and since li’l man isn’t old enough for school yet, I don’t have to worry about school zoning and quality.