Housing Crisis

B and I (B is my husband) have been renting a nice home for going on 2 years now. We decided not to take advantage of the housing market for several reasons. One in particular, being that we simply didn't and still don't want to be tied down to a home that we couldn't up and sell if we needed to. We currently live in southern mid Michigan, and it's not our desired location either. BUT, B is kinda' sorta' in to his job; which is actually a potential for long term career. He's also contemplating going for his MBA after he finishes his Master's Degree this Spring (He works at a University) - whew! With that being said, I don't want to be renting for the next 3 years while he figures out what he's up to, and as I said above, he doesn't want to commit to buying a home until he knows for sure where we'll be for the next decade.

Last night we finally agreed to sit down and talk about what we both wanted in our future home. OH BOY! I want a nice piece of at least 4 acres to have a horse or two at home, if possible. I'd also like a nice barn with stalls and nicely pastured land. I can live with boarding horses too and I'm willing to compromise, but I will not live on top of my neighbors. I like room to breathe - countryside, trees, etc. B, he wants water front if possible - something close to a city also...ok. I just know that if our marriage can survive house hunting, it can survive anything else. We already had a bru-ha-ha just discussing the possibility of maybe-MAYYBEE buying a house this summer/fall. Not good!

Here's what I really really want:

It's not that I'm super partial to wood homes, though this one is cute. It's the beautiful barn and pasture that really gets me - SIGH!


Lovely barn! It even has a little cupola and weather vane - 5 acres, 5 stall barn, wooden fencing for $239,000.00??!! I WANT!!

Alas, it's too country-fide for ole' B. But, ohhhhh how I dream of owning something like this some day.

Below is a house that B sent me. It's nice and all - but where is the acreage? Where are the horses? The barn? All I see is another house sitting in arms reach - yuck!

Don't like the carpeting or the curtains, but nice high ceilings and gotta' love the windows!