A welcome break in the daily routine was when a colleague booked his flat in Pune. For a long time, he was looking out for a flat, and now when he did get one, it was a nice change to look at floor-plans, work out carpet area, saleable area etc. Getting a flat you like and within your budget is almost next to impossible in Pune nowadays. Time and again, friends keep giving me pointers about the going rate, a suitable builder, or even interest calculations, but I have never seriously considered buying a house.
I love the house we live in now. It's a rented one bedroom apartment, fully furnished, and very close to work. When I moved in, I moved in with only my suitcase. It was a little more than what I had come with to the UK, three years ago. In fact, if you really think about it, it was not very different from what I had brought to Pune, five years ago (not taking into account the size of the clothes, but you get the drift).
So, it makes me wonder when S sees something she REALLY likes and buys it 'for "our" house'. She is all too keen to get it up and running. She already has mental maps of how our house should be, she wants to paint her own walls and arrange her furniture. She's bought vases and candle-stands which have found their places in our would-be house. And although I see her point, I still remain unconvinced to take the plunge.
May be it is the traveller in me who has taken to heart that little notice on trains - 'Less Luggage, More Comfort'.
May be it is the fact that even if you snap a finger and magically have the most likeable apartment available for sale, I might not have the money to commit myself to it.
May be it is because it constrains me by limiting my options.
Consider this. We stay in Milton Keynes, but S's job search is not limited to MK alone. This is because we have the flexibility of moving anywhere within an hour's drive of MK. All we would have to do is to search a fully furnished house on rent, and drive down with our luggage in the back of the car.
On the other hand, the first thing I have to decide when I think to moving back to India is to decide "where". Should I move back to Pune, live in a rented flat, paying the equivalent of two months rent as brokerage every year? Should I move back to Bangalore and spend half of a working day travelling to work?
My argument is that buying a house is probably the single largest investment we make in our life. It tethers us to the place we choose, dramatically reprioritising career options, healthcare, schooling, what not! And we are better off doing it when we know the answer to the fundamental question - Where?
4 comments:
She already has mental maps of how our house should be,
Am sure you know, but it's called nesting. It's a gender thing. Woman wants to keep house, while the man's always on the move looking for bigger/better game.
Buying a home together is one of the most beautiful yet stressful things a couple can do. Location is all that matters :-)
Thanks for dropping by and tip-ping!
You know, I have to agree with Rads here. It is stressful, yet so satisfying. All our memories for however short a span are made in the house we live in. To visualize a house and make it a home takes creativity, commitment and above all love.
Go for it!
That seems to be one reasonable decision of yours! To own a home is to get tied down to a place. And if you have to do that, you'd have to consider the pros and cons very carefully.
Home is where the heart is! :)
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