I need insight - please
Born and raised in Maine, cannot move out of state at this time. No family or anyone I can talk to, so I’m here 😊
Here’s the breakdown:
I’m a single mother (13, 10, 8). My oldest has a dad who has a house in Sebago. My younger two children and I have a PFA against their abusive father/my ex husband. They do not see him.
I work in Portland in an office making about $58k/year.
No student loans. 1 car loan, less than 2 years left.
$13k+ in savings, $23k+ in 401k
Right now I rent a duplex that my mother owns. I pay only $320 every two weeks. Heat and electric is included. I feel very grateful for this and try not to sound like I’m complaining.She only helps me with cheap rent. She isn’t emotionally mature/available. I’ve lived here for a few years but my kids are getting older. 3 bedrooms but the kids rooms are tiny and the house just sucks. It’s gross. It needs so many repairs. I truly think it needs to be demolished. In the summer heat now, it smells so musty and gross. I feel like something is seriously wrong with it. My mother doesn’t take my repair requests seriously. It takes forever to get anything done and she has her loser friends do the work for cheap so it’s not even good quality. So I get very cheap rent but I am MISERABLE in this house. I’m grossed out all the time. Everything is just old and run down. I have mold concerns. I’m embarrassed and never would have anyone come here.
I am pre-approved for a $315,000 house loan, but that’s still hard to find near work. Plus I’m very scared to get in over my head with mortgage and utilities.
I’m almost thinking about applying with the local housing authority? It would be apartment building and less storage room I’m sure, but the quality HAS to be better than this? I feel like the worst mother.
I had my kids young and was in bad relationships. My parents failed me other than my mom helping with my housing now, but she doesn’t care about the quality of the building. I feel like such a failure and I feel very stuck. I don’t even know what to do. I have a decent job, but I kind of fell into it so idk if I’d even be able to get another job like this if I tried to relocate. I can’t be too far from my daughters father in Sebago as he takes her about 50% of the time, but my options are so limited.
I guess I just wish someone could tell me what I should do. I literally have nobody to talk to about this and make all decisions on my own. Me and my dad do not speak, I’ve been single for years, don’t have close friends. I’m very alone.
I tried looking at houses a few months ago but it’s so much work and time and I can’t outbid anybody and the bank is so strict. I feel like I’m just stuck and I hate this for my children.