I too, after being in a big house for 17 yrs. am now in a duplex. It does take some getting used to. The one thing great about it is that it seems like the rent here is very small compared to the house payment that daunted me every month. (last time my loan jumped it jumped to $4400. per month vs. $1800. per month here). For months I watched homeless people pushing shopping carts down the street while we were in a motel room, thanking God that wasn’t us. Unfortunately it also completely broke us to be there. BUT, here we are, you in your small apartment, me in my duplex, and we’re ok. Not only that, but I got to thinking about it and the rent seems reasonably enough, that even when the money is flowing, I think I would like to stay here, build a savings account, and be able to invest to build on my money vs. just giving it all to a heartless bank. If nothing else, you know you are a lot wiser this time around. Now you’ve been through it all, learned from your mistakes (at least we hope we have) and we can rebuild.

To tell you the truth, I actually preferred when I lived in an apartment and people actually talked to each other or had coffee together. I knew my neighbors, but I wouldn’t say I was “friends” with more than probably 1 of them. You sound young enough to have plenty of time ahead of you. Take advantage of all the service has to offer, which isn’t enough if your husband goes to Afghanistan, but whatever it is, use it. Don’t lose hope for the future. They may have taken a house away from you, but that’s all. You still have you and that’s the biggest, most important asset anyone has. There’s an old saying, I’m not sure if it’s from the Bible or from a very forlorn author somewhere, but it goes “This too shall pass”. It helps me a lot. Maybe it will help you too.

Feel free to stop by anytime, and if I can answer any real estate questions for you, or you would just like to talk about your experience, I’d be glad to read your story. Tell your husband “Thank You” for everything.

We have been through both foreclosure and bankruptcy due to us having lost our business. Now we are renting a small apartment. It is so hard especially since we have children and the friends all live in houses. It breaks my heart. I cannot find a job and sometimes it feels like the nightmare will never end. There must be a lot of people in the same boat, but nobody wants to admit it for sure. I keep on hoping that one day we will own a home and desperately try to keep that hope alive in my heart. I only hope it is not a fools dream. Besides that next year my husband will most likely be deployed with his reserve unit to Afghanistan most likely. I am sorry for the long and whiny post. I really needed to vent. Thank you