Trying making a decision

[Michael Wagner]

Hi .. I am new to bigger pockets and new to real estate. I have been looking for the past year and a half to get my first house for me and my family of seven ... Me and my wife and 5 children ... I live in Suffolk VA... I am the only one in the family bringing in any income .. and my wife can't work do to medical reasons ..

I am looking for house with enough sqft for me and my family but houses with 4 or more br that are more turn key ready are too expensive .. So i am look at houses that are 3 br homes with a high sqft that I can maybe add or cut a room in to 2 rooms or change a sun room in to a bed room..

What my question is .. Do you think it would be better to try and find a house that is more turn key but will be getting close to our spending limit or more of a fixer upper to where we can afford the house but would need to put money into it over a few years ...

My wife wants more turn key .. and I want more of a fixer upper .. Just want to hear from someone that has been there and done it .. 

[Chris Seveney]

@Michael Wagner

Since you are the only one bringing in income (thus you work) and you are new to real estate, buy turnkey. Fiing up a home takes a lot of time and effort and trying to do it with five kids would be monumental task. While fixing it up will give you sweat equity, the stress renovations can put on a marriage with kids can be very harmful

Just my 2 cents