[SpeedOften]

This is my situation: I am transitioning out of the USN, have a job lined up with very comparable pay up in Mass. I'm married with three kids and own a house in Hampton, VA. My wife is a teacher. Her X5 is completely paid off. We still owe ~$16k on my E90 335i. I currently daily drive my 335i to and from base, it only has 50k miles and has a warranty until 125k miles. At the new job, I will be commuting ~50 miles daily until we sell and buy a new house up North, and then it may only drop to a 40 mile commute. We are trying to sell our house in Virginia and we can afford everything on just my salary now and what I will be making at the new job. I autocross my 335 a LOT.

My conundrum: Do I get rid of the 335i for now, buy a dd commuter that I don't care about and then once the wife gets a job up north work on moving to a M car worthy of both autocross and track (only toy no dd). It would theoretically give us more breathing room since we will be living off only my salary while she get recertified in NH and Mass and tries to find a new job.

I was thinking of getting a Ford Fiesta (40mpg and no temptation to push the go pedal). Then once she's working moving to a Z4M or E9xM3 even?

[Seminole]

Chevy Sonic Turbo is supposed to have a lot of spunk if that's the size car you are looking for. You could always spend a tad more and get a lightly used GTI as well. Much better car than those two and it still gets good gas mileage.

[Templar]

I'm sure you're already doing this, but take into account the cost of living up north.

My family's smaller house in the Philly area costs over twice as much as the house I own in NC, and I have 700 sqft more and my lot is way bigger. Looking deep into the costs of homeownership in the area you're moving will help you make your car decision a lot easier.

[SpeedOften]

The area I am looking to move to has a lot of foreclosures. The land value is much less expensive per acre, its a much more of a rural / suburban area as well. I currently dont live in a major city but it is more expensive than where I am trying to go (NH).

[ejheverest]

We live in downtown Norfolk, Va. right now, I'm from northshore Mass but have property in southern NH and Maine.

What area has a lot of foreclosures in Ma-Nh? Keep in mind, even if you have NH residence, you'll still pay Mass state tax and the property taxes in southern NH are extremely high.

Take your time researching schools before settling on a town. Lots of nice places within 40 miles of Boston.

Traffic in Hampton is horrible, glad my mode of transportation is a bike when I'm in Norfolk....its much faster than dealing with the city traffic!!

[SpeedOften]

Originally Posted by ejheverest

We live in downtown Norfolk, Va. right now, I'm from northshore Mass but have property in southern NH and Maine.

What area has a lot of foreclosures in Ma-Nh? Keep in mind, even if you have NH residence, you'll still pay Mass state tax and the property taxes in southern NH are extremely high.

Take your time researching schools before settling on a town. Lots of nice places within 40 miles of Boston.

Traffic in Hampton is horrible, glad my mode of transportation is a bike when I'm in Norfolk....its much faster than dealing with the city traffic!!

Traffic in Hampton is horrible at the HRBT? yeah I can agree but I have to be in to work early so I miss it all.

I'm originally from NH so I know about the taxes.

Bedford / Amherst... and surrounding...

Here's an example: http://www.realtor.com/realestateand...9142?source=hp

$225k for a $500k house...

[ejheverest]

Bedford is a nice area, very close to 101, 114, 293, Rt 3. School system is great and easier to resell than the towns further west-Goffstown, Weare, Francestown.

Thats a great price on a HUGE HOUSE!!(50k in reno's and the inside would be awesome)

My condo in Bedford was almost that price!!