When a recruiter reaches out to you...

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I had a recruiter for an AmeriCorps program reach out to me based on my profile. They said if I apply over the weekend they can get me an interview next week. But well starts in September and im in Michigan and this position is in Seattle and I have a disabled husband to worry about... Ugh... I still have the interview with the much closer position... I don't want to be rude but I don't know how serious to take this.

That's a toughie. If you moved to Seattle, that would get the uncle out of your hair. The cost of living in Seattle is probably quite a bit higher than what you are used to. You also have these medical relationships of your husband to think about. I probably would pass on that, UNLESS it's a really perfect match for your career interests.

Decisions about whether to pursue a position are not rudeness. If you are going to pass, just send a polite email to the recruiter thanking them for their interest.

It's nice to be wanted though, isn't it?

Anyway now I have more to think about because a distant relative has offered to sell us a small house on land contract and if I get a job or even if my husband gets his disability next month we could afford the payments. That would give me and my husband our own place. The house of course is local to here so if we end up making a deal then it would have to be a local job. The job I have an interview with already, this house is about a 20 minute drive from there which wouldn't be bad. But of course we need to actually see the house first, decide if it is right, etc... Is owning a place better than renting? Ehhhhhh....

Owning IS better than renting - renting is sometimes known as "throwing your money away" or "putting the landlord's kids through college" ... however, you are responsible for every maintenance expense, new roof, new furnace, taxes, insurance, all utilities, etc. And if the property is ever condemned (labeled as unfit for human habitation, or even just not being up to code), you could be homeless. It takes money to make money.

Before you would proceed on this house you should get a market value analysis (free from most realtors) and property inspection (paid, through a licensed inspector). Even though the relative might be willing to sell you this on very favorable terms, you'd better know what you're getting into. Owning should be viewed as an investment, so ask yourself if, at the selling price, and taking into consideration any improvements needed, will you be able to get out what you paid at a minimum, and hopefully more?

In my state at least, there are programs to help a low-income household buy their first home. You should look into those. It might even be the case that you would be better off in a program like that, with a conventional mortgage, than buying on a land contract.

Look before you leap.

A 20-minute drive? I wish I had a 20-minute drive! Gas would be about $60 a month.

I have a 1.5 hour commute each way. I pay about $125 a month for transit.

We're not going to take this house. My uncle wants the house to be in his name for some reason and after what he just did with the bills, let the job in Seattle call me if llthey would help us with relocation, I'm that mad!

I hope they would help you with relocation.

How did your uncle get in the picture? Was the original plan that he would be living in the house with you?

From all I've heard about this uncle, the less involved you are with him, the better.

The house was originally offered to my uncle but he can't take it because just this past month he renewed his lease for two years here. He wants to get the house but have us make the payments and live in it. My husband doesn't like the sound of that and doesn't want it unless our name is on it or there was a no doubt garantee we would end up with it in the end. Uncle made it clear he doesn't want to live in it with us. He wants us to trust him.

Oh, and my uncle is more of a "gray area" lol... Like for example because we're struggling he just went back to work as a mechanic even though he has a heart condition, he came home yesterday with his first paycheck with stuff for the house and let us borrow some of it too. He's a very talented mechaniic too and does all work on my car free. He's gone out of his way to help me too so sometimes I get really confused by him.

Despite family drama, job wise today the Seattle AmeriCorps set up an interview time, but there is no relocation help and my husband needs that surgery locally in September so that one is probably out. However I found a couple of AmeriCorps opportunities in my hometown and after applying the guy started texting me asking me for more info and stuff, so maybe there could be something there? The other position I have an interview for fits my background better however, so I might have a better chance? At least people are showing interest!! !

That's wonderful really, that you are getting an interest. So I take it your uncle's income as a mechanic will slightly ease the financial strains.

How are you holding up with your mood?

Mood okay. Actually my uncle got a large sum of money from his sister and he used it to buy a camper that he put on her property... So me and my husband will live alone here until we move out or it gets too cold for him to stay in the camper more. Camper is near his work. Hope this will work out.