<prompt> Human: Edit: Thanks for the insights. Im feeling better about staying and seeing how things go over the next several years. Its also just so much easier to not sell, change jobs, move my business, and start over in a new place, far from friends and family. Sorry to those of you who felt it wasnt a PF question. We own a house in the Bay Area. Purchased for 650k, mortgage is 550k. If we were to sell in the current market it would sell for 900k on the low end and maybe 1.1m on the high end. Take home profit after sale expenses would be 300-400k, depending on sale price.We currently bring home about 10kmonth. Mortgagetaxins is 3500.Daycare, plus all bills, food, vehicle insurance and full Roth retirement investments essentially leaves us with 500-1000 each month.I feel like it makes sense to grab the money thats just sitting there for the taking, but conflicted. Reasons not to sell:Dont know where to go. Wifes family is all in the area, and while thats not a deal breaker, leaving our support structure with a three month old feels drastic. The schools our house filter into are ranked 10 out of 10, and we cant afford anywhere else in the area, or even outside the area like Sacramento, that has such great schools.We essentially cant afford anything in the area. We couldnt afford to buy our house today. We could technically still afford a house in the Bay Area with the sale profits, but doesnt make sense to sell to go to a worse community with poorer schools in order to have a smaller mortgage, at least not to us. Reason to sell:We live in a cute little community, but its next to a rough area, and seeing some bad stuff moving in petty crime, stolen packages, lots of homeless and tent cities.Very crowded.COL is very highWife has a good career but she could work in other areas, just wouldnt be paid nearly as much. Im self employed and have built my business here. I can find customers in a new place or focus more of my business online, but feels like starting over. We technically fit the formula with 13 going to housing, but all the other stuff, plus COL, adds up. Well make it here, but will never be in a position to accrue wealth, saving 1000 per month. A vacation or car repair wipes that out.I know it seems obvious to take the cash and move, but its really difficult, mentally and emotionally. I know we could move to a place like Milwaukee, or Nashville, or any number of places and have a sweet, paid for house with 300-400 in profits and no mortgage, and be on our way to wealth building. Just having a hard time with the idea of leaving family, CA, and an area we like, despite the cost and crowds. What would you do, understanding that we dont really WANT to move, but do see the upside?  <response>: Given the family business ties to the area it sounds like you just need to stick it out. Maybe shoot for an eventually early retirement to a much cheaper area after the kids are grown funded largely by the sale of your million dollar home. 