Home ownership by default

You may want to revisit those expense figures. It is very hard for me to believe that all the utilities and property taxes only equate to $160/month. It is likely your mother in law had some property tax relief (homestead and/or resident senior citizen) that you may not qualify for. Property taxes are very high in Texas (offset by no state income tax). And you are right, unoccupied property is a magnet for crime. I would sell and if you are concerned about having a permanent place in the future, put the money aside from the sale and use it to buy when and where you want to own.