My husband and I are constantly confused about whether to buy a new house or finish + furnish the basement. We feel tight on space in our home and with my son growing he wants a space where he can play and spend time with his friends. Based on our finances we have come close to the decision to make the basement. I'm thinking of doing this in summer this year so that we can have space to host friends as well during the season.
I asked if making a basement would be a better idea than buying a new house.
I’m Jupiter in 3rd and in retrograde and moon in the last phase of Leo, changing signs soon. The ruler of the current house is Mercury which is housed in the 10th house of Capricorn.
Mercury does sextile venus (in 12th house); hidden places perhaps indicates basement, however will change signs before the aspect is completed. Saturn in the 12th house also makes me question the decision further; it could indicate some challenges in going ahead with the execution plan.
Venus and Saturn both in 12th could indicate hidden expenses on this
Jupiter is also the ruler of the new house (10th) and with it being retrograde, I don’t see much hope for it either

Any thoughts on this?

Interesting question. The problem is that basements lord the 4th house as well, I believe. I think Venus conjunct Saturn is describing the renovation in some way. Saturn disposits the 4th lord and Mercury is applying to this conjunction. I don't think the renovation would be a bad idea, especially since it's in a sign of Jupiter and Venus is exalted, but ultimately, the 4th lord is in the sign for Jupiter's fall. Jupiter is expansive whereas Capricorn is restrictive. I think the Pisces-like influence suggests adding some of your wants, but ultimately there is still a Saturnian, restrictive quality and it may not solve many issues that still bother you about the home. I agree too that expense might be a problem with the renovation since the 2nd lord is also Venus and there is a 12th house, self-undoing quality. It may also just be describing the basement in some way by being in the 12th too though, if it is an isolated, reclusive room. With Saturnian influences, you might be able to control your spending.

The Moon is VOC and in a fixed sign, so it may be you decide to stay put for now. I don't like to read charts of retro querents unless there's a good reason for it - it shows too much indecision and uncertainty, in my experience. Perhaps it's just describing your energies of going back and forth on this, as well as the dual signed Gemini placement.

If it were me, I would probably be looking for a home that better fits my needs, but I don't know everything involved with your decision and what all ties you to the current place.

One thing I find very interesting about the chart is that it perfectly describes what you said about your child wanting more space with his friends. Sun in the 11th house is opp Mars in the radical 5th. I normally think of Sun in the 11th as good friends (a placement I share in my natal chart and my best friend also has). Mars-Sun opp shows the struggle for space, with an irritable energy about it.

I wouldn't assume the 10th lords a new home. Turning the chart is a technique that can work - stay or go - but, IMO, I think it makes more sense to ask about specific homes you are interested in via a new chart.

Ashwsh,

In the context of your question, I would say the 4th House (Gemini) is your basement ruled by Mercury.
Your next house which is not identified but something in the future, I would assign the 7th House (4th from the 4th in Virgo) also ruled by Mercury.
With Fortuna in the 7th forming a T-square with SU and MA, this does not bode well for more space in a new house and the Moon VOC suggests that you can reconsider your options when the scenario changes.
I would say, wait when Jupiter (your ruler) moves away from the square to Saturn to clear the sky.
The whole idea is that with Neptune at the AS in Pisces and the ruler Jupiter R, detriment and mutable having to face Saturn by square next summer, I think you get the picture.

Best to you,
Ouranos

There is no data so I cannot check validity. Maybe the chart describes the matter closely enough and one can accept it.

First: I wonder if it is not significant that the angular house cusps are in mutable signs. Does this not refer to change? But what kind of change? Change location or change the basement?

Second: One can take this question for “Stay or go?” so it would be a matter of 1st and 7th house. John Frawley would do it this way I think. Both the lords are not located in good places. L1 Jupiter has dignity by triplicity but is in exile, retrograde in in the 3rd house, L7 Mercury is peregrine in the 11th so a little bit better: A (weak) testimony for moving. But if you give -5 points to peregrine planets than Jupiter is better off. A (weak) testimony for staying.

Moon is void of course and after changing signs applying to a square of Jupiter. A (weak sign) for adapting the basement? With difficulties (square)?

The Nodes plead for staying (North Node in the 1st, South Node in the 7th house).

I would answer this question that it does not make much difference if you stay or if you go. Maybe this decision is a matter of temperament. So do what you like. Hopefully you are at one with your husband.

current house 4th …next house 10th… jupiter next house is in turned 12 and Rx. moon is void. you arent moving.

it does not make financial good sense to go exposing yourself to extra costs of trading up plus cost of move. The renovation if done well will add value.

Basement/New house/ what do do..is a constant question these days in our mind and I thank you all for spending time sharing your thoughts.
I agree with Tanit that fixing the basement will create space for my son but will not fix many issues we have, primarily the kitchen and lack of storage space, so we keep going back and forth with the thought. I want to move and if the basement finish does not address what I want to achieve, spending $50K on something that does not pay me back does not make sense.
Also, we have an investment property that needs to close up in the next few months, so if I do that, I may not have money to move elsewhere and we can only do that once we close that one up.
So as suggested, I will wait out a bit more on this topic.

Thanks you all for the inputs. Really appreciate it