How long have you lived in one area?

Suzkin

Not sure where to post this question, so apologies if in wrong/inappropriate place:

I am single and I've been living in the same one-bed house (I've a mortgage) in the same road, same town in the South for just over 11 years.

I absolutely hate the area, but I like my characterful house. If I was not a homeowner, and was renting, I would have moved away years ago.

I am unable to let my house as massive building work needs to be done, which I cannot afford, due to my poor employment circumstances etc.

I do not want to sell as (a) the current economic climate is not good and I would probably lose a small fortune i.e. my only asset (b) I would have nowhere to go (c) this is probably my only opportunity to be a homeowner - my age and earnings capability would probably prohibit ever being able to afford another property again (d) I do not wish to enter into any part-share/rent agreement, as I've approx. only £16k to go to pay off the entire mortgage.

Therefore, I feel absolutely trapped. _pale_

a) If anyone has any solutions, I would welcome them.
b) I am curious as to the length of time people have either 'managed' or wanted to live in the one place.

Being 'grounded' in this particular road/place/location is really getting me down - especially as there is very little employment here.

Ed_Zep

Hi Suzkin,

I kind of identify with what you said there. I was in a house for 12 years and didn't move until I got a really ignorant, noisy neighbour who put music on at 3am. That got me to move. Fortunately, I found a house that I really love, where I've been now for 4 1/2 years.

Have you thought about moving further up north? Yes, the price of your house has fallen but so has everyone else's.

The equivalent house would surely be cheaper?

You didn't say what part of the south so it's a bit difficult to advise.

Hope things get better for you.

Take care,
Ed.

want2bmortgage3

Hey Suzkin
I was interested to read your post as I know where you're coming from.
I feel very little love for my town and if it wasn't for family and a few friends I'd move elsewhere, preferably somewhere on the coast!
Do you have family/friends in your area?

David_Aston

In answer to b) 25 years.
Shepperton. Nice place, wouldn't want to move.

Marg

b) 30+years in this area.
Not keen on the town itself (seaside resort) but it's in the nicest area of the town so we're sticking with it for now.
BUT whilst I sympathise with you please don't get hung up on where you live blighting your life - you are you wherever you are & moving wont change that. So concentrate instead on living life to the full where you are for now going out as much as you can if that's what it takes & who knows you might just start to like it!

frazzmunch

hi suzkin....i have lived in my house for 9 years....the house itself is crappy but has loads of potential if only i had the money :rolleyes: ...however, i LOVE the location....i am surrounded by fields but only a 20min walk away from the beach....

i agree with ed_zep....you could probably find a house further north for a lower or equivalent price....if you can hang on for a little while longer until the prices stabilize again it may be worth considering.....

however, a small bit of advice....when my neighbours children got to teenage years we had problems with music blaring at all hours...despite numerous complaints and almost resorting to extreme violence :eek: it took almost two years to sort it to the point where it is only loud during the day now....which doesn't bother me in the least...

last year we had a new set of neighbours move into the house on the other side of us and despite them doing their house up for eight months solid, they are planning on selling it because of the music situation...

phizzimum

I can sympathise with your dilemma.

We rented for a long time and moved every couple of years. We moved to the house we're in now as first time buyers nearly 10 years ago. It actually shocks me that we've been here that long!

It's a lovely house, in an ok town. But we never planned to move here - that sounds crazy, what I mean is, we couldn't afford a house in the town we lived in, we had a baby and needed to move. So we ended up here because we could afford it, but neither of us have roots or connections with the area, and we do get itchy feet.

We tried to move a year ago, but the purchase fell through. the cost and hassle of moving puts me off, especially in the current economic climate, and we've no real need to move - it's just strange living in one place for so long.

Suzkin

Yes, I only moved to the house I'm in now as it was all I could (and can) afford. I moved there from a lovely historic town where I was renting, but house prices were too expensive for me.

I only posted this thread as it's been on my mind recently about how long I've been living in the one place: whenever I mention it in conversation (rarely), people seem so very surprised, and that makes me feel rather inadequate/left behind etc.

Oldernotwiser

I'd be climbing the wall if I had to live in the same AREA for 11 years, much less in the same house! Five years is the longest I've lived in any property.

Kaz2904

I've lived in this area on and off for my whole life.
I had to move into the town from a village when I left school and home as none of us could afford the village houses. I don't mind living here, it's not perfect but it'll do. We have family nearby and are well placed for getting places. We're 10 minutes from the beach and our commutes to work are 10 mins for DH and 20 mins at the worst for me.
If we didn't have family links here then we may have moved elsewhere but really it's not about the area you live in rather what friend base you build up around yourself.

Kez100

24 years for my first home and then moved. Been here 17.