* Would you sacrifice where you WANT to live in order to buy a home? *

CharleneUK

Hi there, neither of us are in a keyworker job, however, the assisted private purchase scheme is a really good scheme, it's just if we qualify for it or not.

Tiger_greeneyes

I'm playing Devil's Advocate here - what's so great about Croydon that makes you want to stay there? I wouldn't go back there if I was paid

Doozergirl

Tiger_greeneyes wrote:

I'm playing Devil's Advocate here - what's so great about Croydon that makes you want to stay there? I wouldn't go back there if I was paid

You're right. My aunt used her assisted purchase money to move from Croydon to Lancashire. She got a lot more for her money!

I moved from that part of town (went to school in Croydon myself) out to the Midlands and I really am spoilt for choice when it comes to good schools to send my children to and many of them are undersubscribed! My little boy was most of the reason I moved away.

Tiger_greeneyes

There was a time when I would have cut off my right arm rather than leave Croydon. When I moved away, I was like a fish out of water for some time.

Now I live a minute's walk from the beach in a three storey Victorian seaside terrace - with no mortgage - I wouldn't go back to Croydon if I was paid. My brother still lives there and every time I go to visit, I notice how much more of a dive it's becoming.

It's not the same place I grew up in - and loved so dearly. Gang culture is rife, the house prices are astronomical - why would anyone choose to max themselves out on a mortgage if they don't have a really compelling reason to do so? My brother does it because his wife refuses to move - but he'd be out of there in a shot if she agreed to move. I wish she would btw, it's not the best place in the world for kids to grow up these days - not with the drugs and violence that's so rife

CharleneUK

My family are here I couldn't leave them.

I know Croydon has changed, but times have changed on the whole.

Tiger_greeneyes

Fair enough

All I'd say is take your time to decide whether you want to move to NA. Look into other areas too. The more informed you are and the more time you take to think about it, the happier you'll be with your decision

One thing you could do, if you feel brave, is rent out your property for six months and rent a property in NA to see if you like it. If you have any family elsewhere (within driving distance of Croydon) then maybe you could consider renting there for a while to see if you could make the move long-term.