Move area? Stay local? Can't decide...

love_lifer

Hello all

Brief background- Ive lived in this area 25 years, 21 in this house, which is a big, period 1907 property and I love it. I hate the area though, it has deteriorated over time and continues downwards. Theres me plus dog and cats. And I'm happy to change jobs.

I have 2 options-move to better local area or back to home city where family and a few friends are. Home city is dearer and properties I look at in my price range (up to about £180k) and preferred areas arent appealing to me.

Im stuck. I dont know what to do. I love my house and friends here, but Im fed up of the neighbourhood. My family are ageing. Im single. I want more support locally. I really dont know how to play this.

So thought i'd see what the objective view of some other folk is.

Thanks in anticipation.

Fire_Fox

Do you need a house, could you manage fine with a decent sized ground floor flat? Would you be willing to have a lodger in a new home for extra income?

moneyistooshorttomention

Thread bookmarked.

I will watch this with interest for peoples' thoughts on this as I'm facing similar "where to live" dilemma.

love_lifer

I want somewhere spacious, with gardens, definitely not a flat. Need room for a workshop too. Yes lodger definitley a possibility- I have 1 currently.

I want to be near open spaces too- parks, fields etc. Which is a bit tricky, partiiculalry if I move to home city. Its easier to be near open spaces in my current home city

Fire_Fox

Are you close to being mortgage free on your current property? How do you feel about letting out your current home in it's entirety? Could you take a second lodger for a while (assuming you don't need to register as an HMO) and save like a demon?

Seems to me you need to decide what is more important to you, your immediate living environment (house) or area and social network. Where are you willing to compromise?

Nan_Dingle

Im fed up of the neighbourhood. My family are ageing. Im single. I want more support locally

Move seem to be the obvious option!

The issue I guess is money, how much could you get selling into a depresses market from an area which is on the skids.

Can you buy cheaper in you home city, focus on location and be prepared to go for a 'doer-upper' and time/money allows. Or can family provide some additional money and/or increase mortgage?

love_lifer

It's funny but I was heading the opposite way after writing the first post- ie. stay local and get a better house/environment. And I love my friends, feel aprt of the community.

I just cant decide. Im happy to do somewhere up but all the ones ive looked at are done and ugly- to me. Ive been looking in the other area a month. Where i am, houses are stone built and substantial. The other area is all brick and seems to be 1950s up and character-free.

Also im nearing 50 and i work part time, so I couldnt get a large new mortgage, and havent the energy I had when I started out in house buying. Ive about £15k left on this mortgage.

I realise Im fussy but I dont think im too fussy- I will be dead a long time (probably...). And Im scared of making a big mistake, thats proabably pretty key here

Nan_Dingle

Also im nearing 50...

Prudent to look for a property that you can adapt for limited mobility, easy access, no stairs etc. If you stay there for another 20 years, then these things will matter.

missile

Do not move until you find the house in the location you want. You will know it when you find it.

Fire_Fox

Nan_Dingle wrote: »

Prudent to look for a property that you can adapt for limited mobility, easy access, no stairs etc. If you stay there for another 20 years, then these things will matter.

:eek: As long as you consistently meet or exceed all our government's recommendations for healthy eating, remain physically active and maintain a healthy weight there is no reason that is necessary. Research indicates a large percentage of limited mobility is actually down to sedentary behaviour, not 'natural' ageing as many believe. Furthermore medicine will have moved on enormously in the next two decades!

love_lifer

Ha Im in good nick but you never know whats round the corner...

Im still really confused. I tend to think too much and perhaps im doing that with this issue- it just feels so immense. Im tempted to take the easier option, which is staying local. Anyone else having a prolonged midlife crisis???