Haverfordwest

DaftyDuck

Dan, in all my moves I have never regretted renting in the interim, and I'd be pretty convinced it had saved me money each time, as well as certainly allowing me to get a property that suited me better. Remember, you'll gain on the sale (far less risk of being pushed into a last-minute price cut), as well as on the subsequent purchase (being a cash-buyer always helps, being flexible on dates even more so). I know you are a hands-on bloke, so any overlap in the rent/buy stage can be profitably used to fix up the new place. It also allows you to sell in the spring/summer (when prices are on the up), and buy in the early winter, when bargains are to be found.

Given your lifestyle change, it also seems a win-win. You may not find a job over there in six months of renting, and that may be enough to convince you you are looking in the wrong location. It's possible all the other aspects you are looking for (and they are ones I wholeheartedly agree with) just aren't there for you, and it gives the kids a chance to adapt (or not) to the change.

It doesn't have to cost that much either. You can self-store much of the baggage, and squeeze into something small and not exactly desirable for a few months. It's a good inducement to making your mind up, and not waiting forever for that non-existent perfect place to crop up.

Good luck, and give it a go! Or, at least give it a good think!

Dan-Dan

DaftyDuck wrote: »

Dan, in all my moves I have never regretted renting in the interim, and I'd be pretty convinced it had saved me money each time, as well as certainly allowing me to get a property that suited me better. Remember, you'll gain on the sale (far less risk of being pushed into a last-minute price cut), as well as on the subsequent purchase (being a cash-buyer always helps, being flexible on dates even more so). I know you are a hands-on bloke, so any overlap in the rent/buy stage can be profitably used to fix up the new place. It also allows you to sell in the spring/summer (when prices are on the up), and buy in the early winter, when bargains are to be found.

Given your lifestyle change, it also seems a win-win. You may not find a job over there in six months of renting, and that may be enough to convince you you are looking in the wrong location. It's possible all the other aspects you are looking for (and they are ones I wholeheartedly agree with) just aren't there for you, and it gives the kids a chance to adapt (or not) to the change.

It doesn't have to cost that much either. You can self-store much of the baggage, and squeeze into something small and not exactly desirable for a few months. It's a good inducement to making your mind up, and not waiting forever for that non-existent perfect place to crop up.

Good luck, and give it a go! Or, at least give it a good think!

Thanks mate, wise words as always

It makes absolute sense to rent first,i see that clearly,i think all in all we have to make sure that the area is what we hope for it to be and hope it is because going back to where we are now after 6 months of renting with no luck and no job is not a place i want to be in

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

^^ Have to agree with the above. The reason houses are cheap in Haverfordwest, and places like Haverfordwest, is because it is very difficult to live there and find a job. Any move should really be a matter of job first, move second. And even then you need to be aware that if anything happens to the job you have, you might well struggle to find another.

Be aware that the majority of people brought up there are moving away in order to find work.

Oakdene

Have been brought up in & around Haverfordwest & still live 6 miles from there.


I bought in Milford Haven as my situation is different & you get more house for your money there...There are some lovely little villages just outside Haverfordwest, Freystop, Sardis, Pelcomb to name a few. The only thing with Johnston is there is a very busy main road which is used by refinery lorries.



Jobs wise, it depends what you do but the salaries here are a lot less than say Carmarthen which is 30 miles east. If I went to work in Carmarthen I could easily get an extra 5-6 thousand a year.

DaftyDuck

Just as an added point, re the rental option. You are moving from an area of reasonably fast-rising prices, to an area where prices are, in actual fact, still falling on several categories of property. Many houses have been sitting on the shelf for months, even years. I know there are several posters who are well-aware of the unrealistic expectations of some Welsh sellers in their slow/shrinking market but, as a rental buyer, chain-free, you will be in the absolute best position to cash in on this. A considerable number of sellers who hold back do so as much because of mis/distrust and confusion as through wanting more cash on the table. Stable, or falling prices over there mean your rental time isn't lost time as far as holding a property for its increasing value.

The ability to offer a good price, but a time-scale of the vendor's choosing (but be wary...) is often valued more highly than an offer a few thousand higher that's accompanied by pressure. This is all the more true in quieter, less pushy areas of the country.

Davesnave

ScorpiondeRooftrouser wrote: »

The reason houses are cheap in Haverfordwest, and places like Haverfordwest, is because it is very difficult to live there and find a job. Any move should really be a matter of job first, move second. And even then you need to be aware that if anything happens to the job you have, you might well struggle to find another.

Be aware that the majority of people brought up there are moving away in order to find work.

There is certainly something in this argument that many young people move away from rural areas in search of jobs. I did, but equally, others move into them, especially when more mature. I don't mean the fully retired.

Where I live, it's similar to Pembs, although we don't have the heavier industries like the deep water terminal, oil refinery etc. Sixty years ago, there was a fairly low percentage of people here of working age who'd come from outside the area. Now, everywhere in the region, the mix is very different.

There are opportunities for mid-level jobs, and of course teachers, hospital staff, civil servants etc work here and suffer little income penalty at present.

It's true, though, if someone wants to teach here, for example, they're going to come up against more competition than those seeking work in, say, Birmingham. Same for retail distribution managers, I'd imagine. Really specialised jobs are going to be scarce or non-existent, but many of those have moved on-line too.

So, I'd say that, over the past 50 years approx, many smart people moved into this region for exactly the same reasons as you want to go to Pembs. They didn't make their fortunes, perhaps, although I know a couple who did, but nor did they end up penniless on the dole. They made a life choice that was right for them and, generally speaking, good for a region that needed more human diversity, whatever its historic charms.;)

Dan-Dan

Davesnave wrote: »

many smart people moved into this region for exactly the same reasons as you want to go to Pembs. They didn't make their fortunes, perhaps, although I know a couple who did, but nor did they end up penniless on the dole. They made a life choice that was right for them and, generally speaking, good for a region that needed more human diversity, whatever its historic charms.;)

We are a friendly outgoing family, willing to integrate Dave, which i think is important

We are sitting down later with a pro/con list and to really go through it in depth

Looking on the Pembs council website it links to a few job agencies and i dont think i found any job of any description within 30 miles of H`west, so thats going to be a hard sell to the good lady wife

moneyistooshorttomention

Davesnave wrote: »

There is certainly something in this argument that many young people move away from rural areas in search of jobs. I did, but equally, others move into them, especially when more mature. I don't mean the fully retired.

Where I live, it's similar to Pembs, although we don't have the heavier industries like the deep water terminal, oil refinery etc. Sixty years ago, there was a fairly low percentage of people here of working age who'd come from outside the area. Now, everywhere in the region, the mix is very different.

There are opportunities for mid-level jobs, and of course teachers, hospital staff, civil servants etc work here and suffer little income penalty at present.

It's true, though, if someone wants to teach here, for example, they're going to come up against more competition than those seeking work in, say, Birmingham. Same for retail distribution managers, I'd imagine. Really specialised jobs are going to be scarce or non-existent, but many of those have moved on-line too.

So, I'd say that, over the past 50 years approx, many smart people moved into this region for exactly the same reasons as you want to go to Pembs. They didn't make their fortunes, perhaps, although I know a couple who did, but nor did they end up penniless on the dole. They made a life choice that was right for them and, generally speaking, good for a region that needed more human diversity, whatever its historic charms.;)

A valid post. However, "teachers, hospital staff, civil servants" are public sector staff.

When we are referring to somewhere in West Wales - and I would imagine Wales as a whole - I have noticed to date that there is a LOT less competition for at least some of the public sector jobs (apart from the very specialised ones) than in the rest of Britain. The reason being the requirement to speak Welsh that has been added in recent years by the Welsh Assembly - as well as being appropriately qualified for that type of job. Thus - many of the people intending to apply for the job don't do so in the first place - because they know there is a good chance their application will be binned as soon as they answer the "Can you speak Welsh?" question with "No". I've heard of a job that one would expect to attract tens (if not hundreds) of applicants for get very few applicants (precisely three!) - because that question was there on the form and so most would-be applicants didn't apply in the first place.

I've seen a couple of jobs going here that I might have applied for - but couldn't (ie because the advert specified "welsh-speaking"). I couldnt manage to get my previous (civil service) job if it were here - because I'd know "that question" would be there on the form and I wouldnt even get interviewed for it (the exact same job!).

Slinky

My suggestion would be to not sell your current home, but rent it out for 6 months whilst you rent somewhere in Wales for 6 months. If the move doesn't work out, you can move back to your existing home, and all you'll have really lost is your job, which should be easier to find a new one than it will be in Wales.

Don't burn your bridges until you know it will really work for you.

Dan-Dan

Thanks Slinky, all valid concerns and advise and i appreciate it