Rural Dreams - Frustrated Reality

RuralDreams

I am venting, selfishly, I admit. I am frustrated with searching for our “forever home” with a wish list of ideals yet a ‘limited’ budget.

This is all about a lifestyle change, so as first time buyers it is a massive deal to us. We want a better life away from the cityscape, the 24/7, the pollution. We want fresh air, space, be more frugal. Hang washing on the washing line, grow vegetables, sit outside and watch nature, invite nature into our lives. The old school simple things.

As always, we want more than our budget facilitates. However, that being said I have previously seen properties that are within budget and have all our requirements.
The list is simple and split into necessity and wants:

Necessities:
2+ bedrooms
Kitchen with room for breakfast bar/table
Garden to grow vegetables
Rural

Wants:
Utility room
Larger plot
Detached preferably
Garage

Seems very simple on paper. The budget is £160,000 and deposit is covered upto £25,000. Location is North Scotland - Inverness-shire. Prefer to be within 30min driving commute of Inverness.
So the difficulties, this move is big….350+ miles big, England to Scotland big (big deal for us).
In theory jobs can go with us, to an extent, but until property is found putting job moves into place has to wait.

With the distance house viewings are difficult as is just finding that diamond of a property that justifies all this. We look on estate agents websites, local to the area, and of course the staples; Zøøpla and R!ghtmove.
Houses, esp rural, seem to move quickly up there. You do get move for your money but always feel on the back foot.
The estate agents and online searches can be very hit and miss for our search.
Will head up North in couple of months to scout out any properties available that suit our needs and just some general chats with local estate agents.

I guess I am impatient and want everything to happen now, once my mind is set I have the urge to put everything in place ASAP.
Realistically there isn't a rush (other than the one in my head), sooner get the property sooner we move to a more relaxed way of life and surroundings. Sooner we get to make overpayments and be closer to mortgage freedom.
Longer it takes bigger the deposit. We have the LISA's and we are generally very good savers. Saving isn't the issue for us, it's finding that home.

It is all that simple really.
SIMPLE is a huge word right now

Bass_9

Definitely, I think renting in the area is a good idea, could make it much easier for you.

Doozergirl

Renting would be a good idea. You can test out the area and the search will be easier.

We moved from London and I thought I wanted the rural idyll. We bought it. 18 months later we moved to the nearest town and have been there for 12 years

Not to say you will, but getting to know the local area without the financial commitment is useful.

Loanranger

Midges. Definitely rent first.

RuralDreams

We know the area well and I'm originally from a semi rural background so it has been thought out, even if my post didn't seem. Re-reading the op it has come across rather rushed and naive. Midges are a bigger issue further west you go but fortunately for me they don't particularly like the way I taste.
Buttering up the estate agents is a good shout, never know what might appear that we get the jump on over the general population.
The upheaval that comes with renting first, when we are very much set in stone to move would just eat away at any extra savings but I do see the point in it overall.

Thanks for taking time to read and respond, I do appreciate any and all suggestions and opinions.
As my opening line said I'm totally venting through my own lack of patience :rotfl:

Kinski

I’m hoping my oh never reads this but have a look on The Black isle when your up there, lots of rural property and some of it isn’t to far from Inverness.

Nebulous2

One of your problems is that 30 minutes from Inverness is very firmly commuter territory. Why do you want to be that close?

If your job goes with you, does that mean working from home, or would you need to get into an office?

Do you want to be near the coast or inland?

RuralDreams

That was actually meant to be 30mile driving distance not minute. The Black Isle is a beautiful place with very good access to surrounding areas Inc Inverness.
Work is a driving job so there are places up there that I can transfer too delivering to the stores up there rather than down here.
Properties that we have seen and be taken with are inland and to be fair up there you are never too far from the coast so you do get the best of both worlds.
The Cairngorms close by too is a massive plus, it is just the right place for us to be

Nebulous2

My preference would probably be one of the fishing villages, rather than inland, but getting land to grow stuff might be more difficult there.

You are compromising at that price - What do you think of something like this?

Kinski

RuralDreams wrote: »

The Black Isle is a beautiful place with very good access to surrounding areas Inc Inverness

My oh was born and brought up there, he always used to say that when he retired he was going back there to live. I told him fine, him and the kids could go but me and the house were staying where we were, he’s still here with me and the house :wall:

loskie

why Inverness if you are not restricted by jobs or families?
Here in Galloway is very beautiful and low cost of living, easy access to Glasgow, Edinburgh and the M6 south. much milder climate than Inverness. Property prices are relatively low.