What to look for in a bungalow? Downsizing.

Davesnave

Scotbot said:

Whilst I understand the desire for a warmer climate the south is not exactly tropical and still gets very cold in winter!

Still a good few degrees warmer than Durham though!

I wouldn't say we've seen any really cold winters down here since 2010/11.

This year we hardly had any proper frost, and when we did it was late and over in a day or two.

Scotbot

Davesnave said:

Scotbot said:

Whilst I understand the desire for a warmer climate the south is not exactly tropical and still gets very cold in winter!

Still a good few degrees warmer than Durham though!

I wouldn't say we've seen any really cold winters down here since 2010/11.

This year we hardly had any proper frost, and when we did it was late and over in a day or two.

Anything below 10c is cold as far as I am concerned! Although I do like your neck of the woods

Secretsusie

How about Norfolk? Beautiful beaches, train station, and cheaper than down south.  Tends to be fairly mild as well. 

coachman12

Although this thread seems to be going on too long after the O/P has thanked everyone ....and left,
one additional factor occurred to me that I did not include in my early post on this thread and might be worth considering : 
It is often annoying to live in a bungalow surrounded by houses which overlook them from all sides. 
From everyone I know who has lived or live in a bungalow, one of their main concerns was to find a road and adjoining roads where all properties are bungalows, so that their own home and garden was not overlooked from any point. 

youth_leader

Thank you for all your suggestions, it's so nice of you to respond.  I am already in a beautiful area, but due to the auction conditions of four weeks to completion (in the end buyer asked for eight), I moved out before the auction into a rental ten doors away from my house.  I'm finding it very difficult seeing what is being done, and do want a fresh start somewhere new.  I can avoid going past but it adds 15 minutes to my journey.  I'm originally from Twickenham in Middlesex and have never really settled in this rural countryside, but do love the beach.  
As I'm retired I chose areas based on my wishes to volunteer somewhere, initially Cornwall for the Eden project, as well as Wareham/Swanage for Monkey World, and Sidmouth for the Donkey Sanctuary.  I am one of life's worriers and the EA flood risk is red for a lot of the areas I liked.
I'm going to look at all the new areas you've suggested, thank you.  I will probably miss the stamp duty holiday but need to choose carefully as I wouldn't want to have to sell ever again.

hazyjo

Good luck.

PS give Ruby Donkey a kiss from me when you're next there

coachman12

youth_leader said:

Thank you for all your suggestions, it's so nice of you to respond.  I am already in a beautiful area, but due to the auction conditions of four weeks to completion (in the end buyer asked for eight), I moved out before the auction into a rental ten doors away from my house.  I'm finding it very difficult seeing what is being done, and do want a fresh start somewhere new.  I can avoid going past but it adds 15 minutes to my journey.  I'm originally from Twickenham in Middlesex and have never really settled in this rural countryside, but do love the beach.  
As I'm retired I chose areas based on my wishes to volunteer somewhere, initially Cornwall for the Eden project, as well as Wareham/Swanage for Monkey World, and Sidmouth for the Donkey Sanctuary.  I am one of life's worriers and the EA flood risk is red for a lot of the areas I liked.
I'm going to look at all the new areas you've suggested, thank you.  I will probably miss the stamp duty holiday but need to choose carefully as I wouldn't want to have to sell ever again.

And I said you had left the thread-----my apologies. It was very kind of you to thank all those who have tried to advise and give you ideas to think about. I do hope you find your ideal bungalow and enjoy a long and happy life there.

MalMonroe

deejaybee said:

I live in a small town in the South Hams ( South Devon ), there are a fair amount of bungalows, particularly in some of the surrounding villages ( Chillington for example - although reflecting Dave's comments above, there are a LOT of old people in that village, reminds me of that old film Cocoon ! )

What's wrong with old people??? I live in an area where the population is older but they are all great neighbours, considerate, friendly, helpful and QUIET! And if you remember those people in Cocoon, they started getting more sprightly and younger, didn't they? Nothing wrong with a LOT of old people at all. Older people know how to behave properly!  Oh, and OP also said "I'm older and lazy with metric . . . " so I'm sure OLD people (god help us) won't be a problem.

MalMonroe

I'm feeling incensed about deejaybee's comments!  (Can you tell from my post above?)
But I'd like to say (as someone who lives in a divine ground floor flat, lucky me!) just make sure your windows are double or triple glazed and that they lock securely. Also that they don't open too wide - you can get those windows with a particular setting that you can just bypass when you feel like flinging your windows wide open. (We have them, they're great.) Just a safety precaution against those nasty burglars. I don't fear my neighbours in the slightest but you never know who may come lurking round in the night, that's the problem.

coachman12

MalMonroe said:

I'm feeling incensed about deejaybee's comments!  (Can you tell from my post above?)

And who can blame you Mal ???