How can we move?

[MumbleLumble]

I have lived in the North East for nearly 12 years now and I can't describe how unhappy I am and how much I hate it. I'm originally from the South East and would love to move back. DH wants to move to but we can't see any way to do it. We have two primary aged dc and 2 small dogs too.

We both have jobs here. DH has family but only his grandparents bother with us. My family all live in my birth town and we would have so much support and free childcare if we moved. This would mean me being able to get a full time job or be able to study. DH and I also mught get a night out together!

The problem is that to rent a house we would need to already have jobs but we can't move without having job first and can't get a job without having somewhere to live!

Can anyone else who has relocated explain how they managed to do it?

I'm also worried about school places as it is very very over subscribed down there.

I have relocated between countries and cities four times albeit as a single person without family.
So I had none of the complications you have but none of the support either.
Job was always first, I would look for a place to live later.
In your situation I would look for a job close to where you want to live and ask your family whether you could stay with them for a while if you don't manage to find anywhere to live before you start your job.
Then pay someone to pack your stuff and move it.
It's much easier to love if you rent than if you own.

Could one of you conceivably commute between your current town and the new place? Perhaps sometimes staying overnight. I'd suggest you both look for jobs in new place, whoever gets one first commutes or stays with your family in the week while you sort out schools, house etc.

You can find out from schools or the LEA where there are spaces in schools, although they won't guarantee you anything until you have actually moved.