What would you do? Buy house next to parents!

[Worzelgummage]

I currently live in a house where the location is ideal, but I hate the house. I have spent a lot of money making improvements, but I still hate the house. It’s a money pit and it will always need money spent on it. I resent the fact that any spare cash gets spent on the house and I still am not content living in this house. However, The garden and outside space is amazing. The location is perfect, ticks all my boxes. The garden is very sheltered and in the summer it’s a sun trap.

My aging parents (in their 80’s and not in great health) live 10 miles from me, I visit a minimum of twice a week, Lately, I have been visiting more as there has been health issues.
I am an only child so every thing falls on me, which I am fine about.
My parents live in a rural location by the sea so it’s very windy and exposed.
My father has made it clear, that he will never leave this house unless he is in a coffin .

The house next to my parents is about to come up for sale . When is say next door, There is a field between the houses. The elderly man that owns it, is going into a care home. He has been my parents neighbour for 40 years and they have always got on well. My parents will miss him as a neighbour and are concerned about who could potentially move in.

I am thinking about buying his house…

To do so, I would need to sell my house first of all and the gentleman is willing to give me time to get organised so I am getting first refusal.
His house is a small cottage which if I was to buy, I would be mortgage free. I would also have funds from my house sale to put on an extension and completely modernise the existing cottage to meet my needs

The advantages…..
mortgage free, hopefully nice living space, everything new so no financial upkeep for the next 10 years or so. Not driving back and forward to parents.

Disadvantages….
Living next door to parents,
my mum is always on neighbour hood watch. I am not sure if this would annoy me.
The biggest disadvantage for me is the weather, the wind, the driving rain, and even on a sunny day, it’s still very windy. It’s a completely different climate to my house which is 10 miles inland.
I also believe that me being in close proximity, my parents will come more reliable on me.

Advantages for my parents, there are so many. Me moving closer to them will definitely enhance their remaining years. My parents want me to move.

What would you do?

sadly it can become too much to manage. My mum is now unable to stand which requires a frequent hoist to toilet, bed etc. impossible on your own. Also coping with dementia and trying to escape. It’s really difficult

@BoldAmberDuck All of that is true for OP whether she lives in her current house or moves next door. Not having to get in a car to just pop in, is a really big bonus. Even just doing something normal like a having a drink in the evening without second guessing whether you might need to go over etc.
When my parents were beginning to decline, it was often the simplest things that impacted them. A light bulb going for example. They would wait till I made a visit to tell me because they didn't want to inconvenience me but that could increase the risk of them falling etc.
Then as their health declined, there were lots of visits by carers or chiropodist etc. Which I needed to monitor (not every time but still needed doing). Then a number of hospital admissions needing ambulances. I'd go in tbe ambulance then couldn't get a taxi home because I needed to go via their house to pick up my car.
I was only a 25 minute drive away but those minutes added up over those years.