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Original poster

Should we buy the house?

56 replies

Washinginthesun · 31/07/2025 07:21

I am in turmoil!
We live in the middle of an estate and have always longed to live rurally but don’t have the budget to do this but this doesn’t stop us looking.
We long to have no neighbours (currently surrounded by music blaring, football kicking, fire burning people).
A house had come onto the market that fits the bill. Rural, no neighbours, views to die for and we can afford it. Only compromise is fairly small bedrooms.
It would mean, however, going from almost paid the mortgage off, everything on track to retire at 60 to new 25 year mortgage retiring at 67. Oh and finding an extra £1000 per month (which we can do if we stop living like kings!)
I keep swinging from one decision to the other. What would you do?

OP posts:
Jumpthewaves · 31/07/2025 07:27

Ooh it's a tricky one, but having moved from estate to rural I definitely don't regret it. I feel like I can breathe as there is space around us. Is it somewhere you could enjoy for a chunk of your retirement?

PersephoneParlormaid · 31/07/2025 07:28

An extra £1000pm is a lot. I’m not sure I’d want that commitment.

Original poster
Washinginthesun · 31/07/2025 07:28

Yes it is rural but on the edge of a village / town so very accessible to shops, doctors, hospital etc. we could stay there indefinitely

OP posts:
GameOfJones · 31/07/2025 07:29

I wouldn't do it in the circumstances you describe. £1k a month is a lot extra and I wouldn't want to retire 7 years later than planned.

TimeForTeaAndToast · 31/07/2025 07:30

I wouldn't. What happens if you lose your jobs? I would go for financial stability and not having to worry about paying a mortgage.

Littletreefrog · 31/07/2025 07:30

What do you mean by "if we stop living like kings"? What are you blowing £1000 a month on that you truly believe you would be happy living without for the next 25 years.

summerskyblue · 31/07/2025 07:31

I would definitely move somewhere quieter but I think I would try to find a location where I can get a cheaper mortgage for peace of mind.

Original poster
Washinginthesun · 31/07/2025 07:35

Our Spending currently is pretty crazy. We never stop to think if we can afford or actually need something - take aways, treats, far too much wine! Last month alone we spent £1150 on food shopping, plus £250 on hello fresh!which is nuts!

OP posts:
Monvelo · 31/07/2025 07:35

It's really tricky and we're grappling with the same thing, although just hypothetically, and the cost jump would be more. I think move. If we found a house worth the figures you say, we'd move. I don't want to here my neighbours shouting anymore. The price and location sound good.

Nearlyadoctor · 31/07/2025 07:36

I’m going to go against the grain and say go for it. I’m guessing you’re only early forties now and actually a mortgage until 67 these days is not unrealistic. A £1000 a month extra is a lot to find and only you know if there’s that leeway in your budget. If it’s currently being spent on coffees , take away, unnecessary clothing etc , it’s obviously very different from living hand to mouth. Also further down the line you may be able to overpay - inherit etc
I love my home and it gives me great pleasure to be in it. I would hate noisy neighbours etc as you’ve described.
Good luck whatever you decide

LlynTegid · 31/07/2025 07:38

No, but carry on looking. Good luck in finding somewhere more to your liking but at a lower cost.

Nearlyadoctor · 31/07/2025 07:38

Washinginthesun · 31/07/2025 07:35

Our Spending currently is pretty crazy. We never stop to think if we can afford or actually need something - take aways, treats, far too much wine! Last month alone we spent £1150 on food shopping, plus £250 on hello fresh!which is nuts!

Sounds like plenty of leeway to rein in the spending then .

InsanityPolarity · 31/07/2025 07:39

Why don’t you start saving £1k a month instead? In 5 yrs, you’d have £60k.
Or start paying extra on your mortgage?
Surely that will help to make your dream more accessible?

MellowPinkDeer · 31/07/2025 07:41

I’d buy the house. But MN is very sensible and risk adverse especially with mortgages!

InsanityPolarity · 31/07/2025 07:41

Personally, I think life’s too short to live in an environment you’re not happy in. Find something that will be affordable. Or save.

BadActingParsley · 31/07/2025 07:49

I would as it sounds like your non essential outgoings are quite high. I found we spent less when we moved to a house that we really liked…I don’t even mind spending time there rather than going on holidays etc. Basically happier. We did similar at 50.

Mischance · 31/07/2025 07:51

I would say go for it.

Your current expenditure relates to where you live. Being in the country brings a less frenetic pace of life, partly because the things you are constantly spending your money on are on your doorstep. I live rurally and have never had a takeaway delivered simply because it is not a possibility.

I am writing this post whilst looking out on the Welsh hills and my wild garden. Only the sound of the birds - and the cows farting! I would not have it any other way and it feeds my soul daily.

I live simply, but am able to get to main cities to concerts etc. when I want to. Lovely market town here where an international music festival is going on this week, masses going on in our village for all ages, wonderful friendly community, lovely walks ..........

Just do it. You can always change your mind and go back in a few years if it turns out not to be your thing. Until you do it, you will not know.

HappilyUrbanTrimmer · 31/07/2025 07:52

Could you live there when you start to get frail, perhaps need a stair lift, perhaps advised to stop driving, perhaps have a health scare and need to get to a hospital quickly? I'd hate to have no neighbours when I'm old. Even though we don't speak to our neighbours beyond a polite smile when we see eachother in the street, I know there's 10 doors I can knock on in an emergency, and we're 75 yards from a bus stop in one direction anc 75 yards from a convenience store in the other direction. Being isolated is great when you are 100% healthy and self-reliant but gets scary later.

BigDayForTheWomen · 31/07/2025 07:53

I wouldn’t. I’d look for a more affordable house in the same area. Small bungalows often have big gardens which give space around you.

Savingadime · 31/07/2025 07:54

In the exact position as you in terms of wanting to move from a town to a more rural location and roughly an extra £1000pcm mortgage. It sounds like you could afford the £1000 quite easily?
We also live quite a lavish lifestyle so we would have to adapt our current lifestyle to suit the new outgoings. The only thing I would caution is to add up all the costs thoroughly rather than just counting on it being an additional £1k for the mortgage.
In our case, the house we are looking at buying has substantially higher outlay! The heating costs are higher because the house is stone and there is no mains gas where we want to live which means LPG gas at £600pcm (estimate from seller so yours could be much cheaper) or you may have oil. There is a cesspit which needs removing at some point and we will need a sewage system (new regs) at circa £12-20k - I would get a survey on this as you could have years of use left in it but if it runs into a water course, it will have to be replaced immediately. Extra travel time to work/ shops etc add up. Ours comes with some land so we also have the costs of getting the field topped. For us the heating costs were a bloody shock tbh 😂

parietal · 31/07/2025 07:55

If you haven’t put your existing house on the market, bear in mind that it might take 6 months to sell and/or sell for less than you think.

dont pin your hopes on the one house you’ve just seen, but do start saving for a move.

Absentmindedsmile · 31/07/2025 07:58

Hmm I’d def have to move away from the noise .. but it looks like to big a difference. You’ll find that cost a drag over the next 25yrs. You’ll also miss the joy of not having to watch the pennies closely. Can’t you find a cheaper new property still in a quieter place, there must be loads. Though perhaps not as close to shops etc.

Roseblooms7 · 31/07/2025 07:58

Working an extra 7 years is a lot and no way would I give that up for a house. Sounds like you can afford the 1k but do you really want to pull you belts in? Only you can know which has the biggest priority.

Kitchenbattle · 31/07/2025 08:06

I just want to give a different perspective as someone doing the opposite move…
living rurally can be lovely in ways but as someone doing the opposite move right now I can tell you that

  • you will spend more on petrol
  • you will spend more time in the car
  • you need to be on top of your shopping…forgetting milk or running out of bread is so frustrating ( means you have to get in the car so go get it.
  • if you have DC you will spend years being a chauffeur
  • larger gardens require time and dedication
  • had a bad day…just want a take away…nope! You’re cooking!
that’s just a few points off the top of my head…obviously you need to do what’s best for you and your family but it’s not ALL it’s made out to be either…
Original poster
Washinginthesun · 31/07/2025 08:19

Thanks. Lots to consider.

I did live rurally as a child until about 23 and this house is within a mile of my childhood home so I know the area well.
The kids are 18 and 19 and both drive.
it is a 5 min max drive from a supermarket.
The gardens are actually smaller than we have now but the views are incredible.
I am 43 so it’s now or never really.

But despite all this, something is still holding me back!

OP posts: