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All change in retirement - am I being reckless?

8 replies

vipersnest1 · 08/08/2025 19:27

I have arthritis and fibromyalgia so it is a no-brainer for me to retire at 60, but I will have to be a bit careful as my private pension won’t cover me until I get state pension as well at 67.
I will have some cash in hand from an inheritance plus my pension pot as well. Whilst I don’t want to give a specific value, it’s nearer 100k rather than 100s of thousands.
I’m looking to move into a nearby city as I’ve never really had a life outside of work for years and want to be able to meet people and keep myself busy doing things I enjoy.
The thing I’m wobbling about is choice of housing (no mansions are on the cards here!)
I can either buy a Victorian terrace with two bedrooms upstairs plus a bathroom en suite to one of them, or a three bed with a bathroom downstairs with the potential to make the third bedroom (off the back of the second bedroom) into an en suite myself.
I’m not scared of doing basic DIY myself (lights, sockets, decorating etc) and will have the advantage of being on site should I take on a project.
I’m told the price of converting the third bedroom to an en suite will be in the region of 10k (this includes the bathroom fittings and finishes).
I viewed a house yesterday which is a two bed plus en suite and is beautiful (and had the bonus of private parking which is at a dividend) - I could move straight in and do nothing except improve the back garden a bit.
The sticking point is that I discovered that the house next door is also for sale (so also private parking) and is 50k less, but has the three bed configuration upstairs.
WWYD?
Any and all advice appreciated.

OP posts:
vipersnest1 · 08/08/2025 20:56

Anyone?

OP posts:
Curlygirl06 · 08/08/2025 20:59

The 3 bed house is £50,000 less than the two bed? Why is that, does it need work?

MujeresLibres · 08/08/2025 21:00

Might want to get this moved to the Property section? Perhaps weigh up the ease of getting a builder and potential ways it might be more expensive. 50k is a lot cheaper though, I'd probably be inclined to take the chance.

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FusionChefGeoff · 08/08/2025 21:05

Shouldn’t you be thinking about a bungalow? Sounds like stairs could easily become an issue sooner rather than later given your conditions?

if nothing else then the downstairs bathroom is a must

vipersnest1 · 08/08/2025 21:56

Thanks all for the thoughts.
@FusionChefGeoff, at the moment stairs are fine and I’m still very much in the camp of ‘use it or lose it’! I’m actually in the process of trying to get fitter and be more active. If I need a bungalow at a later date, I’ll do that, but I’m not ready yet.

OP posts:
vipersnest1 · 08/08/2025 21:58

Curlygirl06 · 08/08/2025 20:59

The 3 bed house is £50,000 less than the two bed? Why is that, does it need work?

To be clear, the configuration is either a two bed with an en suite or a three bed with no bathroom upstairs - both have a downstairs bathroom.

OP posts:
Curlygirl06 · 08/08/2025 22:06

vipersnest1 · 08/08/2025 21:58

To be clear, the configuration is either a two bed with an en suite or a three bed with no bathroom upstairs - both have a downstairs bathroom.

I'd go for the cheaper one, get the bathroom put in upstairs and you'd still have money left over, as long as there's not much else that needs doing?

WellIquitelikesprouts · 08/08/2025 22:09

I would think that an upstairs bathroom adds a premium. But that seems very high.

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