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Would you move to this house?

42 replies

pinkponie · 06/05/2026 11:17

Dh and I have seen a house we liked. The size/condition of the house for the money they’re asking for is rarely low; this is due to the location. It’s not even a village; it’s just a group of houses off the side of the road, near the water. There’s no shop or school, they’re about 8 miles away. The council would actually pick up/drop off primary school age dc (we have three, two in school, one baby) but I think that we’d need to take/drop off dc3 when they reach nursery age. I currently can’t drive, obviously it’d be a priority to learn and I’d start as soon as I can but obviously there are situations I can’t control re length of test waiting times etc. DH’s flexible and can drive, but it’s a given that I’ll need to learn asap and I can’t say how long that will take. The thing is, this house would be paid off in 5 years with the mortgage being so small, it’s walk-in ready, it has enough bedrooms for each dc to have their own (albeit not big bedrooms), we’d be able to go on a few holidays a year which we currently can’t, we’d be able to save money, we could afford me to be a SAHM for as long as it suits the family/indefinitely. But it also means living in between two towns with nothing at your doorstep, there’s not even anywhere for a walk. Other houses we’ve seen in the actual towns would mean that we could afford them but probably no holidays/one every few years, low savings monthly but more amenities. These are very small towns so there’s nothing like cinemas etc. We’re restricted location wise due to custody arrangements with the older DC’s father (dh is only the father of dc3).

OP posts:
Sunisgettinganewhaton · 06/05/2026 11:20

We looked at a similar place to rent. 1mile walk to a bus stop! 18 months on they have a housing project in the go very very close by. So glad we didn't move there..
Years ago we lived in a farmhouse a good hour walk from town. Glad we moved or I'd basically have been Mum's Taxi for hours a day..
Considering you actually can't drive you'd be nuts ime to move there..

TheyGrewUp · 06/05/2026 11:20

No. Not in a zillion years.

Purplewarrior · 06/05/2026 11:21

No way.

EnthusiasticDecluttering · 06/05/2026 11:26

No way on earth. What would you do all day at home with no car, nowhere you could take DC3 to, no shops, playgrounds, friends, anything within reach, think how the school holidays would drag. Even if you pass your test and get a car quickly, having to drive every single time you leave the house is hard work especially as the DCs get older and want to spend time with friends, join activities after school etc.

Sunisgettinganewhaton · 06/05/2026 11:28

Imagine dc get the bus to school.. You get a call. One dc has forgotten PE kit /lunch box /feels unwell. What happens then? Bad enough that happens when you have a car.

pinkponie · 06/05/2026 11:50

The bus stop is very close to the house. If dc needed picked up etc then dh would have to do it at first. Like I said he does have the flexibility to allow this.

OP posts:
Iocanepowder · 06/05/2026 11:59

I would personally sacrifice a yearly holiday if it meant i had amenities and felt less isolated.

Peonies12 · 06/05/2026 12:01

Absolutely not, an extra holiday isn't worth it for that lifestyle. You will simply be a taxi service to your kids, and they won't be able to have small amounts of independence as they get older, like walking to a shop or going to a park with their friends.

BinNightTonight · 06/05/2026 12:02

I would find it really difficult not being able to leave the house for a decent walk, or a lodge, park, open fields etc not being in walking distance foe a good run around and some fresh air for the children. What will you do all day home with the baby?

Xiaoxiong · 06/05/2026 12:04

I have seen so many posts on here over the years where people have moved themselves somewhere rural not able to drive, or reliant entirely on their DH to drive, and it causes no end of issues with jobs, schools, etc. I wouldn't consider this unless/until you could drive at a minimum.

Buscobel · 06/05/2026 12:07

All the responses have been ‘don’t do it’ and I agree. The bus stop might be close to the house, but that doesn’t mean that the bus will be available when you need it. Your DH maybe available to collect/drop off at school, but he’ll get fed up if the working day is frequently interrupted.

You'll have tweens and teenagers who want to go out with their friends. A taxi service as a parent is not fun. They won’t thank you for not being able to go anywhere on their own at a time they want.

NoisyBuilder · 06/05/2026 12:08

There's a reason it's cheap.

'Near the water' rings alarm bells with me - is it on a flood area?

Also, you can't drive OP. Sort this first before basing a huge part of your life around being able to drive.

I'm not your target audience though. One of my non-negotiables is walking distance to a shop.

Fishingboatbobbingnight · 06/05/2026 12:14

You see to me .. it sounds absolutely perfect. I live somewhere like that out of choice and it makes me happy every day. However I drive. So does DH and we taught the kids between us starting the day of their 17th birthday.

Cheesipuff · 06/05/2026 12:18

Check to see if it a flood risk. Everything near rivers or sea round here is a flood risk.

BunnyLake · 06/05/2026 12:21

No. I feel stressed just thinking about it.

ThatsthelasttimeIplaythetartforyouJerry · 06/05/2026 12:21

Sounds like you would be living in a prison, can’t even go for a walk and you’ve got three young children and you can’t drive! Madness. It’s all well and good saying you will learn, but that takes time and what if you don’t actually like or take to driving? It’s not a given, plus you need to buy and run a car so more expense.

youalright · 06/05/2026 12:26

No this will become a major issue as your kids get older. Also does it have decent phone signal/ wifi.

PurpleLovecats · 06/05/2026 12:26

Can you really not go out for a walk if you moved there? By the water or down lanes or through woods? If that’s the case then no way would I move there.

tara66 · 06/05/2026 12:40

Doctors? Hospitals?

MrsKeats · 06/05/2026 12:41

Not in a million years.

dottiedodah · 06/05/2026 12:43

I think it sounds a bit too isolated and thats probably why its so cheap! Not driving is a problem as well.As they say even if you take to driving and pass your test theres no guarantees.You take your test and then you learn to drive!

Sweetpeasaremadeforbees · 06/05/2026 13:33

It sounds a bit similar to where we currently live (not sure what you mean by the 'water' comment) but we have nice walks around here.

I had to do a lot of driving when DD was primary aged because the nearest school was in the next village but secondary was a school bus.

I love living here but no way would I do it if I couldn't drive.

its2025 · 06/05/2026 13:42

Imagine a few years from now and all your kids have after school activities going on in different directions - at roughly the same time. That kind of thing is a logisical challenge even if its all within the same town - organising that stuff rurally is going to be a nightmare even after you've learned to drive. Add in a few years and the kids all want Saturday/afterschool jobs, where are they likely to get that kind of employment. How will they get to college in the future.

Will the kids feel isolated when they reach the teenage years and beyond? Can you afford to get all three of them through driving lessons and buying a car before they are likely to have jobs themselves? You need to be thinking of these things - if you think you can manage that and are certain you'll be able to learn to drive fairly quickly - go for it.

Iliketulips · 06/05/2026 14:03

Unless you're looking for a rural remote property, then 'no'. Three children to collect from school, clubs and friends houses, all at different times. School holidays DC's friends will walking to school with others, have local friends they can call on spur of the moment. As they get older, they might plan a shopping trip, with a last minute sleepover - you'll ve the one dropping clothes off if they can't collect on foot home.

I had a lovely time as a SAHM, all household/gardening done, so we had quality time at weekends. You do need to get yourself out every day, otherwise you'll feel cut-off. Are you happy to drive every time you want a few things from Tescos, fancy a nice cup of coffee out, meeting a friend for a walk/lunch?

Sunisgettinganewhaton · 06/05/2026 14:06

Imo your dh will get pissed off very quickly of being the default driver at that address...
For the record I didn't pass for at least 2 years and after multiple tests...

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