Has anyone moved to a nicer area later in life?

[LorenzoCalzone]

I grew up in a nice middle class area, somewhere that would be unaffordable these days but my parents got it before property went beserk.

Then when I flew the nest I could only afford a flat in a deprived area. After a brief spell with my ex I became a single parent and moved to an ex council house in another deprived area. Im still in that house. I'm lucky that my immediate neighbours are nice but when I sit outside there's a strong weed smell, people having loud arguments and when I go to the shops there's anti social behaviour. My crap old car has been vandalised. I'm so sick of living here and worried about raising my dc here.

I'm starting to think i could move to a nicer area. It would mean less money day to day while I pay a higher mortgage but I guess in the longer term I'd own a house in a nice place.

I suppose this isn't a novel idea. It's just that I'd never been tuned in to the possibility that I could go for it. I'm a bit nervous though, I'm 50 and the alternative would be saving for my retirement - although I do have a pension so that should be sorted.

Has anyone taken the plunge later in life? Is it worth busting a gut for a better postcode?

I moved half a mile away for a better area and it changed every aspect of my life for the better. We went from 4 years left on the mortgage to doubling the repayments and 27 years to go. I wouldn't change a single thing.

Yes. I think environment is important. Where we are now is low crime, nice neighbours, pretty town, forests and not far to the coast

Sort of. Part of the deal was being able to rent out a spare room to increase income though.

Dp and I upsized 3 years ago and it’s wonderful I have to say. Financially it’s slightly worse for me, a bit better for him, but life-wise it’s better for both of us. The area is gorgeous.

If the priority is the area, and given that it’s a buyer’s market at the moment, there might be a bargain out there. Why not let the Rightmove addicts of MN have a look…

DH and I moved to somewhere we always wanted to live 3 years ago, when we were 56 and 60. We moved from a very nice house in a very nice village, and bought in a more expensive but truly wonderful place. Absolutely no regrets.

No regrets here we were mortgage free when we decided enough was enough. The area we lived in wasn’t bad when we initially moved there. But the last 8 or so years prior to moving it was really going to be downhill. Now we have a small mortgage that will be paid off in three to for years. It’s worth it for a quiet and peace area .

Not yet but it's in my 5-year plan!

Yes but I was able to do it without a mortgage. Moved to a lovely market town, there are social events, music concerts, an independent cinema, loads of volunteering opportunities and a real community feel. My life has improved immeasurably.

I think a lot of the replies are from couples. Do you have protection in case you got ill? I would move but would want to have clear Plan B and C in case of unemployment or illness.

I agree that environment makes a huge difference. I don’t think you’d regret it.

Very much so, I wanted to raise my kids in a nicer area. I’ve less cash but it’s so worth it so they don’t get caught up in that environment

May I ask where do you live please?

Thanks everyone. I am single so the mortgage would rest entirely with me. I'd have contingency savings that would tide me over for a few months.

I had therapy recently and realised I've not been open to the idea of deserving nice things. All that time paying mortgage on homes in dodgy areas - the blinkers are off!

I decided to do that, I’m late 50s. I’d look really hard at the reality of what you can afford. I’m mortgage free, but thought that with my house sale money plus £120k savings I’d be able to afford a reasonably better area. What has actually happened is that the houses in my range are nowhere near as nice as the one I just sold, but also the areas are indeed nicer but I can only afford to live on the fringe of them. I live in London though and I’m quite restricted in that I can’t move way out of London because of commuting costs. I should have left it a few more years until I was retired but I really wanted a change of location.

I get the ‘not deserving nice things’ feeling. I’ve always felt that if things aren’t actively terrible, I may as well stick with the status quo, whether it is jobs, relationships or house. I’ve never thought ‘hmmm things are ok but I could have something better’ and striven for it. Partly from fear, partly from not feeling I’m not the type of person that deserves lovely things.

If you can do it without putting enormous financial stress on yourself, why not?

But I’d caution that there’s no area magically guaranteed free from anti-social behaviour and change! At 49, we moved country and bought a (rather battered) house in probably the most historically prestigious inner suburb of the city — loads of late 18th and early 19th houses in grounds overlooking the river, gorgeous setting. But there’s still a fair bit of street dealing because of proximity to the city centre, and the steep terrain means there are lots of sets of steps and quiet cul de sacs, one empty house nearby has been squatted more than once with lots of police callouts to fights, and other stuff. Now it’s possible that a site right by us is going to be developed into student accommodation which will be used by tourists in summer.

Which is not to dissuade you, only to say that areas change, and even the nicest of ‘nice’ areas isn’t immune to a certain amount of problematic stuff.

I grew up in quite a desirable area, that is now very desirable especially with WFH. When I say I left people are shocked but it was for my career in the very early 1990”s. The house I grew up in has been developed and is worth at least a million now. My Mother paid about 4k for it in 1970.

I then lived in some dodgy areas in Birmingham and a brief stint in London. I have now lived up North since 1999. I intend to move one more time in to The Peak District instead of on the edge of it, so only about 30 mins. The houses cost a fair bit more but it’s just nicer.

I personally wouldn’t take on a higher mortgage at that sort of age. But forget romance being single is financially tough it’s easy for me as part of a couple to say that.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

We did in our mid/late 30s, took on a much bigger mortgage which will take a lot longer to pay off but 5 years on, no regrets.
Lots of people on here will give you very sensible advice around paying off the mortgage and having house security but if you hate where you live then what’s the point?

DH and I have just downsized from rural village life in a cottage, which we loved, and where we raised our kids. But as empty nesters we wanted a little more from life than the village could give us. It was perfect for when we were busy parents raising children, but we realised not much going on for a couple in their 50's with a renewed zest for something a little more.

We have just moved to a much more low maintenance bungalow, 2 minutes walk from the sea. In a lovely seaside town with facilities on our doorstep and we are SO happy here.

Location is everything, I think, for a settled happy comfortable home. Free from stress and worry. Its worth every penny.

Life is too short to be miserable where you live. So if you can. I would make the move while you still have enough years left to enjoy it.