To ask if you would move?

[Underthedeepblueocean]

I own a property about 30 minutes drive - in the same county but north of it - from my home.

My current home is a farmhouse with a lot of land and I am tentatively thinking of letting it out. This would bring in a substantial amount of money: useful as I am a single parent now.

What I'm worried about moving wise are the following:

Smaller house. It has 3 bedrooms which is obviously more than adequate but my younger two would have to share and DS would have a box room.

Obviously move of schools.

Further from town and events (am very isolated now, moving would make this worse. I'd be twenty minutes at least from the nearest large-ish town.)

Would have to find stables for my horses although shouldn't be too hard but an added expense.

However children would be nearer their dad as he plans to move a good two hours away from where we are now. And maybe a fresh start would be good?

Any thoughts? I am very undecided and the letting agent is coming tomorrow.

I have but he just says he doesn't mind, which is sweet but not very informative!

Bless him
Perhaps it is better to stay put, seeing as you have a lo and are due another in July. Moving is bloody stressful enough without being pregnant and having a 1 year old. Also there is the question of the ponies. Can you afford to employ a local gardener, or trade land rent for help with the land?

I moved 40 miles to a new Town when exp and I split up, dc were 3 months and nearly 2. Never regretted it! I was, and still am, about half a day hour from close family. I went to baby groups, met local people and now have lots of friends and a great support network.

I say do it! A fresh start is a great thing sometimes!

Ah I understand more now. I live in a similar property with my DH. I would struggle to see it sold in the event of a split too. In that case them yes, perhaps do rent it out. But could you sell the other property further away and buy something in the area that you live in now, so you could keep back an acre or two for your ponies and manage? Two welshies should be fine living out and only visited once a day if need be. If they are broken in you could perhaps find a couple of sharers or riders to help with some of the chores while you settle down with new baby and newly single life.

If you move now, would that have implications for the divorce? For example, would exH be able to move into the farmhouse? I'd discuss it all with your solicitor first.

After your divorce, if I were you I'd sell everything and move into a medium-sized house in walking distance of a town, schools, and shops, and close to a livery.

Moving after my divorce felt SO good. I actually miss the house and town now, perversely!, but the act of moving felt very positive. But don't mistake action for progress; only move when it really makes sense.

You'll need neighbours, school mum friends and all that soon. Very soon. That'll be a lifesaver.

Having had horses on livery and horses at home it is much cheaper having them at home. Then there is the convenience thing too - the commute alone could add a couple of hours to your day and what about in winter when there is no turnout, or if the yard insists on all stables mucked out in the morning like mine did? Trust me - stay where you are :)

I definitely don't want to sell either property just yet. Both properties are mine but obviously to an extent are dhs as a marital asset.

The thing is that without letting this property out I can't afford support and so id be managing alone, and that's completely alone, with a 1 year old, an 8 year old and a newborn.

How about selling the small property, buy something slightly bigger in the nearest town (10mins away) and rent the farm out?

That way you are not isolated, near the farm if something is going on with tenants, and can negotiate keeping the ponies on the farm.

In town you have support, other mums, potential friends, baby groups, etc.

I know you don't want to sell, but I can't see how you can avoid it.

Your currently rented out house will be too small soon with 3 growing dc, then you'll have to move anyway.

I'm lost?

My currently rented out home is not the one I live in but anyway it's got 3 beds - it's got enough room just not as much as the farmhouse.

I don't have any support wherever I am!

Would you be using the letting agent to manage the farmhouse, as well as find a tenant? Especially with a larger property, you'll have to expect maintenance/emergency issues, as well as bureaucratic faff. It's (obviously) not just a passive stream of guaranteed income.

Is your smaller place currently tenanted? If it is, how much notice would you need to serve the tenants before you could actually move there?

If you move elsewhere, and there's a void in the farmhouse, would that be a financial meltdown?

Personally given the horses, the pregnancy, the toddler, the added distance from town, the reduced space, and the fact that the 8-year-old isn't in school I'd stay put in the farmhouse, or at least defer the decision until after the baby's born and things have settled a bit.

The tenants in the other house; the smaller one, have moved out - that's what made me think it seemed to make good financial sense to move in it myself.

I agree with August, I'd do nothing for now. Good luck.

Thank you. I'm still undecided! I will have a look at how much fields/stabling for the ponies would cost in the other village :)