To move back to an area I don't like because of property prices?

[caddywally]

I grew up in a fairly uninspiring area of South East Wales and have been living in Devon for 6 years now. I love Devon and it's a much better place to live than where I grew up, but the house prices here are ridiculous compared to back home. I'd really struggle to afford a decent 3 bed terrace here, but if I moved home I could get one for under £100,000. The freedom of not having to work full time for the foreseeable future just to keep a roof over my head is very appealing. Do you think I'd regret moving back to a place I was initially thrilled to leave?

I wouldn't do it personally. Houses are cheap for a reason.

We moved away from an area we hated that had cheap property. Every now and again we discuss whether we should move back.

I would rather rent than move back somewhere that made us unhappy. There is so much more to life than money (once you meet the basics)

Were moving back to the area I grew up based on house prices because we just wont ever be able to afford anything big enough where we currently live even renting. However were moving to a great area that we both actually very much like it just happens to be priced well so maybe were lucky!

What about jobs? Would you have to commute or can you work entirely from home?

Employment opportunities in the cheap parts of south east Wales are not great. lots of people commute from the valleys to Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend etc

I live in a nice part of south east Wales but property is expensive. Maybe still cheaper than Devon, I wouldn't know, certainly cheaper than London, but my 1 bed flat is still over £100K

No, I'd never do it.

Is there a compromise? Somewhere in between, where you afford a house, but it is a nice place to live?

In terms of wages, I've had a quick look around at it seems I'd be earning the same in the cheap area as I do at the moment. I might earn a tiny bit less but it'd be entirely offset by the cheaper mortgage. I work in admin so it's nothing unique to the area I live in at the moment. I'd probably have to commute to Newport/Cardiff for work, but I'd have a commute of about the same length if I managed to buy a house here.

My friends and family are all at home. I don't really know anyone here except work colleagues, which I realise is quite shameful after 6 years! My partner says he'd be fine moving there providing he can get a job. I don't have kids yet but I'd rather move there before I have them or while they're very little so they don't have to move schools. Devon would be a much nicer place for them to grow up, but we'd be living in a pokey little house and I'd be stressed up to my eyeballs working full time to cover the bills.

I don't think any of the things that have made me desperate to leave have changed, but I'm not a teenager anymore. Maybe I was just miserable because I was a teenager, and I'd have hated wherever I grew up.

We're doing this to the same area. It's ridiculous what you can get for your money down this way compared to others and it's really not that bad!

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday I haven't really looked into other places in great detail. There must be somewhere that has the best of both worlds but I think I'd have to do a bit of exploring to find out.

I would never move back to where I grew up, but it's very personal. Only you know how awful it was, versus how much you have gained from living in Devon.

I live in an expensive area and it's tough but I literally hate the area I grew up in and would never return except to visit family. It's not much cheaper anyway.

I would consider moving north but my dses are very settled where we live and dh's career would not move easily.

Unihorn Are you thinking of moving to the Valleys area? I just worry about inflicting misery on any future kids I have, because I didn't like growing up where I did, but maybe I was just a miserable teenager in general. Some of my friends like it there and never had any desire to move away so the problem might lie with me!

Yes my family are all from there, my husband and I currently rent near Cardiff but will be looking at Gwent/Caerphilly to buy as it's so much cheaper. I am a bit concerned about schools but the way I see it is that I got out of the valleys (as you must have too!) So I'm sure my children could. My husband grew up in London so its a world away for him and he's quite excited about it.

Could you try to find a cheap area, not necessarily in Wales of course. that has the aspects of Devon that you like though? I assume such places must exist somewhere!