AIBU to stay in small house?

[Ajtraceyliveanddirect]

We bought of first house about 5 years ago. It is a typical "starter home", two bedroom period property but is like a tardis.

I feel societal pressure to 'upgrade' to a larger home, even though we have no children. I do look but larger homes in my area and in our budget are modern and we prefer old homes. There are a few things that aren't ideal but we have poured so much love (and money) and we are proud of our home. We have good neighbours and are in a central location.

But I keep getting asked when we are moving to somewhere bigger and I feel embarrassed that we aren't, and don't want to. We would essentially be doubling our mortgage for a third bedroom we don't need. Logically, it makes sense, so why do I feel like everyone is judging us?

Has anyone stayed in their first home?

Bought a three-bed house and stayed put. 2dc, no mortgage - certain family members asking why we haven’t moved anywhere bigger - extra space might be nice, additional mortgage, not so much. We accidentally bought in great catchment area for primary/secondary schools, very close to local transport links, very quiet, not overlooked - all total fluke.
If you are happy where you are, just tell them and ask why they think you should move?

Enjoy your lovely home!

People are a bit obsessed by going bigger. It brings its only problems e.g. bigger mortgage, more cleaning. We are moving shortly to a 3 bed terrace, it’s big enough for our needs and an ok location. Trade off is a smaller mortgage and more money for holidays etc

My house is the same, 2 bed Victorian terrace which I bought back in 2003. It was a shithole at the time but it was dirt cheap and it's all paid for and looks lovely now (marrying a joiner helped!). Why the hell would I want to saddle myself with another mortgage when I can have a nice life instead?

We moved from our first home after 2.5 years. Literally transferred from what had been a brand new standard 3 bed semi d when we moved in to a 17 year old standard 3 bed semi d. Smaller garden, no downstairs bathroom, no en suite, no extended kitchen, single glazed windows...otherwise pretty similar houses, including size, but the 2nd house was in a far better location.

We are still here 18 years later and have no intention of leaving here.

We are still in our 2 bed first house. Our mortgage is low which enabled my DH to become a stay at home dad and care for his mum when he was made redundant. I'm glad we didnt move on and overstretch ourselves

Ignore people. You will pay your mortgage off quickly and will probably be in a position to cut back on working hours or retire early. Don’t bow to the pressure of keeping up with the Jones’ as so many do.

The current situation is a lesson to everyone to live well within your means as you don’t know what’s coming.

We've been in our first home for 3 years. People tell me we'll want to move for a garden or better parking but I love our 3 bed terrace. We're in great school catchment and right by the station. Our little girl is about to be 16 weeks so I'll just put my fingers in my ears!

I moved from a busy town to a village and from a three bedroom house to a large two bedroom.

So many people told me I would regret it. I would miss everyone. Being so far away. ( it’s a half hour drive back to family and where we were. )

Six years now and they are still asking. I love it here. And I’m never moving. I only have one child so two beds is fine and will be going to university in a few years.
I now ignore everyone. Live where you want and love where u are. I do and I’m not moving.

God no, be confident not embarresed, just say we are very happy here, its ideal for us

@EL8888 I totally agree, people are obsessed with bigger and better and never seem happy with what they’ve got. It’s all about keeping up with the Jones!

We are the same OP, love our house but constantly get told by family it’s too small. Then covid hit, we lost 50% of our income but can STILL pay the mortgage. That shut them up!!! It makes me sad as I think the family members in question are ashamed we have a small house. It’s all “Doreen’s daughter has a 5 bed with kitchen island”. We know for a fact that Doreen’s daughter has a 40 year mortgage and has just had to send the Range Rover “back”.
Enjoy your house OP, it sounds lovely!

We have had immense pressure to upgrade and buy bigger from MIL. We are looking into it now, but we won't be increasing the mortgage. Instead we will be moving 300 miles away and won't be seeing her more than a few times a year. I hope all those comments were worth it for her.

You just need to ignore people who want or do different things or have a different opinion to you.

It's quite liberating to live your life that way. Do what suits you, not what society/the norm expects you to.

Your house is more than enough for your needs. That means you can easily afford your mortgage, pay it off earlier, afford to work less, retire earlier, worry less about income loss. What's not to like and why would you give that freedom up to buy a bigger house than you want?

People from work? Why would you care what they think? Will they be paying your larger mortgage?

I am about to move into my first home, a small 2 up 2 down semi and I will be staying in it. I'm a single parent of one.

I have no desire for a large house. I will have a small mortgage that will be paid off by the time I'm 50. I'd rather have the extra cash to enjoy life.

I would definitely stay in your current home if I were you. It sounds lovely and suited to what you need.

As someone who did move upwards, including an extension, I am saying stay where you are.
I am now in the position at nearly 60 , worried about mortgage as DH lost his job . I actually want to get divorced, but can't afford it. And we are in a big house with adult DCs gone.
Paying off mortgage young is a huge achievement. You wont regret it . Unless you are in a shit neighbourhood , why would you move ? Tell others to bog off.

Stay.
We only moved from a similar house because the neighbours were deaf and I couldn’t stand listening to their TV through the walls any longer.
We would be mortgage free by now if we had stayed!

We’re still in our first house. Not moving. Paid off our mortgage - when covid hit and my husband got made redundant, we were bloody glad about that I tell you.

Stay up if you’re happy.

We stayed in our house rather than upgrading, as a result I've had no mortgage since my thirties and can afford to do whatever job I want rather than chasing the money and have the cash to spend on making my house nice if I want to.

(Stay put not stay up)

Why would you be embarrassed?

'No, we're very happy where we are'. Done.

Don't fall for the pressure. We have 3 kids in a two bed. We were constantly asked while expecting the third when we were moving. We had planned to, but we just didn't feel cramped. Instead we saved like mad and we're lucky enough to receive some inheritance. Now we're moving to a 4 bed and will be mortgage free.

We honestly would be fine here for a few more years though. It just works for us. I love small cosy houses, they're so warm and safe feeling. The whole pressure of climbing the property ladder is ridiculous and needs to stop. Whatever happened to being happy with your lot?

How old are you? Agree with a pp it's likely people assuming you'll be having kids soon, if you said you bought it young.

I think not having kids a two bed is perfect, can't imagine why you'd want more rooms. Part of the point of not having children is more disposable income, why eat it up by buying a traditional 'family' home?