Should we move? Where should we move?

[HeyAsdaIAintGonBeYourBitch]

DH works right by Heathrow Airport, (the lucky dog ). He usually drives, but he can also take a train to Feltham and take a bus from there.

I am a SAHM, but am about to start a course to help me get into teaching, (eventually - it will take some time). Until then, I'm planning to pick up temp or evening jobs where I can and work around studying and dcs. We can survive on DH's salary at the moment.

We really want somewhere with a bit of land - by land, I am not talking a whole farm, just maybe an acre or two including the house and not people living on top of us. We currently live near Reading and it's so built up round here. We would love the kids to have a bit of space to run around and a bit less traffic.

Budget would be £550k-ish... Is this doable?

Where would we go? We have some family in Hampshire, but we don't necessarily want or need to live near them, much as we love them!

Thoughts were maybe Oxfordshire or Wiltshire? DH thinks he might swing some regular days WFH, since the pandemic has shown it is more than possible for him to do everything at home. So, although that commute might be bigger, he won't have to do it every day. Or we could go further North if there were good links to London, like maybe the Midlands. Or is that bonkers?

Would love some ideas if anyone has any.

Bump!

And actually, I meant to add, with the whole small issue of a global pandemic and imminent economic disruption, should we be thinking about moving at all at the moment?

We live in the same area as you and currently in process of trying to move to Wiltshire!

A lot of areas in Kent would fit your description, and being close to the m25 means dh can still get into London. Surrey is also a good option.

Thanks both!

Ha! There's a coincidence @MrsTWH. I suppose it makes sense. Not much further from London, but also a bit more rural..?

I hadn't considered Kent, but the train to London from there is meant to be very fast isn't it? So maybe worth a look! Thanks.

Yes definitely more rural, but I need to keep my job here so we were looking within an hour or so drive.

Wiltshire is much cheaper than Oxfordshire so more choice there (of the two).

Your best plan, I think, is to work out from where your DH can get to work reasonably easily, and work back from there. Seaside areas are often cheaper but there are reasons for that.

Teaching jobs are easier to find in cities. We hear a lot about a nationwide shortage, but the truth I've seen is that you can be stuck in supply in rural places for years.

I don’t live there any more so not sure about prices but have you looked at west Berks? Would then be able to look at Reading or Oxford for teaching jobs. Alternatively I’d go Wiltshire - my sister lives in Oxfordshire (not a particularly amazing part) and her 3 bed semi with tiny garden was nearly £400k

Yeah, those prices sound similar to here @Chocolateandamaretto.

That's very useful info re teaching jobs and their scarcity in rural areas. That does make sense.

I will have a look at W Berks as well as Wiltshire. Parts of Wiltshire would be a long commute for DH, so that would depend on what he could do re WFH.

Thanks for all these!