AIBU to think DH's dream home location doesn't exist?

[Putmynewshoeson]

DH has long wanted to live by the sea/water. He grew up near the sea and is desperate for DS to have the same activities available to him (paddle boarding, surfing, beach walks etc)

We were all set to do it this year but seeing the crowds packed into beaches has really put me off. Don't get me wrong, I know tourist spots are obviously busy but the behaviour of people just seems to have gone into overdrive.

DH is convinced we can find somewhere on the coast around the south/south east that won't be rammed like Brighton or Bournemouth in summer and where we can find a four bedroom for around 400k.

I think he's living in a Dreamworld. We aren't tied to anywhere for work as we both work remotely and will continue to be working remotely. obviously want a good school for DS when he's old enough but don't mind somewhere quiet with not much going on in terms of shops, pubs - just one or two of each for convenience would be fine.

I just can't see there being a coastline which doesn't have loads of visitors as soon as the weather is nice, where we can actually afford.

We've had a look on Rightmove but because we can pretty much go anywhere, it's a broad spectrum to search and I think we need to narrow it down a bit.

DH is just desperate to move I think (another issue is I don't think our house will sell, it needs a lot of work but he wants to try and take advantage of the stamp duty holiday)

Am I being a grump? Or realistic?! I feel like if it existed we would have been able to find some houses by now

I really like Suffolk but now DH is umming and ahhing about going to London occasionally, not sure that's viable.
However, I have MY list of places now thanks to this thread and if they don't fit the bill, he can go and find this wondrous utopia and all the wonderful houses we can afford in it ;)

I don't know Suffolk well but it seems to fit the bill.

I might start another thread for Suffolk-ers (?) and see if they can give more info.

Thanks so much to everyone who posted btw, I didn't expect to get so many replies!

Depends how frequently? I used to have to go into London maybe one a month in my last job and it was quite viable from Ipswich - the very fastest trains are under an hour from there and the "standard" fast train is about 1 hr 20 I think. I wouldn't want to do it every day but I think it's quite feasible irregularly. You'd probably want to drive to a mainline station though as I think the change to the branch lines could make it very slow.

New Milton is affordable. 5 mins from the New Forest and a pebble beach at Barton. Also has a mainline station into Waterloo.

It’s not south but South Shields (just outside Newcastle) has beautiful sandy beach loads going on, cheap houses, not packed.

You would have to move out of the SE to get something reasonable for under £400k. Job v lifestyle again.

Jaywick! I saw it's twin last week in the Morecambe area. Run down chalets that were actually collapsing onto the pavement on an industrial estate with For Rent signs up. Just a sign of how things can go down as I spent many a happy childhood holiday with my auntie there, such happy days.

I live by the sea in the NW. Now I don't mind it being busy we have a 100 bed residential unit here and there are lots of visitors/staff etc but it was here when we moved in twenty plus years ago. They were here first, no issues.

But it is near the Lakes and for some reason, people are claiming it is the Lakes. No, it really isn't. This year we have people bringing caravans and squeezing them onto a tiny area by the shore, screaming, shouting, drunks leaving rubbish, revving quads. Council byelaws signs threatening big fines makes no difference. There are still out of control fires, quads driven dangerously etc, mountains of rubbish.

It is also a place with lots of very weird people alongside being the cottaging capital of the UK. Lots of people lurking about late at night, drugs etc. See Police with body cams etc. Last year we had an organised crime burglary and Police told us we were lucky we did not wake up and intervene.

Sorry to sound negative op, but you have already mentioned your DH's rosey tinted view of his childhood (same as me), he may want to consider the reality. Times have changed.

Myself, I would avoid beauty spots. If you value peace and privacy, remember that beauty spots belong to everyone not just the locals.

What about Greatstone/Littlestone near New Romney? There’s a few detached houses for sale around your budget.

@mamaoffourdc

Folkestone or hythe

Also Sandgate and the Marsh right down to Dungerness Beautiful places Fast train in to London too, I think it's 40 minutes but happy to be corrected Nip to France for the day as well

Devon- Exmouth or Dawlish area. Large long beaches so plenty of space. Exeter in close proximity. Good schools. Close to Dartmoor.

Try Scotland.

www.onthemarket.com/for-sale/4-bed-property/dorset-coast/?max-bedrooms=

Several on this page under 400k.

Interesting. The op specifically said south/south-east coast and we get suggestions of Norfolk, Yorkshire and Northumberland. I can only think that a few people here did not pass geography GCSE.

I’m in Ramsgate. Cheaper than Broadstairs and only 5 min drive away. Or Margate. They are a little run down but sandy beaches and easily a large house for 400k. Broadstairs pricier but prettier. Lots of paddle boarding / surfing too. Broadstairs always packed in summer but you can find quieter coves towards Ramsgate. Avoid Botany Bay.

Oh and Broadstairs / Ramsgate / Margate high speed train links to London takes just over an hour.

This is where I grew up. Didn’t appreciate it at the time but going back there now I realise how beautiful the coastline is. Llanelli - South Wales. You’d get a beautiful house for £400. £250k gets you a detached new build. Ten mins from m4.

Hayling Island

Totally possible in Suffolk... and relatively easy to commute to London and Essex from. Old Felixstowe would be my initial recommendation - but schools are crud there (but not that expensive to go private in the area - Woodbridge or Ipswich both have good private secondaries and there are people at the state secondary in Woodbridge from Felixstowe so not totally impossible)...

I’m in Estuary Essex. There are two yacht clubs in our little town, so great for boating, kayaking, water skiing and SUP. If you drive 20 minutes you find great spots for wind surfing and kite surfing. Our local primary has “outstanding” rating.

It’s about 40 minute train ride to London. It is more expensive up than North but I think you’d find something within budget.

I love living near the water, it would definitely factor in future house choices.

What about Ferring? Or Deal?

You're being a grump.

The seaside is amazing but you've got visions of Bournemouth in your head.

Stop being negative and jump into the adventure.

Northumberland is magnificent and quiet. But don’t tell everyone!

Havant/Langstone - you are near to Chichester harbour (the Witterings are a short boat ride across) and Hayling Island but both do get a bit hectic in good weather.
There are loads of areas where you can access the sea but are not touristy though.

@Violinist64 the OP actually said in her post they are not tied to anywhere.

I live in Leigh on Sea, we love it here as we can get into London when we need to. Yes Southend is awful if it’s really hot, but at the Leigh end or Shoeburyness (nicer bits either side) the beaches are quieter. Good M25 access and Leigh itself is very family friendly, lots of small cafes and boutiques. It’s a lot cheaper here than Kent coast. Our 5 bed semi here was 450, although it needed a lot of cosmetic work.

Head north, less frantic in the summer and some beautiful coastline