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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

House with sea view for £150k!

218 replies

MiddleagedBeachbum · 21/09/2023 10:04

I know IABU a little…. But I didn’t think it was possible to buy a house with an amazing sea view in England for £150k and I’ve just done it!!

It’s a gorgeous white fronted, 4 storey, 5 bed Victorian terrace, 200 meters from the beach in NW Cumbria, only 15 mins into the National Lake District Park.

I’ve been a single working mum for the past 20 years, held down a mortgage solo all this time and worked my arse off whilst raising my boy.
Now he’s 20 I can finally give him the childhood I wanted to 🤣

In 2022 I sold my house ‘down south’ at a peak price, and then waited and used the equity to buy this house outright. It’s been a scary leap as I was born and bred down south and had never been further north than Manchester until 2021 when I first came to the Lakes.

The house had been sat on the market for 6 months and so I ended up with 18% off the original asking price!

I wanted to share this, because so many people, like me, post pandemic are looking for a better quality of life and a simpler way of living - I feel I’ve found heaven here! Cost of living is cheaper up here, slower pace of life, strong community feel, tonnes of free things to do - sea, lakes, mountains!!

i’m still pinching myself that it’s actually happened, after all these years I can finally relax and enjoy life.

Except the house is a renovation project so that’ll keep me busy!

I hope I don’t upset anyone by posting, as I know all too well how hard it is when you’re struggling financially - in fact, I worked out if I hadn’t of sold in ‘22 I now wouldn’t be able to afford my mortgage so feeling so grateful I did.

Just wanted to share to inspire others and to share my good news that I can’t share in real life!

House with sea view for £150k!
House with sea view for £150k!
OP posts:
bisopharm · 21/09/2023 10:54

Congratulations! Hope the renovation goes well and you are very happy in your new home 🌹

hattie43 · 21/09/2023 10:55

ASCCM · 21/09/2023 10:11

Congratulations!!!! I can’t wait to retire to the beach!!!

This

SisterMichaelsHabit · 21/09/2023 10:55

MiddleagedBeachbum · 21/09/2023 10:51

Wow that’s so exciting!! Thanks for sharing :)

I was waiting till my son was older to move, as didn’t want to separate him and his dad. In the past year before we moved he saw his dad 3 times in a year - despite his dad only living 15 mins down the road and my son driving.
Unfortunately his dad was always too busy with his new family, and now sends him ‘missing him’ texts but never actually makes any effort 🙄

Show quote history

Ah that's a real shame about your DS's dad. Has your son moved with you? Are you renovating it together? How long do you think the reno will take?

Aphotoaday · 21/09/2023 10:56

AgentProvocateur · 21/09/2023 10:30

@MiddleagedBeachbum take a look at the insta account called whathavewedunoon - it’s a couple who bought a wreck in Dunoon, Scotland, and documents its transformation.

There was also a series on bbc about it, try iPlayer, it was a great watch.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 21/09/2023 10:57

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/09/2023 10:53

Gosh I think people with ADHD are the last people who could live with a renovation. All those different aspects to think of and work through at the same time, not being able to have clear systems to help you remember where things are.

Show quote history

Some of us with ADHD have systems and coping mechanisms that mean a project like this would be extremely workable. Especially as we get hyperfocus on things we're interested in.

Good job we're not all the same just because we have the same diagnosis, eh?

Original poster
MiddleagedBeachbum · 21/09/2023 10:57

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 21/09/2023 10:53

Gosh I think people with ADHD are the last people who could live with a renovation. All those different aspects to think of and work through at the same time, not being able to have clear systems to help you remember where things are.

Show quote history

That’s interesting as I thrive on chaos and making it orderly.

My role in work has already been either starting businesses, so pulling lots of things together, or marketing / pr / events etc or general management and running of things - I’m able to pull various different strings together.

But I can’t manage finances or budgets, and if I don’t have a list the day before, I struggle to get out of bed! I have to have constant lists of things to do, or else I don’t know what to do!

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 21/09/2023 10:58

It really is so amazing how diff house prices north and south

5 bed for £150k

Amazing

Enjoy

Have you found a job as sure that's one thing that puts people off moving

Not finding a job easily in new location

Zonder · 21/09/2023 10:58

This is a fantastic thread. Thank you for posting @MiddleagedBeachbum

Maybe your sister and family will also move!

Please do start an Instagram account and show us your renovations. I would definitely follow.

StrongandNorthern · 21/09/2023 10:59

That's fantastic! Not surprised you wanted to share your news. It looks amazing. Be happy!

Original poster
MiddleagedBeachbum · 21/09/2023 11:01

SisterMichaelsHabit · 21/09/2023 10:55

Ah that's a real shame about your DS's dad. Has your son moved with you? Are you renovating it together? How long do you think the reno will take?

Show quote history

Yes my son moved with me, I wouldn’t of come without him, and he tried to move back for a few weeks down south when I first came up, but his dad wouldn’t have him (!!) and he stayed with my mum….. it didn’t work out as I knew it wouldn’t and held fast for him to join me, and he’s now so happy and settled.

yes it’s real shame about his dad, but their relationship was broken long before we moved due to his dad being a ‘nice man’ but totally spineless and refusing to stand by his son instead of his new wife….

OP posts:
DanielsDancingMonkey · 21/09/2023 11:02

What a lovely post.

All that AND you can shop at Booths. I am envious!

Original poster
MiddleagedBeachbum · 21/09/2023 11:05

DanielsDancingMonkey · 21/09/2023 11:02

What a lovely post.

All that AND you can shop at Booths. I am envious!

Yes Booths 😍😍😍!! What a delicious discovery! Thank you :)

OP posts:
Tonightsthenight91 · 21/09/2023 11:06

Fabulous!!

Pipsquiggle · 21/09/2023 11:06

Massive well done OP.

Love that part of the world, my sister lives up in Cumbria and it's breathtaking.

Just be prepared for all weathers. Mountain Warehouse will probably be your new favourite shop

CantThinkOfANameAtAll · 21/09/2023 11:07

Congratulations OP. This is my dream but I would be terrified of leaving my adult children behind and not seeing them. I'm glad you took yours.

The sellers told me a week before completion it was ‘sold as seen’ and they weren’t removing anything in the house.
They left a dog?!? I see it in pictures 3 and 4. Lucky you! 😮😂

Luckypom · 21/09/2023 11:07

@MiddleagedBeachbum

love this! Your enthusiasm has given me a big smile 😊 good on you 👍

SomethingWitty44 · 21/09/2023 11:08

Way to go @MiddleagedBeachbum
Looks beautiful. Wishing you very happiness in your new home

caringcarer · 21/09/2023 11:08

Very well done. It just shows if you keep your focus, what you can do. The sunsets look fab and how lovely to wake up and walk dogs along the beach. My DH grew up 1/2 mile from the beach. I've retired now but he is still working. He will retire at 61-62 so about 2 more years to go. Once he retires we are going to start looking for a house very close to a nice beach, possibly Bridlington where he grew up. I hope the renovation goes well.

Original poster
MiddleagedBeachbum · 21/09/2023 11:12

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/09/2023 10:58

It really is so amazing how diff house prices north and south

5 bed for £150k

Amazing

Enjoy

Have you found a job as sure that's one thing that puts people off moving

Not finding a job easily in new location

I know!
The house I sold was a 1920’s ex council, very ugly on the outside, 3 bed semi, on a busy crossroads but with 3 sided garden and room to extend, but still…. For £415k!!

I still can’t believe the size of this place and location, the view etc for this price. To be honest, even my local friends have been shocked by how cheap it is.

So job wise - I did quit work and started studying art, but then got really broke and whilst I was waiting for the house sale to go through needed to work, as I need something to drive me, so I’m now working freelance a mix of remote and working down near Manchester - but it’s a lovely 2 hrs drive through mountains instead of traffic logged roads!

OP posts:
Lentilweaver · 21/09/2023 11:13

Well done! You deserve it after all this hard work. Looks lovely.

COPPER3 · 21/09/2023 11:13

I love this!
Well done my love!
I wish you all the fulfillment and luck in the world. xx

Original poster
MiddleagedBeachbum · 21/09/2023 11:14

Zonder · 21/09/2023 10:58

This is a fantastic thread. Thank you for posting @MiddleagedBeachbum

Maybe your sister and family will also move!

Please do start an Instagram account and show us your renovations. I would definitely follow.

Oh I’d love my dsis to move! I keep hinting at it 🤣

Dsis introduced me to mumsnet so hoping she sees this!

OP posts:
MumLass · 21/09/2023 11:14

I love this thread! You are amazing. I dream of doing something similar in the future. Downsizing, killing off my mortgage and moving somewhere peaceful.

adriftabroad · 21/09/2023 11:15

Brilliant! Well done. Wish you so much hapiness.

Comeoncarol · 21/09/2023 11:16

Such a lovely post OP. Enjoy your new home and wishing you lots of happiness in the future making memories with your dogs and friends/family when they visit.