House with sea view for £150k!

[MiddleagedBeachbum]

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!

Well done. Would you recommend Cumbria? When I sell I will need to find a more affordable area as I only own half the house (ex has other half). I live in a nice area now so would love to move to another nice (but cheaper) area. It sounds idyllic.

Fantastic, enjoy your new life by the sea

As a displaced Cumbrian, I don't blame you for wanting to go there. I would love to move 'back' but have lived in the midlands for many years now, and DD lives on the south coast, so would be not ideal geographically. My first house was also on the coast, about 20 miles from where you are now. I miss the sea! And the local prices.

Congratulations! It sounds as if you've more than earned your good fortune. Is that your house in the first two pictures, or are they the view from your house?

Is it not cold up there?

I’m feeling excited for you! Please please show us more and update as you go along.

@OhNoForever ODFOD

Oh these terrible 'older people' (and I guess childless people) who insist on having their own homes and spoiling communities by daring to live in them.

Congratulations! Enjoy that beautiful view. Good luck with the renos. :)

Very positive post, thank you! Enjoy your new home.

Awww - I know exactly that house!! Was up there a couple of months ago and noticed it - it's in a perfect spot and the village and beach is stunning - am very jealous! I'm in Manchester but considering a move to the seaside too - I'd need to commute at least once a week back to Manchester though, so am looking at Lytham - not as pretty as where you are, but seaside and not too bad to commute! Am really pleased for you 😄

I’m Harrington born and bred OP! Still live within 5 miles. Welcome to one of the UK’s best kept secrets!

Your butchers (Pioneer?) are great. Their steak pies are delicious.
I’ll assume you’ve ventured to Workington? Decent shopping centre (Next, M and S etc). Also there’s a new 6-screen cinema that is fab (small family owned group).

For better shopping the train goes directly from Harrington to Carlisle, taking about an hour. Good for an afternoon/day out.

You can even get the train to Carlisle, then go from there directly to Edinburgh or Glasgow. It will take about 3 hours in total, so makes a long day, but we have done it many times. An easy way to get that ‘Big City Fix’ if you need it! Taking the train makes it so much more relaxing than driving, and it means you can have a drink with a nice lunch!

Cockermouth is obviously lovely and we have considered moving there many times, but we just cannot justify the extra cost. Our house would be minimum £70K more expensive, for the sake of less than 10 miles!

Half an hour takes you to Keswick and the heart of The Lakes.

There’s actually a brilliant food festival in Cockermouth this weekend, which is well worth a visit.

There are only a couple of downsides to living here. One is that it’s 40 miles to the motorway and the other is that the nearest airports are all 2-3 hours away. But, it’s a small price to pay.

Really hope you settle well and enjoy your new life!

Well done OP! It’s so heartwarming to read a positive thread.
It sounds like you’ve worked hard and been brave, you deserve every success.

How does it feel to be living my dream? 😊
I hope you both have many happy and cherished years in your lovely home.

I know and it puts people in a situation where they are contributing to inflated prices but have little alternative choice. If I went purely by what I’ve just seen on RightMove, if I moved to Cumbria I could afford to buy a lovely bungalow outright. If I stay put, when I sell, I can only afford a a flat (but worry about service charges) or a tiny terrace that still needs doing up (which I can’t afford). Realistically, I probably won’t move to Cumbria because I won’t know anyone there and I may not see much of my adult kids but property wise I’d be there in a shot.

Congratulations! So pleased for you and so close to the Lake District my favourite part of the country.
Enjoy💗

Fantastic- congratulations on your new home

Another homesick west Cumbrian wishing you all the best in your beautiful new home! That view across the Irish Sea never gets old, especially on long summer nights when the sun dips behind the Isle of Man. May you and your DS have many happy times there.

I love this thread. I’m full of admiration for the way you have taken life by the horns. Would also love to follow your renovation on insta if you start posting.

Beautiful!! I hope you're very, very happy there. It's a gorgeous part of the world.

Fantastic- well
done. Wishing you every happiness in your new home.

lovely thread and so glad your son's settled :)

Well done xx Enjoy your new house

Ok. My son has ADHD (diagnosed) and I suspect both his father and I also I have it (going from the things that led to his diagnosis). So just going from how I feel about things.

I love this! well done op- wishing you many years of happiness in your wonderful new home!x

Congratulations! Very inspiring 🎉