To move to the city centre

[Loserbaby]

We are 40, no kids no dog.

Rent a nice but old house with a few issues in a very desirable commuter city with good transport links, safe and green.

Husband will be commuting to a big city now twice a week and I'm tempted to suggest let's move to a modern flat for the same rent and enjoy a change of pace, more to do at weekends with no peeling wallpaper and badly designed kitchen.

But once we let the house go its gone.

The city we live in is lovely, but quite dull, its a very small city. We have been here for 6 years. Family and friends scattered all round so no huge support network we would be leaving. Maybe I'm having a mid life crisis.

Is city centre living only good for younger people??

If you're renting, no kids, no love of gardening, and no ties to the particular area you're in then why not give it a try! If it turns out not to be your preference you can always move out again surely.
Don't know what's available in your small and fairly dull city but I love a museum, city centre stroll/coffee, theatre or music in walking distance from home

Oh girl do it!

I would if I could - 33 with one dd

Get yourself a lovely flat, with a share of the freehold and live your best life

Restaurants, plays

Omg I'm a bit jealous just typing this 😄🙈 xx

Edit - i thought youd have to sell. If you're renting then it's a no brainer!

We live in city center, smallish flat, 1DC, no pets, communal garden. I absolutely love it - walk to work, walk to the shops walk if we go out for dinner. It is great

Oh absolutely. No commute and much more fun in the evenings and an easy place to maintain? Total win for me. But I love city living so am biased :)

I feel bad for saying its dull. Its a great great city and many people would love to live here. Hence why I'm reluctant to go!

But yes it feels like a why not try it type of thing, and the house (although it's a good rent) is starting to need a serious renovation.

We do like this city for a weekend break but living there is a different story isn't it.

You are renting so it's no big loss if you let the house go. I was contemplating it myself a few months ago when buying a property but the service charge is extortionate so the house in the burps it is then. Other than that, I absolutely love city living and I am also 40+

Why feel bad though? Everyone likes different things and if this isn't for you anymore then you can go somewhere you're excited about and leave your home for someone who will be excited to live there.

I live a couple miles from the centre of a city and work in town. I go to ballets and theatre and different festivals and meet friends for drinks after work. I love living here (with my kids) and wouldn't change it. I also 'hate' a commute so prioritised that too. You can always find somewhere else to rent if you hate it but you sound ready for a change.

Definately give it a try - the benefit of renting is that you can move easily, and no kids or dog means you have so much freedom on where you live.

You can always move back to the town you're in now, or go somewhere else, of thats what you want to do.

I know a couple older than you who did this some years ago. But they bought a flat in a really noisy part of our city, not rented. I think they enjoyed it. They were always out in the evenings, mostly in bars. Now they've both in their 60's and retired they are selling up and moving somewhere quieter. Go for it OP.

What do you like to do with your time? Will you visit museums, ballet, theatre, galleries, cinema, all kinds of restaurants and other creative happenings?
or will you find yourself shopping and drinking at chain run bars?

in the same way as you you probably have to enjoy country activities and walking in mud to live in the countryside, you need to like doing things that happen in cities.

is the city in question one that excites you?
if so why not!

It kind of depends on the city. If it's very touristy, for example, living in the centre is much less fun (ask me how I know). But just a regular, nice, not too popular city - go for it.

A few years ago I helped my son move into a brand new city centre flat. Huge floor to ceiling windows and doors, full length balcony.
Whilst he faffed about I sat on the balcony and looked over to see a couple in their 60s sitting on the balcony of their flat. It was a double height, top floor flat (about 5 floors in total), full width balcony. It faced south and had a lovely view over the gardens.
It was slap bang next to all the big shops but quiet and secluded at the same time. I had no idea such things existed.
I had always assumed I would retire to a country cottage but seeing this completely changed my mind. I would love to live in that flat.
I'm now in my 60s and still haven't changed my mind about city centre life.

Being able to walk everywhere for things such as shopping, if you forget something being able to go back, is something I value. I am just by a high street where I live.

I’m 54 and live in the centre of London. I walk to work, walk to restaurants, walk to the theatre, walk to galleries, walk to Borough Market and Spitalfields. It’s just such a terrible way to live. 😜There are just too many choices. It’s a struggle but I think I’m the right woman for the job and I’ll muddle through somehow. 😂

I think it depends what your hobbies and interests are.

If you enjoy restaurants, theatre, cinema and shopping, I'm sure it would be a great option. If you enjoy gardening and country walks, not so much!

I know several ‘older’ people who live in big cities moving there after their kids moved out and they love it. Do it!

A few years ago we bought a small studio flat in a very buzzy city that we love to visit. I spend 7/8 days a month there and love being near shops/theatres/bars/cinemas/beach etc. At our family home in suburbia it can take 90 minutes to get home after a night out but there we can walk home from the city centre in under 10 minutes. I love it.

we are retiring soon and have to make the decision about whether we stay in suburbia or move to the buzzy city permanently.

Thanks all.

No unfortunately I'm not a fan of gardening and long country walks. My main hobby is food! I plan our weekend breaks around it so get very excited about all the different places we could try in a bigger city! Some of these city centre apartments have swimming pools in the building! This also greatly excites me 😍

Well in that case @Loserbaby, when I just checked Deliveroo there are currently 283 open pizza places that will deliver to me right now. Of course that’s just pizza. I can order pretty much whatever I fancy and it’s still hard to choose. Hand rolled noodles? Tick! Peruvian? Tick! Sounds like city centre living will suit you well.

You've got no kids, no pets, no real ties - do something that makes you both happy. If it turns out you dont like it........move again somewhere else. Renting nowadays is usually ridiculously expensive but one of the pros is that its way easier to move than if you own your own property.