Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I greedy to buy this property?

158 replies

MuckFusk · 25/06/2025 22:36

I notice a lot of people on MN are down on owning vacation homes, and I get why that is, considering how short housing is and the population density in the UK. I'm in Canada (where it's very common to have a vacation home) and I just made an offer on a property which will be used probably four months out of the year. I felt it was a better option environmentally to travelling, as it is not far to drive to, so no plane travel needed. I plan to kit it out for sustainability just as I have my current home; high efficiency heat pump, insulation, etcetera. The major reason I bought it as a future income property for my disabled daughter, especially for when I am no longer living, but it will be a vacation home for awhile. I don't think I'm depriving anyone else of high demand home, because it's been sitting on the market for a month and is in an area with a glacially slow housing market right now.

However, I do wonder if I'm greedy to have more than one property when some people can't even afford one. So you can vote YABU if you think I shouldn't have it and YANBU if you think it's okay.
It might seem like a weird question, but I second guess myself a lot.

OP posts:
Original poster
MuckFusk · 26/06/2025 21:08

ThisTicklishFatball · 26/06/2025 21:00

OP, you're still catching flak from a few posters, I see. Honestly, don't let it get to you. What you're witnessing here is just a charming slice of that quintessentially British cocktail — three parts jealousy, two parts moral posturing, shaken over a cube of hypocrisy and served with a passive-aggressive lemon twist.
We do love a good grumble in this country, especially when someone dares to plan ahead, show kindness, or — heaven forbid — use their own hard-earned money to support their own child. Shocking, I know. Next thing you’ll be telling us you bought her decent shoes too.
The idea that helping your daughter — a young person with special needs — is somehow “unfair” says far more about them than it does about you. It’s not about fairness, it’s about decency, compassion, and basic flipping humanity. You’re doing something wonderful. That rattles people who wouldn't lift a finger unless there was a Facebook post in it for them.
So carry on. You’ve got your head screwed on, your heart in the right place, and frankly, that’s more than I can say for some of the commentary floating around here.
Oh honestly. You’d think someone was proposing to buy a mansion made of gold bricks and unicorn tears the way some people carry on
This idea that supporting your own child is somehow "unfair" to others is absolutely bonkers. Life isn't a game of equal slices of cake.
People will always have opinions. But they don't have to walk in your shoes, raise your child, or live with the long-term worries you no doubt carry every single day. You are thinking ahead. You're trying to do right by your family. Anyone calling that wrong or immoral has either never been in your position or is projecting their own hang-ups.
So go ahead, do what you need to do — and know that some of us are absolutely cheering you on.

Are you sure you to buy in England instead of Canada where people, culture and education are better? 😎

Edited

That was an epic post! Lmao at your witty takedown of the naysayers. 🩷

OP posts:
Original poster
MuckFusk · 26/06/2025 21:09

limescale · 26/06/2025 20:45

I meant the info in my post was Google AI, I wasn’t implying you are AI!

Show quote history

My apologies.

OP posts:
Jennps · 26/06/2025 22:50

MuckFusk · 26/06/2025 20:39

That's an interesting perspective and I was hoping this might spark some discussion about that sort of thing. Can you elaborate on small island mentality? Really would like to get more of your POV on that.

Show quote history

This country has always had a sense of British exceptionalism. Probably because despite being European, we always had a distinctly different culture. In centuries gone by, this manifested in competition and a desire to grow and develop.

Unfortunately the exceptionalism is still there but the talent is not. People in this country have increasingly become lazy, bitter and wanting to live the high life without actually wanting out any graft in.

Original poster
MuckFusk · 26/06/2025 23:10

Jennps · 26/06/2025 22:50

This country has always had a sense of British exceptionalism. Probably because despite being European, we always had a distinctly different culture. In centuries gone by, this manifested in competition and a desire to grow and develop.

Unfortunately the exceptionalism is still there but the talent is not. People in this country have increasingly become lazy, bitter and wanting to live the high life without actually wanting out any graft in.

Show quote history

I have noticed that a seemingly disproportionate number of people on MN can be quite petty and do seem bitter, but I attributed it to the internet bringing out the worst in people. I have noticed it's worse here than a lot of other places though. People will bitch at you just for living on MN.

I can't help but see a parallel with the US. In my experience (25+ years experience of these kind of discussions) Americans are the worst when it comes to a feeling of exceptionalism. It's a silly idea to me that one country is exceptional and "the greatest country in the world" as the Americans say.

OP posts:
Original poster
MuckFusk · 27/06/2025 02:48

Update; my offer was accepted! I expected a counter, but nope. My daughter is so happy. We got a fantastic deal, over $30,000 under asking. Closing in a month, we're going to have blast in August going to all those nearby beaches. The colours of the leaves in fall will be spectacular in the forest there too. Hoping to have the family stay over for Labour Day weekend. 🥂 Thanks for your encouragement, YANBU folks.

OP posts:
PyongyangKipperbang · 27/06/2025 02:52

MuckFusk · 27/06/2025 02:48

Update; my offer was accepted! I expected a counter, but nope. My daughter is so happy. We got a fantastic deal, over $30,000 under asking. Closing in a month, we're going to have blast in August going to all those nearby beaches. The colours of the leaves in fall will be spectacular in the forest there too. Hoping to have the family stay over for Labour Day weekend. 🥂 Thanks for your encouragement, YANBU folks.

Oh I am so thrilled for you both!! Congratulations!!

PopeJoan2 · 27/06/2025 10:15

The person who mentioned council house purchase is right. Margaret That her should have been imprisoned for selling off housing stock. Many of my friends from wealthy backgrounds bought cheap apartments in prime locations, depleting the housing stock. It should never have happened.

Op, what you are doing is very different. Go for it.

DiscoBob · 27/06/2025 10:43

MuckFusk · 26/06/2025 19:45

That's been suggested and I will try to do that, though it won't be wanted in the winter. Nobody wants to be up in the boonies in winter unless they can ski. Winters are pretty miserable as I'm sure you can imagine.
I was going to offer it to a friend who was being evicted, but she found some people to share her rental.

Show quote history

I get that. But I think you should do what you can. I mean a children's charity might use it in winter for sick or underprivileged kids who's wish it was to see snow/learn to ski? Maybe that sounds weird... I've only been skiing once and I hated it so I'm no expert!

Either way it would be a nice gesture. It sounds like you're a kind person as you wouldn't be thinking this unless you realised you are so fortunate.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread