Would you live in a mobile home for 2 years whilst building a house to get a better education for your children?

[Mysteriousgirl2]

We are a family of 5 happily living in a detached house in a rural area. The secondary state schools are poor here though. When we first moved, we assumed that we could afford private education for our kids. Basically, we’ve recently come to the conclusion that we really can’t. Sending 3DC with all the price rises year on year just isn’t going to be affordable. And that’s with saving really really hard throughout their primary years.

We are going to look at a building plot in another county next week. There’s excellent schools in the area and I think it would be a much better investment. DH is not keen on buying a house that he hasn’t built or worked on (he’s not strictly a builder but we’ve self built our home here already). We wouldn’t be able to buy a ready made house which compares to ours now in this new area so this is a way in for us.

Is it worth moving to the other area to get into the better school catchment?

It’s a much more affluent area - therefore more engaged parenting and better school environment. Where we live there is a high travelling community (honestly not trying to be a snob or knocking it) but in our experience the focus on education just isn’t there and it impacts the local school.

But if we did it, we’d need to live on a building site for at least 2 years in a mobile home..

With all you've said, I'd do it. I'd do a lot for a good education. Ive also lived in a house whilst seriously renovating with 2 kids under 4. Yes it will be stressful, but it's doable, especially with a clear goal. You can get the 7 year old on board with a good narrative. Treat it as an adventure, and take photos for the memories.

My parents did 9 months in a caravan with 2 then 3 under 3. We're all fine.

You're fortunate you have the skills. Nothing ventured nothing gained, as the saying goes.

I would do it.

No, I wouldn't, I firmly believe that wherever possible a settled home is more important than anything for a child. I also wouldn't make such a huge change and go through the upheaval for something so uncertain.

Is buying (renting?) two caravans plus storage fees really cheaper than renting a house in the area?
As for all the warnings about schools going down (or uphill), that can happen, but if there's more than one option and the area is as you describe unlikely.
People can put up with a lot. Only you know how energetic your kids are and how you and your partner could tolerate the conditions of living like that.

I think your husband needs to get over his 'not being keen on a house he hasn't built' business for the benefit of his family. Just buy a bloody house like most people.

You need a big contingency to cover delays due to rising costs and lack of builders/trades.

Even with self build projects…
I would double the amount of money you think it will cost and how much time
you think it will take. If you think it’s two years in a caravan it will be closer to four.

Personally, I would spend more up front and get a house that’s done and enjoy your life with holidays, no stress, no mud but I am an over building work!

They have a settled home. They are with settled parents and presumably on the plot They will live on for years.

Do it only if you and your husband love the plot and the area. Don't just do it for schools.

But if you want to move because of schools the earlier the better.

Secondary schools mainly have open evenings in September or early October. You can look then. A few have them in July.

Only you can decide if you can tolerate it. I dont think it's too early assume you haven't bought any land then the wait for planning - or is that in the 2 years?

Have you ever lived/stayed in a caravan before?

I do however think your husband might need to think of the family first and if you didn't like the idea would he consider renting until complete?

Would I move for good secondary, 100%.

I couldn’t do it.

I would move to an area that had better schools but downsize if necessary to do it. Move to a smaller house or a semi detached house.

Our local secondary was very poor 10 yrs ago and no way were my children attending, however it's improved and following a visit both my kids now attend. It's still not a brilliant school, however it's local, they are happy and as long as it gets them on the next step on the ladder, it will be fine.

Personally I wouldn't commit to a 2 yr building project with small children, their childhood is precious and I wouldn't want to spend 2 yrs project managing I would prefer picnics, playdates and spending money on holidays and experiences.

Seeing as many children live full time in mobile homes I see no reason why you couldn’t for a year. Why do people assume you’ll be cooking on a camping stove. These things are just the same as houses.

I think some people are thinking holiday caravan not a proper mobile home. I think you’d be fine with kids that age in a decent mobile - if that’s the only barrier to doing it (ie you actively embrace the stress, financial uncertainty and time commitment of self-build).

Hi OP
as a child I lived in a mobile home while my parents finished building a house, we were in for about 6 months and I don’t remember having any bad memories about it! I think by the end my mum was ready to move out of it though ha!
go for it or maybe try renting a property nearby? That’s what we did for later builds x

Will your DH also be working whilst building this house OP … if so you need to double the amount of time it will take.

Don't end up like that bloke who built the ‘family’ home on the cliff edge in Devon … his kids had left home before it was finished … and his wife left him …. all for a vanity project really. The original house was lovely.

I’d move but I’m not as sure about the building part

Are you sure there’s no house you’d just buy?

If not then you probably could do the mobile home, I couldn’t but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to

I would really struggle with this but if it's very important to do I guess you'll make it work.

I spent 8-9 months living in a small campervan with my husband while we traveled around Australia but that was in my mid-20's and before kids. Would be a completely different experience now in my mid-30's with a family while maintaining normal working life, not just touring around beaches and exploring all day.

I'd do it . Your kids only get one chance at education.

If you got two or three mobile homes or found something with loads of space, then absolutely yes. The kids are young and will adapt quickly and it'll be educational watching the house be constructed.

As a kid, my parents took us travelling across another country for 18 months (we were homeschooled). We lived in a motorhome and it was an amazing experience. It's instilled in me a life-long love of travel and adventure. Obviously you're not travelling but this could still be a fun adventure for your kids.

I would do it too, a good education is worth it and moving to a good area sets you up better for the long term. If you can self build do it 100%. Living in a mobile home is temporary with a clear goal at the end. You would be mad not to do it@Mysteriousgirl2

This

My parents did this, converted a bungalow into a large 5 bedroom and we lived in a large mobile home with our own bedrooms, similar age to your older children in that we were in school.

In essence it was fine, there was a garage so we had a washer and dryer, large fridge and freezer out there. We were out at school so only in the mobile home in the mornings/evenings/holidays. We used to go abroad for Christmas. Winters were horrible as it was freezing, I can remember the bathroom having condensation running down the walls in winter which wasn’t very nice and my mum hanging up our school uniforms in front of the electric fire in winter so we could roll out of bed and into warmed school uniform. We survived.

im sure mobile homes have improved in the last 30 years but you literally could not pay me to set foot in one now! In that regard it scarred me for life, caravans and mobile homes are a massive no for me as an adult.

No, but we could afford private or to move into a different catchment however DC go to the local special measures secondary.

Yes, I would do it. Children are very adaptable. They will see it as an adventure.
We have done something similar and it was fine. I think it was a good life experience for our children. They talk about it now and they don’t think about it negatively.