We live in a bungalow in a lovely area with amazing countryside and sea views. It faces south-east, so we get the sunrise and sun all day long. I bought the house eight years ago as my first home and completely renovated it, inside and out, to a very high standard.
I originally paid £122,000 for it, and our current mortgage is £97,000, so the repayments are very manageable. It was a two-bedroom house, but I converted the garage to make a third bedroom. That means we lost the garage, but I built a shed for storage — although it’s a bit tight for space now.
I’ve looked into converting the attic, but the roof is too low, so it would be a big project involving raising the roof and getting planning permission. At the moment, it’s around 96 square metres, and every room feels a good size. However, because it’s a bungalow, we sometimes feel on top of each other — our bedrooms are right next to the living area, and there’s only a small hallway.
There are three of us and a dog, and we might have another child one day. We’ve now put the house on the market for £350k It’s hard to let go because it’s such a beautiful home with incredible views, and everything is done to a high standard — the kitchen is only two years old and cost a lot, with quartz worktops and quality finishes.
But I’m nearly 40 now, and it really comes down to the fact that we probably need a bigger home. It’s heartbreaking because this house is so lovely and offers views that would cost a fortune to find again in a larger property. On the other hand, it’s a cheap and easy house to run, which gives us financial freedom — we can afford holidays and don’t have to worry about money.
If we move up to a bigger 3- or 4-bedroom semi or detached house in the same area, prices start around £340,000 and go up to £420,000, and many of those homes still need work — maybe a new kitchen or bathroom. That would mean a bigger mortgage, more costs, and possibly giving up some of the financial comfort we have now. Ideally, we’d find something around the £320,000–£330,000 mark, but houses in that range are few and far between, especially if we want to stay in this area.