what would you be prepared to compromise on?

[deadbeat]

We live in a lovely picturesque part of Scotland. Where we live is fairly affluent, low crime rate and safe for children to play out.

The downside is no family nearby, couple of lovely friends but just the two! We are quite remote. I feel quite isolated and often depressed and tearful. I miss having half a dozen or so people within close proximity who can drop in or i can visit. I feel where we are i lack that support network.
The area we live at the moment although very beautiful and peaceful, i dont find the people friendly. Different sense of humour and quite reserved.
We have spent a lot of money on our detached cottage. In current market we would not recoup what we have spent extending and improving our home.
We have some savings. Considering buying something cheap near family.
Cant afford anything in a 'nice' area so we will have to compromise.
In choice area, could afford a flat but keen to avoid this as worried about noise and bad neighbours.
Or could get a house in not so great area but no parking nearby. Just not sure what is best to compromise on.
And the even bigger picture is should we even consider moving when the children have more freedom etc where we are.
Maybe we should stay put and encourage more folk to come visit us during hols. Just not sure that is enough.
We would rent our current house out so could always go back if we decided we wanted to.
Apologies for the ramble. So bloody confused.

Looked at a lovely house today in a dead end town with no parking. 20 mins from family. House was fab and affordable.

Somebody shoot me in the head please!!!

Horrible decision to have to make. How long have you been where you are? Do you think, given enough time, you could feel more settled? Or do you feel in your heart of hearts that you are in the wrong place and could never be happy there?

Don't feel bad - anyone can make a mistake about where/what kind of life they want to live. If the area you're in is not for you I think it's brave to admit it and see what can be done about it.

I think in your circumstances I would rent out your house and rent somewhere (instead of buying) near your family. Then after six months or a year you'll be in a better position to decide what to do in the longer term.

We live in rural Scotland. It can be extremely hard to rent out a house like that unless you're marketing it as a holiday home unless there is plentiful employment nearby.

I'd not be able to compromise on parking.

Rhubarb - we have lived in our current house for 5 years. Longest we have ever been in one house as a family. For the first year we were here i would have gone home in a flash, next 2 years wild horses couldn't drag me back. I felt lucky to live where we do, small school seemed great, was establishing friendships. Now Im not so sure about school, my dd is the only girl her age and this has its problems. One of my good friends moved away and to be honest it is such a small place there is not a huge pool of friends to make potential friendships from. I have 2 good friends my age and one who is closer to my Mums age. They are worth their weight in gold. Only one of these friends has children so really only one family we can socialise with as a whole family. I would like to settle here. There is so much to love about it. But i am so lonely. I sometimes feel i spend all day cooped up with the children getting more and more shouty and depressed.

ogredownstairs- we did think about renting but dh worried it is a 'waste' of money. I might check out whats available.

Expatinscotland- im not sure which house you are refering to. Our house has parking, a garden, views etc. We don't think we would have any problems renting it out.I suppose it depends which part of rural scotland you are in. Im just unsure if we should leave our lovely house/area just because i am feeling miserable and lonely. And am i miserable enough to compromise on things like 'no parking'. Im not sure.

I think renting could be more or less 'cost neutral' rather than a waste, couldn't it, if you were able to rent out the home you own and that income covered the mortgage? I did that once, when I couldn't sell but really needed to move.

"Looked at a lovely house today in a dead end town with no parking. 20 mins from family. House was fab and affordable."

I'm not sure how swapping a nice house in an isolated area to a nice house with no parking in a dead end town would be an improvement?

How far are you away from family currently?

Currently 4 hours from family.

Dead end town house 20 mins from family. But no parking...

Maybe i should hire Phil and Kirsty!!