I live in a 1980s box with no fireplace and I'm fed up and want to move. I probably should be grateful for what I've got but I don't feel myself at all here. I feel like an outsider where people are highly competitive and I'm not wearing the right coat/boots/ plucked eyebrows to fit in with the other 'mummies'. Perhaps it's just winter blues, but I'm feeling a bit desperate. It won't be for a while but I'd like to consider options I hadn't thought of before. I'd like a good size garden, and a house with character, possibly in a rural area. We were looking for somewhere commutable to London (Waterloo/Blackfriars) initially, but now we are considering a job/lifestyle change for the right house. Does anyone have links of places up for sale? I know I'm being very vague but I think I need to think outside the box. Nowhere too isolated but with countryside on our doorstep. I love Oxford but think it's probably too expensive. Good state schools are pretty important too (primary and secondary), and a friendly community. Children are 5 and 2 years now. The thought of starting all over again and making friends scares me but maybe I need to take the plunge...
We think we can get £500k for this place but will need to take into account stamp duty and moving fees etc. Don't mind somewhere quite a bit cheaper and investing the rest.
Hoping to be cheered...:)