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Original poster

When downsizing is on the cards

84 replies

Monkeypuzzlesandwich · 09/05/2016 06:42

...and you have grown up children and no other half - so the world is basically your oyster..where do you go? Flat in a city or a house by the sea?

OP posts:
whattodoforthebest2 · 09/05/2016 06:50

Watching with interest. I'm in the same boat, Monkey Smile

VulcanWoman · 09/05/2016 06:56

House by the sea for me.

Original poster
Monkeypuzzlesandwich · 09/05/2016 07:01

I have to say I'm leaning towards a house by the sea. I'm south so I quite like the surrounding areas of Brighton.
I was also going to hold off selling until next year but now I might put it on the market to see if my house gets any interest. I'm happy to rent for a while to try out where I would next like to live.

whats is your house on the market? where do you fancy living?

OP posts:
mollie123 · 09/05/2016 07:02

house near the sea for me
I am lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the country but it is a long way from the sea which I would like to be able to visit in a day.

I have found the problem with downsizing is getting it right - how many bedrooms, how much garden, should it be a small town that has a food shop, Doctors, decent public transport or a smaller village.
then there is the question - apartment or house or [shudder] bungalow and what about the council tax, maintenance charges (if an apartment)
not to mention where it should be as regards distance from family Hmm

Original poster
Monkeypuzzlesandwich · 09/05/2016 07:14

Yes mollie a lot to think about. Hence why I was originally going to leave it until next year when in fact I think I'd like to get things moving this year. The thought of packing up the house fills me with dread BUT the thought of getting rid of a huge (huge for just me anyway) crumbling pile and into something more manageable keeps me going! My current mortgage payments would also make your eyes water and I want to be mortgage free!

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whattodoforthebest2 · 09/05/2016 07:18

It's not on the market, no. I'm tidying up ready for selling next Spring. I'm in Surrey and want to be near the sea, but Brighton/Hove are £££. I dont know where my DC will be this time next year, jobs and uni will be taking them all over the place. I won't be getting a mortgage, so every penny counts. Ive always lived around here other than a brief stint abroad. I know Devon and Cornwall pretty well but further afield is very tempting - you get so much more for your money.

There are some lovely apartments around, but that feels like a big step - a friend of mine moved from a house to a flat and regrets it big-time.

whattodoforthebest2 · 09/05/2016 07:20

Are you living in my house, Monkey? Crumbling pile, tick; huge mortgage, tick.... Smile

BeachysSandyFlipFlops · 09/05/2016 07:25

I think that interim bit is hard, between grown up children and grandchildren. I think I would go into something quite different to what I had, for ten years or so until I moved to my 'terminal' home by the sea, as my dear departed mum used to call it Smile

Depends on work and circumstances obviously, but I'd quite like a flat I could lock up and go travelling for a bit. Then look for my home by the sea when I was 65 to 70 ish, or if grandchildren came along. I'm about 8-10 years off, but I love a good plan!

Original poster
Monkeypuzzlesandwich · 09/05/2016 07:40

I don't think moving by the sea means you have given up on life! It depends what part. Brighton is vibrant and buzzing and I certainly wouldn't feel an old fogey down there Grin. Plus it's still near for my kids to get to me.

whats I know what you mean about moving further away and getting more for your money but after having such a large house I'm not so sure I'd want to sell up and end up in the same position as I am now (constantly putting things right). My house now is lovely but ideally needs someone to come along and pump a lot of money into it. My next house will be low maintenance.

beachy I love the idea of locking up and going travelling. But like -what said maybe going from a house to a flat would be a step too far, but a small house could work.

As for having a large mortgage, the thought of throwing that money into a black hole for another year hurts. I could be using that money to concentrate on my forever home. I should have sold up a few years back if I'm honest.

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whattodoforthebest2 · 09/05/2016 08:06

I keep seeing lots of bungalows and discounted retirement homes... Ugh! I feel as if I'm about 20 years away from that although I'm not.

JT05 · 09/05/2016 08:29

We have just downsized, the location is a personal choice, but I'd choose the sea. Wherever it is, make sure that services and basic shops are within walking distance.

We saw loads of modern easy to maintain houses, but then realised how claustrophobic they would become. Making the adjustment from a large house and garden, is not easy.

Eventually we found an older house with the number of rooms we wanted, but they were larger than the new houses and had high ceilings.

Start de cluttering the small things as soon as possible. We left the decision on furniture until we found the house and saw what would fit and look good.
All houses will eventually need work doing so choosing a house that you are going to be happy in is the most important factor, otherwise it could be a costly mistake.

mollie123 · 09/05/2016 08:33

so agree what I am 69 and still feel I am not 'old' enough for either of those Smile
but I am trying this year as I crash forward into 70 to plan and look at what and where could be suitable for me for the next 10 years assuming I live that long.

Original poster
Monkeypuzzlesandwich · 09/05/2016 09:32

mollie I'm actually in my 50's but my main driver is paying off my mortgage and finding somewhere that I will be happy. I'm basically a spring chicken (in my mind!!)

jt I will be downscaling on my own so I don't think I would feel claustrophobic however I do like period properties. My current house is period but realistically if I was another 10 years older I'm not sure i would want the upkeep.

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cestlavielife · 09/05/2016 09:34

the sea...it's a clear choice between tiny flat in london or bigger place outside and i dont want suburbia - so coast with direct train line to london.....enough space eg garage for dds to store stuff as they go to uni and in between jobs...enough space....enough rooms for ds to come stay with a carer from his hopefully supported living... small city/large town with plenty going on. (good arts/music scene/u3a/meetups/ramblers/etc....)

some places have bungalows yes but one with a converted attic so two floors...

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 09/05/2016 10:29

Smaller house by the sea would be my choice, but only if it was easy walking distance from shops, etc., and at least some public transport. Brighton sounds good from that POV. Could not bear to be stuck anywhere rural and need the car for absolutely everything. We have friends like this - nearest single very small shop half an hour walk up a very steep narrow lane.
I dread to think what would happen if 2nd one was ever unable to drive. 1st already can't because of illness.

Cressandra · 09/05/2016 10:56

I'm not there yet, but I'm thinking somewhere walking distance to local shops and on a good, frequent bus route to the nearest large town/city centre/train station.

The sea would be lovely too, and seaside towns tend to have decent public transport, but your money will go a lot further if you're a bit inland.

Cressandra · 09/05/2016 10:57

Might be worth looking at seafront flats too - I've seen a few in bournemouth that were bigger than a normal house.

mollie123 · 09/05/2016 13:52

monkey - if you are only in your 50s - you are indeed a spring chicken compared to me Grin and I am nearly old enough to be your mother
You have plenty of choice as you could get nearly 20 years out of your new home before you have to really downsize and move to a bungalow in God's waiting room (aka bungalow-land in a seaside town)
The thing is I think I am still a 'spring chicken' till mowing my garden this morning - After I finished I had to slop in the chair and fall asleep for half an hour.
Good luck with what you decide to do - at your age that is the time to do it not wait too long and lose the will to move to the coast.

concertplayer · 09/05/2016 15:27

I recently went with a friend to enquire about retirement flats (she is only 55-the
usual minimum for such places) The maintenance charges were enormous so you
would need a good retirement income I would avoid these

Original poster
Monkeypuzzlesandwich · 09/05/2016 17:12

That's interesting to know. im actually quite looking forward to starting a new chapter

OP posts:
Honeyandfizz · 10/05/2016 17:43

Cotswolds or a cottage in a pretty village

Original poster
Monkeypuzzlesandwich · 11/05/2016 07:05

I've recently returned from a weekend in the Cotswolds actually and it is beautiful. Not sure what the prices would be like however. Could definitely be a consideration though.

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 11/05/2016 08:23

One thing re bungalows, my folks moved to one in their mid-ish 60s, not because they particularly wanted a bungalow, but because it was all they could find in the area they thought they wanted.
Roll on 3 years and they decided they didn't like the area after all. Moved again, to a house. And then found that their levels of fitness had been affected quite a bit by not having stairs, though they hadn't noticed until they had them again.

My mother stayed in a house with stairs until she had to move to a care home at 89 because of dementia. She was still well able to manage stairs then, though I know she was lucky not to have mobility problems.

Original poster
Monkeypuzzlesandwich · 11/05/2016 08:43

I don't know why everyone is horrified at the thought of a bungalow. My parents had one and it was lovely, decorated beautifully, spacious and had a beautiful garden. I never heard them ever say they missed stairs once and I don't think they was ever particularly impressed with my house that seems to have endless stairs! Whenever we took the kids to my mums when they were young their bungalow always felt homely and welcoming. I have very fond memories of that.

I also never associated it with old people as both of their neighbours were young families. I would definitely consider a bungalow as well as a garden flat. I think it's a little bit of outside personal space that I would miss if I lived in an apartment or top floor flat.

OP posts:
magimedi · 11/05/2016 09:13

If you are looking in Sussex you will pay something of a premium for a bungalow.

I have lived in one once & the thing I didn't like was not being able to sleep with my bedroom windows open when it was hot.

I've lived in the Cotswolds & now live in East Sussex & Sussex is the winner, for me. I love being able to go down & walk by the sea - such a joy when happy & such a comfort when sad.