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Original poster

Right, we've had enough of paying a huge mortgage on a mediocre house

191 replies

lizziehoney · 28/08/2007 22:03

so have decided to bite the bullet, up sticks and go live somewhere else! We live in the South of England, and tbh, I've had it up to here with watching half our monthly income disappearing into the mortgage black hole, when all we have to show for it is a boring as hell 3 bed semi. We both have jobs which are reasonably transferable (and have a national pay scale, so we'll earn the same wherever we live). The plan is to make our home the top priority - we want detached, old, preferably characterful and 4 bedrooms. Rural would be nice, and obvs want decent schools, but other than that we really don't mind where we go. Our extended family are scattered all over England so no preferences there. I've been quite depressed recently, and talking things over with dh, we both feel this feeling of constantly scrimping and worrying about money and not even liking the house we're in is a major factor. So - suggestions please about where we could move!

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 29/08/2007 16:13

true
would only need 30 years max

oh good can drink really nice wine

PrincessGoodLife · 29/08/2007 16:14

lizziehoney - been there (in the mortgage black hole), and gave it all up for the 'good life'. We're all different but for us it was the right thing and life is better.

if it feels right for you then just do it. Life is too short.

expatinscotland · 29/08/2007 16:14

No, you could invite all your friends to drink nice wine with you .

SecondhandRose · 29/08/2007 16:26

I think Lincolnshire is the place you can still buy well priced homes in a nice area.

Notyummy · 29/08/2007 16:29

Thank you secondhandrose...CD was picking on and saying that my advice was not the best and sagest EVER!!!

SecondhandRose · 29/08/2007 16:30

LH if you are a sun worshipper it is pretty damp and chilly up north. What about Suffolk not too far from Ipswich, what are prices like around there?

feb · 29/08/2007 16:40

another east yorkshire vote here!
i live in goole and can confirm that it is a dump, but i was able to but a 3 bed semi for £42k 2 years ago so it has served its purpose for me. i am moving beverley/driffield way as soon as possible.

mimi03 · 29/08/2007 16:51

only half your wages going on your mortgage??? all our wadges go on the mortage and everything else gets paid on credit!! i think i just want to go abroad and live life as a beach bum.x

CountessDracula · 29/08/2007 16:52

blimey mimi
Surely that is not sustainable?

Piffle · 29/08/2007 17:19

not yummy I am in Quarrington
FFS LOL
I'm in old quarrington on the other estate at the front
we must meet!

Notyummy · 29/08/2007 17:23

Spoooooky!Do you mean the estate near St Boldophs church, facing the fields (Spire View, i think one of the streets was called, last time I ran past it!)

Lets do coffee...

kittylouise · 29/08/2007 17:32

280K could buy a lovely house where I have just moved from - North Devon - and it is a beautiful place.

BUT...no jobs as far as the eye can see, which is the reason I moved, and now am in the same situation paying a fortune to live in a small, nondescript house.

Roseylea · 29/08/2007 17:41

If Scotland is a maybe, how about something like... this?

It's in a lovely location, great schools, very small town surrounded by beautiful countryside, loch just up the road [sigh...]

I know it's not detached, yadda yadda yadda, but it's amazing value in a wonderful location (my taste of course - not at a ll for city-dwellers!)

If I could, I would!

Roseylea · 29/08/2007 17:45

Or this?

Love the decor! you wouldn't have to change a thing!

Piffle · 29/08/2007 17:50

notyummy mail me at [email protected]
You knoe exactly where I live LOL

Nbg · 29/08/2007 17:55

Big vote for North Yorkshire here!

Ticks all your boxes.

Scarborough
This is the town I live in
Gorgeous
Have been eyeing this upin the property paperGrin

portonovo · 29/08/2007 18:54

To my mind, the difficult bit is that you want detached, 4 bed AND character for your budget. If you head further up into North Wiltshire you can get a 4-bed detached home for well under £280k in places like Corsham and Chippenham, both with excellent schools etc. However, the character bit would cost more, you'd probably be looking at modern-ish for that price. Or alternatively, you could opt for a 3-bed to get the character - there are loads of 3-bed Victorian, Edwardian and 1930s homes around well under that budget. And they might not be detached either.

For example, this is a 4-bed 'character cottage', but it's a semi.

this is a 4-bed detached, but it's modern, not character.

this is a 3-bed, 3-storey Grade-2 listed town house

this is a 3-bed detached bungalow

this is a Georgian 3-bed semi

I'm not saying your combination is impossible around North Wiltshire, but it is a bit more difficult and a compromise might be needed. I'll keep looking though, I'm intrigued now!

Nymphadora · 29/08/2007 19:05

Nbg - I want those houses!

Lpve the one in Annan too who ever chose that.

I want a 5 bed house where I live now but there is only about 3 in the area

Nymphadora · 29/08/2007 19:07

Not that I can afford it atm anyway

newgirl · 29/08/2007 19:14

MOVE TO SUFFOLK!!! It is my favourite area in the country and because it is tricky for jobs probably reasonable - its gorgeous for families

Original poster
lizziehoney · 29/08/2007 19:45

Wow quite fancy the idea of Scotland now! Tell me more about Suffolk too please - when you say lovely for families, in what ways? Also a little intrigued about the 'no jobs so thats why the area is cheap' angle that some posts take. I mentioned in earlier post that I am a social worker and Dh is a maths teacher, so surely these jobs are going to exist wherever - maybe not quite so many jobs if the area isnt densely populated, but surely they will exist. We're both prepared to commute up to an hour by the way.

OP posts:
SueW · 29/08/2007 20:15

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

MrsCurly · 29/08/2007 20:58

What about this?
www.bellingram.co.uk/property-sales/kirkabister.html

Going cheap

It was my husband's great granny's house. About four generations of their family were born and brought up there.

seb1 · 29/08/2007 21:07

If he wishes to teach in Scotland He will have to check his qualifcations are recognised by the GTC to allow him to teach, also scottish teachers have a different pay scale to England.

ejt1764 · 29/08/2007 21:08

Have to say, as a teacher, living in Wales, that the chance of finding a job as a teacher without speaking Welsh is fairly remote - the shortage subjects just tend not to be shortage subjects! I teach MFL, and have was recruiting for a part-time post to start in September, and had to wade through 28 applications ... and that was for a part-time job. We also appointed a Maths teacher, and got over 20 applications for that job too.

Carmarthenshire, especially, around the Llandeilo area, is majority Welsh-speaking - and the schools tend to be either Welsh-medium, or bilingual (ie, have Welsh and English medium streams).

I love living and working here, but am so glad that I have a job, as it's a bit of dead mens' shoes to get anything ....