What would your perfect retirement property be?

[XingMing]

We plan to move from our lovely family house in the next year or two, but after looking for a place to move to, we've concluded that what we want doesn't exist. We'd like a big social space for cooking, eating and having friends, a snug place to watch TV, and two decent bedrooms with their own bathrooms. So we can have overnight visitors. What are you looking for in the house that you want to retire into?

My current feeling on views is that it's more important to have a long view than a pretty one. Where we are now isn't interesting to look out the window particularly, definitely not as interesting as a busy river anyway, but it is long and it feels nice to be able to let my eyes focus on 'infinity'. Our house is on the side of a hill, there is a busy road at the bottom of the valley, which we can't see but we can hear, and then hillside opposite. It's just fields, houses and trees but it's distant and the field of vision is wide enough that I can watch the shadows of clouds moving over the fields and can have a 'big sky' feeling.

Reviving this thread as want to move. Both retired and currently living in a large city. I want to live somewhere more rural in a small town . We have seen a lovely house but it’s got less space than our current house, is on a steep hill and we would have to get rid of half our house to make it work. We have visiting adult children and a grandchild . It would be a squeeze at Xmas and the house is not ideal for small children. However we love the house. It had a downstairs shower room but no possibility of a bedroom downstairs. Are we mad to consider it? My thinking is we would stay until we can’t manage stairs or become infirm. Adult children don’t live in the area.

Actually reading that back I think we are mad. My question is do we buy a house with space for family get togethers when they happen, storage, places to put books etc, a largish garden, or somewhere compact . I feel we should be downsizing but really struggle as it is for storage and things feel cramped at Xmas. Do we need extra rooms to heat and clean when we are on our own?

I’m above 60 and although not interested in a tiny cottage, I can’t see a problem with it. 60 is hardly geriatric! You could move again in 15-20 years!

We’ve moved into a house which is spacious and has 3 large bedrooms, a box room and 2 bathrooms. I and my dh each have our own bedroom where we ‘visit’ each other-very civilised-and a guest room with its own bathroom. We do have a small garden however which I was doubtful about but actually am now relieved as it’s easy to look after. We can walk to pub, shops and GP and our little train station is 5 minutes away. The house isn’t huge but it does have space for bookcases, family visits at Christmas etc. 15 minutes from our local city. We call it our Goldilocks house.

Whilst the house itself that you're looking for shouldn't be too difficult to find, I would consider living within walking distance from the shops and train station as well as cafes/restaurants. My parents are elderly and have lived in their house for 50 years - however, the location is great for them as neither of them drive anymore and they walk to the shops and train station. If you live somewhere more rural (which I used to) you could end up feeling cut off with very limited public transport and drive for miles to the nearest shops.

Haven't seen this thread for a while now! We're still in the same house, and still going around and around in circles. Our view remains perfect, and the goal is still to move within 90 minutes of N Oxfordshire. Meanwhile the M5 gets ever busier at weekends. DH now fixating on barn conversions, but he hasn't worked out how to retire yet.

We downsized dramatically from very large house with view in the country upon retirement and moved to a beach location . I hate it! I need wide open space with a gorgeous view . 4 bed and still feels too small. I miss my garden and pool. But it was sooo much work.
It is very difficult now to find something equivalent but smaller (150m2).
And the prices have inflated enormously.

Think hard OP. Don't rush it!

It's the view and big rooms that we shall miss. The steep garden, rather less! The M5 to Bristol, not at all!