Should we relocate to buy instead of renting?

[Luciea19]

We have been renting our current home for 5 years. It needs some tlc now and our landlord has moved abroad but it’s quite secure as renting goes.
However our children are late primary age and I would like to offer them a permanent home. We like where we live and have friends close by and plenty to do for the children. We are in a rural part of Essex but it’s really expensive to buy.
We are considering Suffolk/Norfolk area as it’s cheaper to buy and not to far away. My in-laws retired to Norfolk a few years ago. I worry as the children have good friendships here. One of our children has extra needs so making friends isn’t easy.
But we need a home and could afford to buy in a cheaper area. I’m just wondering if others would move? Or keep renting? Or if others have been in a similar situation?

How does it fit with your work ?

If you are going to move, I think it is better / easier the younger the dc are. Once they are teens / in secondary, it gets much harder to settle / make friends.

I do think it makes financial sense to be paying your own mortgage rather than someone else's if you have the opportunity though.

I'd relocate to buy, especially if you're going to be closer to family.

You can't stay where you are because your DC have good friends, those friends may move in 1, 2, 5 years and you'll still be there, renting.

I don't know, I moved to buy outright (was shared ownership) I do feel like my 7 year old gave up a lot in terms of friendships that haven't been replaced. (Partly also pandemic coming along and also choosing wrong school). I do have a lot of regrets for the losses to my son's quality of life, but for me because I was shared ownership we did have a permanent house before.