Should I move?

[Bubblegum22]

Wise mumsnetters, please give me your opinions.

My mortgage has come to the end of its fixed term and I can now move to a lovely house (if they accept my offer that is) which is just over one hour commute away.
Currently work is 10 mins away but I WFH so only go in the office once a week. Not likely to change in foreseeable, if it does might go up to two days a week.

Mortgage will be the same, no change there, it will just be a different, quieter area, closer to nature, I like going on walks etc. I don’t have to think about schools as all DC are grown up. It will be an hour away from friends and family. I can drive so no issues. Train links are not great to city. It’s a nice bustling town, house is on outskirts, one bus into town.

Ive been house hunting the past year and resigned myself to just let things be as felt the house I saw which I wanted was a tad too pricey. I went on Rightmove yesterday and it’s just been reduced by 25K so it’s tempting me again.

I would be moving for no other reason other than quieter area, closer to nature and more privacy. But as I said, commute will be about an hour plus more than now.

Current house is fine and I like it here.
What should I do?

From the information you give, it seems one doesnt really favour the other, i could be wrong.
For you to still be looking at this house (noticed it has been reduced 25k) seems to me that you rather quite like it so maybe you should go for it?
But, there will be moving costs, solicitors, estate agents, removals, stamp duty, etc etc
Also you dont say if you're going from a terrace to a semi to a detached or visa versa? Neighbours can be an issue.
Sometimes the grass just looks greener . . . sorry probably made things worse lol
Good Luck!

Do you really want to be an hour away from friends and family?
Have you visited the new house yet? If it is so great why has it been reduced by £25K and is that a large reduction relative to the original price?

The thing that might stop me would be moving away from friends and family. Would they drive/spend an hour travelling to see you? Plus you incur alot of money moving.

@sunshinesupermum That's just it, I don't think an hour drive is too much, and my friends have all got different opinions - some say stay and some are saying go lol - so I'm a bit conflicted.

The sellers already moved out a couple of months ago. It did seem a little bit overpriced in comparison to similar houses. So now its reduced to 325 from 350, its more realistic and will definitely shift. Nothing needs doing to it, for me its just perfect and the only house I viewed that made me think 'wow' - the few others I looked at didn't have the same effect on me.

If you can afford it easily then go for it!

I dont know what kind of socialising you do with friends but imagine it's January and it's dark and rainy, are you going to be happy having a meal out then driving home at 10pm? Or are you going to start feeling a bit antsy about 8pm and thinking about the drive home?

What if a friend says "I know it's a bit short notice but do you fancy going out to the cinema tonight?" and you're an hour away? Will you go or not bother?

Think about those sorts of situations, really think about them, and if you think the important aspects of your social life won't be affected then go ahead.

I wouldn't want to be an hour away from my friends so it would be a no from me. But we tend to do random things things people are free, or a walk one evening or something, rather than a whole afternoon planned a week or so in advance. Everyone is different.

haha @MyGirlDrew you have just made it more confusing!

I'm currently in a terrace but it's not noisy, the new house is semi-detached with a gate to the back garden.

I don't particularly like one neighbour now but nothing too extreme and not enough of an issue to make me want to move solely because of that.

I just wish someone would tell me what to do lol.

I understand what you mean @Knitwit101 so yes I will have a good think. My social life is usually planned, with the odd sporadic lunch thrown in but on the whole I know where I'll be well in advance.

But thank you all, plenty of things to think about.

Go for it!

Could you live in the new place when old? For example is there a downstairs toilet or even shower? Are there local shops and is it easy to get to different places if you were unable to drive? Depending on how much you like moving it might be wise to consider if this place meets some/all of those criteria.

I hate commuting so for that reason, plus that you'll be moving an hour away from friends I'd stay where you are. If you go ahead, you won't realise the effect of the combination of those two issues until you get there, but by then it will be too late.

Is there nowhere nearer to your current house which would fit the hill?

for quality of life, can you walk to the shops / pub / library from the new house? being 100% reliant on a car can be a big drain - what if you can't drive for a while or the car breaks down?

if the new location has good amenities within walking distance, that is a big plus.

I wouldn't move an hour away from friends and family, i did it before and youd be surprised at how easily they'll forget about you when making plans when you're an hour away. I ended up moving back to my original town.