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Original poster

How long did you stay in your first house?

102 replies

Shurl · 30/03/2022 12:26

As a ftb I'm just wondering what other people's experiences are/were? And what prompted the move? There is so much talk about a housing ladder that it almost seems expected that people move out of their first house quite quickly

For me (I'm not a journalist!)
I bought my property just after I met my dp, we both own places, so will probably pick one to move into together as a trial at some point and then sell both to fund a family home. I expect to be in my house under 5 years, but still think it was better to buy than stay renting, as my monthly costs are so much lower

OP posts:
Hisea · 30/03/2022 22:37

2.5 years after saying we'd live there for years

ThatPosterIsSoRight · 30/03/2022 22:41

5 years. It was what I could afford at the time and was lovely but had some big downsides. So moved once I could afford a substantial step up (having had some promotions, and also in the days of cheaper housing).

AngelsWithSilverWings · 31/03/2022 08:35

2 years. We bought in 1996 expecting to stay for longer but our salaries and stocks/share investments went up loads in those two years and property was still affordable. We actually bought the next house without selling the other one so we could renovate it while still living in the first house. Sold the first house 6 months later. Wish we hadn't as the property value doubled in the next two years. If only we had had a crystal ball!

Stayed in second house for 8 years and have been in our current home for about 14 years with no plans to move.

MajorCarolDanvers · 31/03/2022 08:45

2 years

Hebeee · 31/03/2022 12:57

2 years (1 bed Victorian flat)
2 years (3 bed Victorian terraced house)
5 years (4 bed Victorian detached house)
10 years (6 bed Victorian detached house)
2.5 years (5 bed Tudor detached house)
2.5 years (5 bed Georgian end of terrace house)
2 years (4 bed Arts & Crafts detached house)
4 years & counting (2 bed 400 year old detached converted mill)

WombatChocolate · 31/03/2022 19:34

3 years in my first flat - bought alone and had lodgers. Got married in that time.

Lucky for me, it increased in value by 75% in that 3 years, so with that and some saving, was able to move to a 3 bed house.

lavenderfine · 31/03/2022 19:36

Just about to move out of our 2 bed terrace after 4.5 years to a 4 bed. Need more space for DS3 and DD 8weeks. DH works mainly from home and studies so needs an office too. I can't wait to finally have some space Grin

Kitkat151 · 31/03/2022 19:37

7 years...2 kids....
3 years 1 more child
16 years
6 years

GayParis · 31/03/2022 19:49

Bought our first house at 24, moved out within a year as I hated it. Didn't like the area, and wanted a 4th bedroom as we were trying.

Still in our 2nd house after 3 years but TTC didn't really work out so I now want to move again as this house is a constant reminder of what could have been..

MintJulia · 31/03/2022 21:09

2.5 years

A flat in London that I bought on my own. Then the chance came to move out of London so I sold it and bought a little house further out.

dubyalass · 01/04/2022 08:29

Three years, then sold up and moved into rented because I couldn't stand the noisy neighbours. Still in rented now because of various reasons but trying to buy.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 01/04/2022 08:35

The plan is 10 years unless we have a massive windfall.

Its a 3 bed family home, this is to get us through secondary school. Prior to that we were in work accommodation around Europe

Hbh17 · 01/04/2022 08:38

33 years and counting..... 🙂

WhereIsMyGlasses · 01/04/2022 08:40

Over 22 years, nearly 23...and still here!

Wit wasn't planned tgis way, and the house is small, we could do with more room everywhere but it's home, it's all we've ever known, it's a nice area, we have nice neighbours, the mortgage is low and nearly done.

People here tend to start off here, or downside to here, we and very few others just seem to have cut out the middleman! Other than space, moving doesn't appeal mainly because of having a bigger or longer mortgage. Never say never though.

WhereIsMyGlasses · 01/04/2022 08:41

Sorry for the typos 🙄

HermioneKipper · 01/04/2022 08:41

Bought the year we got married - a two bed and then moved after 6 years when the house was too small for us after we had children

GiantKitten · 01/04/2022 08:42

39 years and counting…

SD25 · 01/04/2022 09:00

@Hebeee did you even bother unpacking?!

gingerhills · 01/04/2022 09:01

Only about 18 months, even though I adored it. But met DH a couple of months after I'd bought it, married and we wanted to buy a house together. I still miss that flat. I googled it the other day.

EmotionalEllie · 01/04/2022 09:06

2 years (it was a flat not a house though).

Then 4 years in house #1.

So far 1 year in house #2.

userxx · 01/04/2022 09:06

12 years, it was only ever meant to be for 3 years but I love my little house, feeling far too small now that my boyfriend lives here so will be moving at some point.

Baxdream · 01/04/2022 09:08

My first property I bought by myself at 21. It was a flat in a rubbish area. I stayed there for 2 and a half years. I moved as I wanted a house and this was the early 2000's so I'd made a lot of equity.
I bought a house in a lovely little close and stayed there until I met my husband and we bought together. I will always have fond memories of this house despite the fact I'm now in a 4 bed detached in quite a sought after road!

Trinacham · 01/04/2022 09:27

Still in our first home going on 7 years this year. We purposefully looked for one we could stay in though and we wouldn't outgrow quickly

bombombo · 01/04/2022 09:36

5 years.

TroysMammy · 01/04/2022 09:39

Still in it after 33 years. No intention of moving, like the area, neighbours, size of it and the garden and the mortgage was paid off years ago.