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Found my dream quirky cottage but area is completely wrong

16 replies

TheNibblePibblies · 06/03/2023 19:43

Rightmove addict here.

The house I live in is in the perfect area for me - close to work, close to shops, doctor's, vet - anything I need, I can walk to (I don't drive). However, the house itself is very bland - about 30 years old, very standard design, and larger than we strictly need which is starting to hit home with the COL crisis.

Browsing RM I found my absolute dream quirky cottage - 150 years old, the right size, ticks all the boxes which is quite rare as I want, e.g. a utility room which you don't always get with smaller houses. It has all the whimsical things I love such as exposed stonework, beams, fireplaces, an 'odd' layout.

It's on for less than we paid for our house 10 years ago, so with any luck would reduce the mortgage.

But, the area is completely wrong - it's about 10 miles away from where I am now but owing to crap public transport it would be an hour, with a change, to get to where I work. I'm currently in one of those limbo situations where I 90% WFH but it's not clear how often I might need to go into the office in the future.

Added to that, it's not very near amenities such as shops. A final point is that the area isn't very well-regarded. I'm not a raging area snob but I want to avoid safety concerns, anti-social behaviour etc. The house is tucked away which could mean 'quiet' or could mean magnet for loiterers.

A final point is that the house has no views at all - just the sides of other houses - whereas where we live now is a hilltop so we have a great elevated rooftops view of the town.

My heart is saying 'I want this house' but head is saying 'you're mad'.

Please, talk me out of going to view it and possibly losing my heart entirely!

OP posts:
illiterato · 06/03/2023 19:48

Do not do it. Go and see it if you must to scratch the itch, but do not move into the middle of nowhere as a non driver. Craziness. You'll probably see it and think "fuck no".

CleaningOutMyCloset · 06/03/2023 19:48

No don't do it. I bought a lovely barn conversation, in a not so nice area, I adored the house, but I moved after 18 months. There's a reason you hear location, location, location all the time.

It's taken years (15) but I'm now in my 200yr old cottage, in an area I love

custardbear · 06/03/2023 19:48

Two things

  1. We need a link
  2. Learn to drive and don't let silly things hold you back from your dreams!
Go for it (and learn to drive!)
custardbear · 06/03/2023 19:49

... oh just saw the bit about location ... that would be a deal breaker if it's really unpopular, unless it's just the rural side of it

Lcb123 · 06/03/2023 19:54

Don’t go and view it.
location is so important, the most important to me.
I would also say, having grown up in a Georgian cottage, that older houses can be money pits / constant problems… a newer house may be a bit dull but usually easier to maintain, insulated etc! Can you look at ways to make your current house more quirky and fun?

TheNibblePibblies · 06/03/2023 19:55

Thank you, this is what I need to hear, I think.

I don't want to link it, as I've showed it to a few colleagues so might be outing!

Driving not an option for me due to disability, alas. We have a car which DH drives but I don't want to be heavily reliant on him or stuck if he is unwell.

OP posts:
JewelLane · 06/03/2023 19:55

And the location will be why you can afford it. Move the same house to a location with services, that is convenient for more people....and it is worth more.
Same here. I could buy a much larger house, with a bigger garden, quieter, character...but I wouldn't be able to pop into town for a quick coffee or walk in for tapas and wine on a Friday evening, nevermind school, work, shopping.

TheNibblePibblies · 06/03/2023 19:57

Can you look at ways to make your current house more quirky and fun?

I've thought of that, but it has never felt like a forever house for me and I don't want to make it too quirky in case it's hard to sell in future.

OP posts:
TheNibblePibblies · 06/03/2023 20:10

JewelLane · 06/03/2023 19:55

And the location will be why you can afford it. Move the same house to a location with services, that is convenient for more people....and it is worth more.
Same here. I could buy a much larger house, with a bigger garden, quieter, character...but I wouldn't be able to pop into town for a quick coffee or walk in for tapas and wine on a Friday evening, nevermind school, work, shopping.

Yes, I think I know that deep down. I suppose the answer is to keep hoping something will come up in my area, but the houses here are mostly modern like mine or way out of my price range.

Thank you for your common sense!

OP posts:
dreamersdown · 06/03/2023 21:37

Maybe go and view it, but via public transport? I bet the journey would bring you right back down to earth…

Anotheradventureforme · 06/03/2023 21:47

I found a place like that, but told myself no.
I then (later) found a place I liked even more and it was in the right place.

Your find has shown you that these places do exist and do come up. Spring will bring more properties. You are on the right track, but hold out for the right one x

TheNibblePibblies · 06/03/2023 22:11

dreamersdown · 06/03/2023 21:37

Maybe go and view it, but via public transport? I bet the journey would bring you right back down to earth…

That idea is sheer genius!

OP posts:
TheNibblePibblies · 06/03/2023 22:12

Anotheradventureforme · 06/03/2023 21:47

I found a place like that, but told myself no.
I then (later) found a place I liked even more and it was in the right place.

Your find has shown you that these places do exist and do come up. Spring will bring more properties. You are on the right track, but hold out for the right one x

Very true, I have seen listings slowly start to increase of late.

OP posts:
ValerieDoonican · 06/03/2023 22:15

the older house may be smaller, but despite that it is unlikely to be cheaper to run, so no cost of living advantage I would imagine

ValerieDoonican · 06/03/2023 22:16

I would definitely say don't do it. I lived rurally without a car for about 9 months once, and it really did my head in

SnowdaySewday · 07/03/2023 00:44

What are the internet speeds and indoor mobile coverage? You might find they are barriers to efficiently working from home.

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