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Original poster

Offered our dream house but…

184 replies

Battleaxx · 01/04/2023 09:27

we were moving away!

So we have sold our house to a cash buyer, in preparation for a big relocation across the country to be near my parents in Cambridgeshire. We haven’t found a place there yet, it’s ridiculously expensive but we’re looking hard.

Yesterday I was called by an old friend who lives in a beautiful house in our town. It is our dream house and we’ve always said if we could choose any house that would be it: bright, spacious, lovely garden, on a lane and backing onto a nature reserve. Still within walking distance of school and work. There are only 3 houses on the lane and they never come up for sale. Friend is selling and said we could buy it privately and get a bit of a discount as she would save agent’s fees.

What do we do? It’s like handing in your notice and being offered a massive pay rise! We have very good reasons for relocating, primarily being closer to my parents but also more work opportunities. The flipside is that it’s more expensive and we’d be living in something much less good. We are settled where we are but had psyched ourselves up for the move, identified schools, got the kids on board, got family excited that we’ll be nearer etc.

OP posts:
DollieBantrysPantry · 01/04/2023 19:00

CrocodileFrog · 01/04/2023 16:48

If you buy the house and regret not relocating, you can still relocate in a few years.

If you relocate and regret not buying the house, you will never have the chance to buy it again.

Absolutely this

Mirabai · 01/04/2023 19:02

DollieBantrysPantry · 01/04/2023 19:00

Absolutely this

Show quote history

Yep.

Largeflaskoftea · 01/04/2023 19:05

Now you’ve said you’re in the SW, I’d definitely stay put!! So many lovely places to visit nearby. Honestly, I’m always bemoaning the fact that there’s fuck all in Cambs!

Although I can understand your concerns about the job market.

Redglitter · 01/04/2023 19:08

Buy the house!!! If your parents are working age hopefully you'll have many years before they need any support. If you don't take the house I bet you'll never find anything else you like because nothing will compare to it.

Buy the house 😊

Original poster
Battleaxx · 01/04/2023 19:10

😂 ok I will let you know what we decide. If we buy the house you’re all invited to the housewarming.

OP posts:
Ishouldbeoutside · 01/04/2023 19:15

I think some of us would be interested in buying the house if you don’t!

WildFlowerBees · 01/04/2023 19:24

But the house! Move in a few years. Don't let your dream house pass you by.

Padz · 01/04/2023 19:46

The easiest thing is to do a list of pros and cons for both scenarios.

WWGDD · 01/04/2023 19:47

Definitely the dream house

turtlemurtle1982 · 01/04/2023 20:04

I'd move nearer to family whilst your dc are young.

JRWM · 01/04/2023 20:38

If you are getting it for a fair price, then you will most probably be making a good investment and will be able to afford Cambs if and when you decide to move so I wouldn’t be too worried about that aspect. However you say you’re feeling a little isolated and work opportunities are lacking so you need to weigh up if the dream house would necessarily make up for that

Pipsquiggle · 01/04/2023 21:36

From what I can tell Cambridge has better jobs prospects/access to London but do you actually need this?

I work in an industry renowned for redundancies so being close(ish) to London is preferable.

Having a great house is definitely worth considering it adds so much to your quality of life

RemoteControlDoobry · 01/04/2023 21:48

I’m in Cambridge too but about to move. The thing with Cambridge is that the city centre is so busy these days that most people just seem to go to the (not very good) retail park….I go to the centre about once a year so I could be living anywhere. The traffic is horrendous and they’re trying to bring in a congestion charge so it will costs residents £5 a day to use their car.

North of Cambridge is the fens so huge fields surrounded by ditches and nowhere to walk. The south is better but still not much accessible countryside. It’s very humid during the summer and the air quality is poor.

Snoken · 01/04/2023 22:17

Is it possible to live in the south west and still be 4.5 hours away from Cambridge or have I misunderstood something? If it is in fact only an hour or two away then I would say buy the house and re-evaluate in 3-4 years.

NotCopingWell1 · 01/04/2023 22:22

I live in a county bordering Cambridgeshire. I agree that it's pretty dull. Cambridge itself is lovely but prices astronomical. I was happy working in Cambridge but would never want to live there.

DREAM HOUSE DREAM HOUSE DREAM HOUSE

theresnolimits · 01/04/2023 22:31

I’m a ‘move’ person but then I’ve never understood the dream house thing. It’s just bricks and mortar. It’s all about the people for me ~ wouldn’t you love to live nearer family?

For those who say ‘move later’, the older your kids get, the harder it gets to move them from their lives.

And if you worry about job opportunities, what about their job opportunities later in life? Will they end up having to move away?

A lot to weigh up.

Snoken · 01/04/2023 22:42

Snoken · 01/04/2023 22:17

Is it possible to live in the south west and still be 4.5 hours away from Cambridge or have I misunderstood something? If it is in fact only an hour or two away then I would say buy the house and re-evaluate in 3-4 years.

Sorry, ignore me. I git my east and west mixed up🤦‍♀️

BillyDeanisnotmylover · 01/04/2023 22:54

Move!
Family and friends are so much more important than a dream house.
We considered moving out of London a few years ago. We could have afforded a much bigger house, garden etc. The kind of house I dream about.
But that would mean moving away from my parents, siblings and friends. Not worth it for a couple of spare bedrooms!!

Moonshine5 · 01/04/2023 22:57

Dream house
You can always sell it

CoolShoeshine · 01/04/2023 23:18

Relocate - it’s what you originally wanted. You weren’t looking for a nice house in your current area.
Don’t forget Cambridgeshire is a county of big price contrasts. Could you move away from pricey Cambridge to a town/village where you can get more for your money but still with 30mins drive so you can see your family more often?

GreenTiger12345 · 01/04/2023 23:32

You could always go for the house and sell it in a few years if it disagrees with you and you still want to move?

Zonder · 01/04/2023 23:45

Do you have good friends where you are? If so, go for the dream house and ask your parents to move when they retire.

LuluBlakey1 · 02/04/2023 00:25

Minimalme · 01/04/2023 10:23

We have just moved 200 miles north from SE, to be a five minute walk from my ILs.

We wish we had quit the SE years ago. The extra hike in living costs crippled us financially and we were already on our knees.

We have bought a house outright in Northumberland and have found the schools and health services to be so much better.

I say don't do it.

And Northumberland is beautiful.

HelloBunny · 02/04/2023 00:33

Dream house.

FictionalCharacter · 02/04/2023 00:48

Dream house 100%. Better house (it sounds lovely) in the place you know.
We moved to a more expensive area to be nearer my ILs, and I honestly think we would have been better off staying where we were. We’d have a bigger better house by now. The area was prettier. We don’t see the ILs any more often, it’s just a shorter journey.