To move 20 minutes away or to pay more & wait?!

[LilyDaniels]

My husband and I are in a dilemma, and although I know no one can make the decision but us, I’d really like to hear some opinions!

We currently live in a small, sought after village with our son. We want to move for parking and for an extra bedroom so we can have more children. My mother lives on the next road, so a 5 minute walk away if that!

I work in the office 2 days a week and that’s a 35 minute drive away.

Houses in the village are few and far between, when they come up, they sell quickly and for lots of money.

There is another village 20 minutes up the road, which is cheaper as there is not much there however still a nice place to live and my brother lives there. My best friend also lives 5 minutes on from here. A house is up for sale here and ticks every box in terms of size, decor, parking, style and it’s within budget! BUT…
I am so used to living extremely close to my mum, she looks after our son those two days im in the office and I spend most days with her. I’m aware moving 20 minutes away I can still go to her house just as often, but it obviously won’t be just as easy as it has been.
it also means my journey to and from work extends to probably just over an hour on a good day which makes dropping off and collecting my son that bit more long winded (however my mothers would be on my route to work, so I don’t have to re-route).

Do we move further to get our ideal home? Or am I so lucky to live so close to my mother that I should wait and compromise on the house that will tick every box and potentially spend more money?

As you said only you and husband can make that decision but I am 50/50 on this. When you have another baby it would be so much easier with your mum close by. And also looking ahead to you and your children supporting your mum as she ages. Does your mum drive? If so could she drive over to help with your son on the childcare days? Not sure I would want a 1 hour drive to work but I guess it is only 2 x days a week. Are you likely to stay in this job? I would get a spreadsheet and put pluses and minuses. Both my children live 35 mins away from me and I drive over to help with childcare. It’s really not far but I have never been used to them living around the corner, I can see what a wrench that could be. Thousands of people live a distance from their families. It depends if you think you coukd afford a house in your village.

The just over an hour commute would put me off, that's a right pain with a little one and wanting another, possibly even harder with one at school and one at nursery. I don't think this one is for you. Could you go in the other direction slightly closer to your work?

One more thought, if this is a house you are planning on living in a long time then the childcare your mum provides is only for a few years. One more thing, are you plann8ng on working more days in the future? If so then the hour’s drive to your job will start to become very tedious. I am assuming your mum has no plans on moving? I would talk to your mum and ask her views. She might be horrified if she knew you were turning down the chance of the ideal house within budget for the sake of 20mins. Also if you didn’t see your mum everyday then assuming you would be meeting up with other new people which would be a good thing for your son and yourself maybe.

A commute that long would do me in.

Can you extend or re-configure internally?
I wouldn't move if i was you

I wouldn't move, and I don't think you want to either, as you've focused on all the negatives but not really mentioned anything positive except that you like the house. I think you've already made your decision!