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Original poster

Moving.... Help my overloaded brain decide!

9 replies

Willowfine · 15/04/2025 09:53

I'm having a dilemma over whether or not we should move and think I need some perspective from those that aren't emotionally attached!

We've lived in our house for 10 years. Didn't know much about the area when we moved in but the past 10 years have been fine. Neighbours are ok, we don't interact much but everyone keeps to themselves. Obviously lots of core and happy memories in this house too.

The houses on the estate I live on are priced at least £100k lower than houses surrounding it (like literally houses in the next street outside the estate). It's a typical post war built estate and was all social housing, but I would say at least 50% is now privately owned. It does however still have a bit of a reputation of being a bit of a 'rough' estate in the area, hence the price differences! Although, as I say we've never had any issues living here.

We've spent a long time renovating our house and our two children have lived here all their lives here (now 8 and 7).

We have no real 'need' to move, the house we have is an ok size but we would like more outside space and possibly be in a nicer area. I feel a little 'crammed' in with houses all around/backing on and overlooking the garden etc.

We've seen a house that ticks all the boxes, but would still need a bit of work such as relocating the kitchen (I know that's major work but my husband is on the trade so it's a doable job for him). It's a much much bigger house, huge garden in a really desirable area and overlooks a National Trust site so the views are stunning.

The kicker is that it would double our mortgage.

We've only got 15 years left on our mortgage and paying just over 1k a month. We would have to increase the mortgage to 20 years and it will be closer to 2k a month.

It wouldn't affect schools as we will only be an extra 5 minutes away from the current primary and still in catchment for the two secondary schools in the area.

I have ADHD and I'm a huge over thinker and feel 'stuck' making a decision either way. Will I regret it if we don't move? The worry of the increased mortgage is making me feel like we are stuck where we are. We can afford the increased mortgage, council tax etc but it would leave us with little for anything else.

So, is the bigger house, better area worth it in the long run or shall we stay put.

If I'm honest, I think just writing this down has helped a bit but still interested to see what other views are

OP posts:
TokyoSushi · 15/04/2025 09:55

That's a huge increase in your mortgage. Is there somewhere else that you could move to that's less of a jump? Or is the increase easily affordable?

Original poster
Willowfine · 15/04/2025 10:03

TokyoSushi · 15/04/2025 09:55

That's a huge increase in your mortgage. Is there somewhere else that you could move to that's less of a jump? Or is the increase easily affordable?

Unfortunately not. We want to stay in this area because of schools, I'm not moving the children from their current primary.

Our house has a ceiling price due to the estate it's on so we could buy something very similar to our house in althe next street over would still be at least 50k to 100k more on the mortgage. For example, our house has been valued at 220k. A similar sized house a two minute walk away has just gone on the market for 350k, and actually our outside space is better.

Hence me feeling a little 'trapped' where we are ....

OP posts:
OttersAreMySpiritAnimal · 15/04/2025 21:43

From your post it doesn't sound like you have a compelling reason to move, and in your shoes I wouldn't be increasing my mortgage right now without a compelling reason.
On the flip side...
The new house is clearly aspirational and you are tempted. If you think it could be another long term home and you have good earning expectations that would ease the burden of the mortgage in future then it could be a risk worth taking.
Imagine someone else bought it, would you be seriously gutted or slightly disappointed? Imagine your lifestyle for years with a high mortgage, do you think it's sustainable? Do a pros and cons list.
We stretched ourselves for the current house and I'm pleased we did as I absolutely love it. I do have a plan b though, if we can't afford the mortgage because rates go up or our income reduces, we would have to sell up and move to a cheaper property. So I get to live in it only while I can afford to.

Birdsongsinging · 15/04/2025 21:51

I think I would move to the aspirTionsl
house, as long as you can afford it.

Advocodo · 16/04/2025 07:45

I would move as long as you then don’t start to worry about how much extra your mortgage is.

PralinesandCream · 06/09/2025 14:29

Willowfine · 15/04/2025 09:53

I'm having a dilemma over whether or not we should move and think I need some perspective from those that aren't emotionally attached!

We've lived in our house for 10 years. Didn't know much about the area when we moved in but the past 10 years have been fine. Neighbours are ok, we don't interact much but everyone keeps to themselves. Obviously lots of core and happy memories in this house too.

The houses on the estate I live on are priced at least £100k lower than houses surrounding it (like literally houses in the next street outside the estate). It's a typical post war built estate and was all social housing, but I would say at least 50% is now privately owned. It does however still have a bit of a reputation of being a bit of a 'rough' estate in the area, hence the price differences! Although, as I say we've never had any issues living here.

We've spent a long time renovating our house and our two children have lived here all their lives here (now 8 and 7).

We have no real 'need' to move, the house we have is an ok size but we would like more outside space and possibly be in a nicer area. I feel a little 'crammed' in with houses all around/backing on and overlooking the garden etc.

We've seen a house that ticks all the boxes, but would still need a bit of work such as relocating the kitchen (I know that's major work but my husband is on the trade so it's a doable job for him). It's a much much bigger house, huge garden in a really desirable area and overlooks a National Trust site so the views are stunning.

The kicker is that it would double our mortgage.

We've only got 15 years left on our mortgage and paying just over 1k a month. We would have to increase the mortgage to 20 years and it will be closer to 2k a month.

It wouldn't affect schools as we will only be an extra 5 minutes away from the current primary and still in catchment for the two secondary schools in the area.

I have ADHD and I'm a huge over thinker and feel 'stuck' making a decision either way. Will I regret it if we don't move? The worry of the increased mortgage is making me feel like we are stuck where we are. We can afford the increased mortgage, council tax etc but it would leave us with little for anything else.

So, is the bigger house, better area worth it in the long run or shall we stay put.

If I'm honest, I think just writing this down has helped a bit but still interested to see what other views are

I’m in a similar situation to you and am curious to know what you eventually settled on doing if you wouldn’t mind sharing :)

Zanatdy · 06/09/2025 14:32

Depends how affordable an extra 1k a month is to you really.

Asweexpected · 06/09/2025 14:38

Have you included any likely pay rises or any capital that you may acquire, such as a policy finishing.
Do you both work full-time now, or is there capacity to increase earnings?

The bigger picture can make a difference.

We stretched for a house and within a couple of years it felt much more manageable simply because we had had annual pay rises and were earning more.

user1471538283 · 06/09/2025 15:54

I think it depends where you are in your careers. If you could get promotions in time it could be ok. Doubling your mortgage to £2k is a lot and I would be cautious about what might happen if one of you lost your jobs.

Might there be something in between for now? A cheaper house or aggressively paying your mortgage so you owe less in a few years and then reconsider.

But I double my mortgage to move here and I'm much older than you. But I doubled from a very small mortgage.

I do get it tho. You need to be happy in your home.

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