Should I move house?

[IBelieveinSomething]

I absolutely love my house. It is perfect for me apart from a couple of wee niggles. The sun room double doors open onto a narrow, shady patio area. I have a lovely large garden just around the corner but I’d like the doors to open onto the garden instead. It is a new build and everything else is perfect.

My main issue is that I can cycle to the park and beach and I do that most days however, i live off a very busy road and have to cycle up that and then cross a dual carriageway with limited crossing options. Once across that road the route is amazing. Lovely country road that takes me right there in 5 mins.

I am about to retire and am relatively comfortably off with no mortgage. I only moved here to my new build house and this area just over a year ago and there are no other issues. Neighbours are lovely and I am near everything I need.

I am increasingly becoming fixated on moving closer to the park and the sea to an area on the other side of the busy road. I could get a lovely house in that area for e.g. 30k less than i can sell my current house for. I don’t really want the hassle but it might be worth it.

just wanted some other perspectives.

Are there any houses for sale in the road you want?
What’s the market like where you are?
Will your house sell as quickly as you want?

Factor in the costs of solicitors, estate agent, removals, stamp duty and your £30,000 might be swallowed up in those costs.

Houses come up in that area all the time so i am confident that I could find what I want. Some would be maybe 100k less than mine as mine has appreciated a lot in value as the other houses in the development have been completed. I think mine would sell easily. It’s often a risk. That’s the stressful part really - trying to match up the buying with the selling. ]

every week i fall in love with a different house in that area but I have just called about the current one that I love and it has just gone sale agreed.

I will get my house valued later in the week and get everything in place so that I can buy my perfect house if it appears.

Get a builder in to quote for a door to the garden.

Yes I would move. If you have guests, animals or just are having a dopey morning that road sounds not fun. Plus you can afford to move, you’re healthy and have the mental energy at the moment. You use this route a lot so completely makes sense to have it as pleasant as possible.

First step is to get yours under offer. In the meantime pinpoint the streets and areas you like. Then once under offer you’re in a position to have an offer of your own accepted. Worst case scenario if it takes you a few weeks to get your new place your stuff goes into storage and you rent for a short time in between leaving the old place and moving into the new one.

Do not procrastinate, make a decision and go for it.

sounds like you should move - take your time to market your house well and find a good house in the new location.

Move, you might as well enjoy your retirement to the full x

I’d move! Sounds like a no brainer. A bit of hassle now for an easy life in your retirement sounds worth it to me.

Don't forget the estate agent fees, removal costs and stamp duty when thinking about the move. It might cost you more than you think.

As you can afford it, move.

I would try to factor in future proofing as much as you can at the same time. This might be in case your physical mobility gets less, so factor in location of doctor, buying a point of milk, your social life and somewhere you could live wholly downstairs if you were recovering from an op. I say this because my Mum moved a lot in retirement, to cover each phase, which depleted her funds significantly. She is now in a care home and could do with more cash to see her out.