Help with buying when relocating

[Zanatdy]

Hi all

So i’m originally from the north (cheshire / welsh borders) but have been in the south east for 25yrs now after moving for a job. I’ve been wanting to relocate for many years after I split from father of DC as having to rent here as costs of property so high where I live but decided to wait until my DC had all completes their education here.

DD finishes A levels in June so I can move from early July onwards so I am heading up to stay with family in Feb half term and my friend will drive me around some areas. I will be based in Liverpool work wise and have family 45 mins drive from there. I am thinking of either living on the coast north of Liverpool or on the Wirral as that’s half way between office and family.

Here is my dilemma. How did those who relocated manage to view properties when it’s 4hrs on the train to new location. I will go and see some in the half term but don’t want to feel pressured to buy what’s for sale then. Going up to visit is around £100 a time, and I am committed to taking DD to school until June as she has some health issues going on. I could go on weekends, but worried I could miss out if something perfect came on the market.

Would you send a friend and a video call if something you really liked came on? Has anyone ever put in an offer just from a video call? Known friend nearly all my life so she knows what kind of thing i’d be looking for and trust her judgement but seems mad to do that when not seen a property, but guess people did during Covid. I guess alternatively is I move up that way in July, and rent an airbnb for 6 months or so, but that could be costly. From July i’d be able to go up at short notice to view also, so easier from then but i’ve waited so many years to relocate and want to get going with my mortgage as time is ticking on and i’m getting older and so excited to get started with my new life. But maybe I shouldn’t rush it.

All help, advice and experiences welcomed. Especially from those who have relocated too.

Can you sell and rent there in the autumn?

When we relocated to a completely different area, we rented first and then took our time to find somewhere to buy. It ended up us buying in a different area to the one we had originally considered, as it worked better for commuting etc. So it was a good job we didn’t rush to buy.
if you trust your friend, she could do first visits for you and then you go up for second visits for some of them at the weekend.

Ask your friend to do an initial search and provide you with a shortlist, and then go and visit the properties yourself.

Join the local Facebook groups of the area yog’re considering. Also NextDoor and a local
newspaper to get local information.

We drove 2.5 hours to see properties - it was hard and I think I’m hindsight it would have been better to rent and get a better feel for the best roads and areas

The received wisdom is that it is best to rent first, to get to know the area, and then buy. Even if you think that you know the area, you don't really know the nuances until you are on the ground.
Also, It seems cock-eyed to rush buying a property for hundreds of thousands of pounds because you don't want to spend a hundred pounds on viewing Note that the second problem no longer exists once you're up there.

Isn't all this proposed commotion a bit unsettling for your DD? Wait until exams have finished.

I don’t own a property here, I am renting so that is an option, but don’t really want to get tied into 12 month renting as i’m 50 this year and need to get going with a mortgage.

That’s sensible to rent first but i’ve been renting for 25yrs and am 50 this year and just want to get on the housing ladder. I think i’ll go with sending my friend and then arrange to go the first weekend after for any in person viewing for those I like.

Yes just joined one of the local areas for a Wirral town. I am asking my Liverpool colleagues too if they know the areas but they seem to be scattered far and wide over Merseyside.

Yeah renting is probably the most sensible but it would have to be airbnb or a short term rent as I really don’t want to get tied into a 12 month contract.

We won’t be moving until DD has finished her exams. Not sure what propose commotion she will experience as she won’t be coming to view properties anyway and very little involvement in this. She will be going off to uni and has a home still in the town she grew up in at her dad’s house so there is zero commotion going on. Ideally i’d wait but i’m almost 50, i’ve been renting for 25yrs, my dog is going blind and I want to get him a garden.

I want to move back closer to my family and whilst a few months sooner might not seem that much different to you, when you’ve been waiting as long as I have to go back, a few months does matter. I’ve sacrificed a lot to keep my DC in this area and waited years for this, so I do want to get the ball rolling. If I thought this was impacting my DD in anyway i’d wait. She is perfectly happy that i’m moving and excited for us to buy (plus will be off to uni anyway). Plus its not about the money for the train (though that adds up) but the fact I have to take my DD to school so hard for me to go in term time.