To move up north? WWYD

[Shouldwestayshouldwego]

Name change as I'm a regular poster on here. I'm currently unsure what to do regarding a big potential house move and thought the wise ladies (and men) of Mumsnet may have some advice.

I currently live down south. I moved here many years ago, before I met DH, to a town I really love. Some of DHs family live nearby and they are lovely. We really enjoy spending time with them, as do our DCs. PILs used to live here too but have since moved away so sadly we don't see them frequently anymore (they are both still working in quite demanding jobs.)

DH and I have two children and currently have no help with emergency childcare due to my family living far away and his parents also moving away/being busy. As a result I've recently had to leave my job and go freelance, as I was taking too many days off to look after the kids when they couldn't be in school because of Covid.

My parents and sibling live up north and they would really like us to move and join them. The area they live in is much cheaper than where we live now so we could afford a house that's big enough for us (current home isn't) and even pay off our mortgage before we reach 40, which we could never do here. My parents would also be able to help with childcare occasionally as they are retired.

DH's job is remote working, as is my freelance work so that isn't an issue. The thing holding me back is that I'm just completely in love with the town where we live now. It feels so perfect and walking through it makes me happy on a daily basis. I know this sounds really silly but I'm just worried that I could never love anywhere else as much and would regret moving away?

But then we'd have a bigger house, less financial strain and family help nearby, so would we be stupid not to?

WWYD?

I think it depends could you spend a summer or say 2 weeks up there in the summer.

lots has changed since covid and Yorkshire is so beautiful in parts but I would say sometimes there can be more opportunities for jobs etc in the south and for young people but as I say perhaps at last that is changing.

Also need to bear in mind any differentials in price we have a relative who lived in SE then moved up north while they enjoyed it they bought mortgage free when moving north which was in many respects great but the issue they had was that this meant effectively they then no longer had the option of moving south again as they were priced out. Eg sold house in south took £300k to buy northern house 10 years later would have quite liked to move south but the £300k wouldn't buy anything in the southern area they had lived.

Malton is lovely. We used to live close by and had to move to Midlands with work. Malton is lovely to bring up children and if your parents are there too how lovely for you all. As you get older you realise family is more important. You have opportunity to have a larger house most likely with nice garden and be mortgage free by 40. OP so many people in on MN would bite your hand off for that chance. You would.be able to help kids through uni and with.hpuse deposits. Can't think why you would not want that. You could still go back to visit friends/holidays. I think you would be mad not to grab opportunity whilst it is there.

@labyrinthlaziness i totally agree.
Same here, that kind of comment makes my blood boil. So ignorant.