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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

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Original poster

Sell up & travel

13 replies

Nngold · 27/09/2023 10:30

Most people think I sound nuts, but we are 24 (me and my partner) we have a two year old son. We brought our first house at 22, and have been together since we was 16.
id say since Christmas I’ve constantly had a lot on my mind, just generally wondering what the point in life really is. I can’t stand the thought of us just living like this, paying nearly all of our earnings to a mortgage that is 70% interest & other bills. Work is just shit, everybody is miserable & the thought of bringing another baby into this world just seems a lot with the way everything is going. We live just outside of London, where everything is pricey and the area isn’t the best but we was born here & family is all here.
we recently had to remortgage which put our payments up another £300 a month, as well as other bills & our sons pre school payments. But as we brought this off a lovely elderly lady for very cheap and renovated ourself, we have made quite a large amount of equity (£100k)
anyway, I am just obsessing over the thought of us selling up, putting a chunk of money say £30k aside for when we get home and travelling the world. I can’t imagine this being our life forever and us not being able to do that.
but I understand it sounds crazy, why would we want to start all over again when we get home & we have a toddler.
my partners job would be here when he comes home, he works for my family roofing company. So it would just be me.
if we needed a base to come back to then my grandparents are only early 60s and have a big house which we lived with them before we brought this house so can come back there to sort ourselves out but I’m wondering if that seems selfish and unrealistic?
really I’m just wondering if I would be crazy to do so & if anyone else has done it?

OP posts:

Original poster

Nngold · 29/09/2023 15:25

bump, anyone???

OP posts:

Gloriously · 30/09/2023 14:27

Just rent the house out?

Selling and buying will waste fees and erode your capital.

After you have travelled and returned (or not) decide if you want to see then. Rental is red hot atm so you could even make a profit to fund your travels.

Seeks like you have done and achieved a lot v v young (well done) but missed out on some fun along the way.

It would be a great experience to travel as a family - where would you go and would you work along the way?

TodayInahurry · 30/09/2023 14:53

Don’t sell your house, you will find it difficult to buy again. Rent it out through a reputable letting agency. You may not like travelling especially with a 2 year old child

SwedishEdith · 30/09/2023 14:57

Agree you should just rent it out. You're in a very fortunate position to have been able to buy a house near London at 22.

Original poster

Nngold · 07/10/2023 21:49

I think I am nervous to rent it out as it seems like it can be quite a lot of stress, if there’s problems and we are half way across the world or something but I get why it would be better and something I could speak to the mortgage advisor about!
I do feel like we done it all too young, I am desperate to live more than I have and experience more! My family think it’s selfish but I don’t really see it like that:/
we would love to do America, Australia, New Zealand & loads more!
thanks so much for your advice x

OP posts:

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 07/10/2023 21:59

Definitely just rent your house out. Get a management agent to look after everything so you don't have to even think about it while you're away.

outdooryone · 09/10/2023 14:46

In the financial crash of 2008 I suggested to my ex that we sell and travel the world for a year with the kids.
The amount we were budgeting for the year (£40k) was less than our house dipped in value.
We could have done it and bought back into the housing market and still been better off.
But, that is with hindsight not predicting the market....

outdooryone · 09/10/2023 14:49

To add: I also have one son living in NZ for a couple of years earning reasonable money and living the dream of mountains and surfing, and another heads to Canada next year to do the same. If they had a house quietly rented and paying for itself, I would see travelling until visa runs out as a total no-brainer. They both have good school or degree behind them.

You can earn while you travel, and at under 25 you (just) qualify for most of the working holiday visas around the world - some of which are now upto 3 year visas with multiple entry/exit.

Gloriously · 09/10/2023 16:17

I suspect it is much more disruptive to sell up and but again rather than quietly rent it out for a couple of years. There are also significant sunk costs in fees and taxes (estate agents, legal, surveys, stamp duty, new mortgage fees etc) which would be a real waste of your money.

What does your partner want to do?
Which side of the family are judging you as selfish?

You have achieved so much so young and you can put it to good use.

Great to travel before your DC starts school.

Do it. Enjoy your youth.

Hold on to your property until you finish travelling. It gives you flexibility to return to etc. especially as the rental sector is a disaster right now.

Funf · 13/10/2023 11:27

Rent the house out as you still have equity with it, assuming the rent will cover the mortgage ?
Then get going the worlds a big place
Friend from work takes a 3 month contract, works, then has 6-12 months off travels UK and Europe, loves it.
The UK is a fantastic place so diverse, housing is much cheaper up north and still many unspoilt places.
This book may inspire you?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seven-Year-Hitch-Family-Odyssey/dp/0684858029

Original poster

Nngold · 09/11/2023 22:40

Thank you all! Really appreciate your positive advice:)
our house is up but unfortunately with the way the market is, the interest is so little! Hoping things might pick up after Christmas!

OP posts:

Bro26 · 02/04/2024 14:03

Hello, hope you're well. Just read the thread above and wondered how you got on and what position you're in now. I am in the same position where I am tired of working hard and having the same repetitive month over and over again and though of selling up and work our way around the world and find somewhere eventually to settle down. We have two children 6 & 4 which with school makes the decision all that more difficult, however the thought of the life they will live in tropical surroundings and a bit of home schooling seems very tempting..

Naturechild · 04/07/2024 09:35

Bro26 · 02/04/2024 14:03

Hi, I’m in a very similar position myself, very disillusioned with the rat race and thinking of selling up and going travelling while my boy is still young as this is the time we’ll never get back. I wanted to say - look into worldschooling. You can give them an education while being on the road. I don’t believe that the traditional school system is the best for them anyway.

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