Gransnet forums

House and home

Help me decide whether to move

(28 Posts)
OlderthanIthink Sun 28-Feb-21 16:31:22

Thanks @sodapop.
Although you're right, we don't need to move just yet, I do need to make some decisions about finance (pensions and investments) within the next few months, which is the pressing need. I am semi retired now, so plenty of time (maybe even too much time) to mull this over.
If we don't move, I would invest for income, but if we are moving, that money will need to stay in cash.

sodapop Sun 28-Feb-21 16:22:06

I would wait and see how you feel when you have actually retired Olderthanithink you will have more time to consider and to look at other areas. There seems to be no pressing need to move and now is not the time to make such a big decision. Enjoy a bit of time in your retirement before making such a big change.

OlderthanIthink Sun 28-Feb-21 16:06:28

Can anyone who's struggled to make a decision whether to move or stay put in the family home on retirement tell me what factors influenced your decision and how it worked out please?
We need to decide this for ourselves soon as we're retiring and need to take the plunge and decide whether to spend money on things like a new bathroom or move to a different environment.
Our detached family home on a 1970s estate is in what was a quiet and largely crime-free suburban village, but the village is about to double in size with new houses already starting to be occupied. The roads will be busier, the already creaking infrastructure will be under more pressure.
All our neighbours are even older than us and will inevitably move on over the next 5-10 years meaning there'll be a lot of upgrading work going on around us at a time when we are at home more. We have more land than newer houses, but ultimately it's a house on an estate with close and nosey but friendly neighbours.
On the plus side, if we stay, there will be better public transport links and a bit more life here but it will no longer be the quiet commuter village it's been as we raised our kids.
We have already spent a lot of time and money renovating and had planned to spend the next few years travelling more knowing most of that work was done and the house as we want it.
We are about 10 miles from the coast and I've always wanted to live by the sea and ideally within walking distance of cafes etc which we aren't now.
Houses by the coast will cost more, plus there'll be the big disruption of moving if we decide to up sticks and go.
If we do move, we want to do so when we are young enough to get to know people in the new location.
What are your pearls of wisdom - especially if this is a dilemma you faced yourself?