How far away from each other are the houses in question ? I combined both worlds ....sold my house in France, sold a late relative's house near to a city in the North East and bought a new place on the coast ............chose the city rather than countryside for reason mentioned here ...plenty of doctors (ha ha WHEN we can see them !) excellent university hospitals shops, (that are left that is, sadly !) a metro just 2 mins walk away, plentiful busses, taxis are cheap and plentiful ...an international airport, a ferry service ......because, having returned from France and being over 70 I would need to change my driving licence back to a UK one and quite honestly don't need to drive here . There are a lot of factors to consider, as mentioned elsewhere ....when you get too old or infirm to drive > accessibility to transport services, doctors, etc etc ............so I wouldn't bury myself in the country ! Saw in France so many women did not drive or no longer drove...it was so hard for them as there was no transport whatsoever within a 30 km radius .....fortunately (or unfortunately ) the only family I have left is one estranged daughter living in the UK who hasn' spoken or communicated for 14 years ! BUT I do have a friend who moved from her home in London to Essex to be near her family and grandchildren ...........after 6 months the son got an offer of promotion in Norfolk .............so in reality she moved for nothing ! Depends how certain it is that if you move to be near your family they will stay where they are now .........serious thought ! Might be, as someone suggested, an idea to spend a year in the other house ....try to see how you would manage if either or both had to give up driving ......how easy to get re registered with a doctor......things to do, etc et ....and then decide ! Good luck