Moving to Devon!

Lincsclass a little while ago, our chain floundered, and I mentioned to our estate agent that we would consider renting and she went purple and said, 'don't be mad, there ARE no rentals anywhere!' And it's true, the rental market is red hot and very expensive anywhere in the south and south west.

The inequality and regional differences in house prices are scandalous throughout the UK. The government should do something but of course, they won't. We bought our current, fairly ordinary, house five years ago and now it has been swamped by incomers snapping up all the pretty cottages and anything else besides. We are on a relatively limited budget but you do see things in Devon if you look around, it's just that buyer beware kicks in the fevered market that seems to be surviving the disappearance of the stamp duty relaxation.

It amuses us that you now can't see a house unless yours is under offer and when they ask about finance, the first question is 'will you be purchasing from the sale of your own property or from cash'. People not involved in the housing market don't realise this! I wish we didn't have to move but circumstances are pushing us.

I envy you,i love Devon and have always found the locals to be very pleasant.

My daughter lives in Exeter. She went to university there, fell in love with the area and has never left. She loves everything it has to offer - fabulous countryside for dog walks, beaches, etc.

Lucky you, Devon is beautiful, wish I could afford to move, but if I sold mine the money would be nowhere enough to buy a house in Devon. There will be crime and problems wherever you go, sometimes we can over egg things, anxiety re moving is normal. Perhaps renting in Devon for a while would give you a better perspective. Good luck.

The local news will always pick up on the less inspiring features of a place. I'm just off to walk the dog over the moor with views of the sea without probably bumping into more than 3 people. Devon is heaven. I'll add more later if the thread progresses.