What age did you buy the 'forever' house?

[bobtail4x4]

I was 31

been here 36 years so far

[OMITN]

46. Bought this place at 34 with a 6 month old baby in tow. We’d thoroughly enjoyed city life (West Didsbury, Manchester) and traded that for village life and the in-laws on tap to assist with childcare.

Since then we’ve done lots to the house - extension, loft conversion - and theoretically it should be our forever home. But, I’m spite of the views for miles across fields and the excellent pub in the village, the regular-sized garden has always bothered me. I grew up with six acres to park about in and would have loved to replicate that.

Whether it’s out forever home (god I hate that term!) or not, I don’t know. We have one child and she’ll want to go to university and experience city life herself. Then it’ll be two of us.

I hope to retire around 60. In many ways a return to Manchester would make me very happy - a decent garden flat in Didsbury and everything we need on tap would make for a fantastic retirement. I guess I’ll probably never get that big garden….

[T1547]

Our current house bought at 35 could be our forever home, particularly after we have completed a (hopefully) straightforward extension and if my OH gets her way, she loves the house.

It is in a great village location with cricket pitch and tennis courts on our road, countryside walks on/from the doorstep, detached, nice neighbours, station with fast train links to London 10 minutes drive away. However.. an even more rural life really appeals to me, further away still from London and general busyness, house building etc. Something deep in the South Downs NP or High Weald AONB (we’re right on the edge of the AONB currently) would work

But if we end up here forever we could have done a lot worse.

[Puzzles]

1st 23
2nd 31

Maybe one more but that will be it as the stamp duty is too expensive.

[cliffords]

We moved to our forever home 3.5 years ago . Kids grown up and gone , countryside, fabulous 200 year old house , ingelnook fireplaces, land and views . 18 months later we moved out.
The vineyard opposite decided they wanted to be a music venue outside events and weddings. The farm behind us , laying unused for 50 years decided it would re develop into a business with a farm shop etc .
We sold fortunately quickly and bought a completely different type of house . We have only had 5 houses in 32 years together . We have moved from three houses now due to neighbours , either noisy or noisy and selfish or noisy and stupid or noisy and aggressive.

I really hope we are in our forever home now but we never say we are .

[kiethton]

Flat 1 - 24
Flat 2 - 26
House 1 - 32 (been here 18 months)

Our house is one we never HAVE to move from, 1900 sqft now with scope to be over 4,000 sqft if we extend.

Although we never have to move again nobody can predict the future, although spending +£100k in stamp duty is never welcome.

[cliffords]

LimaDelta said:

PianoManYork said:

The only way to really guarantee the peace you want is to live remotely, far from other people.

This. Best piece of house buying advice I was given was 'never buy a house for the view, unless you own the view'. Not taken too literally, but it does mean a lot can change after you move in. The only way to be sure it doesn't is to own the view, either literally, metaphorically, or both.

See my other post. I absolutely agree with this , learnt from experience.

[okgo]

cliffords said:

See my other post. I absolutely agree with this , learnt from experience.

What have you bought with land that meant your neighbours were an issue?

I think the first list mentioned was just council type behaviour you don’t really get if you’ve paid a few quid, but what you’ve said is more concerning but if house is central to its plot then maybe what happens elsewhere (save for some huge housing estate) is less of an issue?

The issue on my street is the houses that are now split and then the ones that are rented.

[AlvinSultana]

I was 46. Fabulous house after a full rebuild.

The currant Mrs Sultana will never move.

But I might if she does not raise her game.

[cliffords]

okgo said:

cliffords said:

See my other post. I absolutely agree with this , learnt from experience.

What have you bought with land that meant your neighbours were an issue?

I think the first list mentioned was just council type behaviour you don’t really get if you’ve paid a few quid, but what you’ve said is more concerning but if house is central to its plot then maybe what happens elsewhere (save for some huge housing estate) is less of an issue?

The issue on my street is the houses that are now split and then the ones that are rented.

When it's quiet ,and you live with fields around you it's amazing, unbelievable how sound travels. A wedding in a big tent two fields away at 11 pm is unbearable. Also paying a few quid just means you have similar morons but ones with money who feel entitled and have no regard for others .

Edited by cliffords on Tuesday 21st March 22:39

[mikeiow]

AlvinSultana said:

I was 46. Fabulous house after a full rebuild.

The currant Mrs Sultana will never move.

But I might if she does not raise her game.

A current Mrs Sultana? Sounds like nice buns

We moved to our current home when I was 34….son was 2, daughter was just a month old: ludicrous time to move! Been here over 20 years now…..extended twice, it has worked very well for us.
Not sure I’d describe it as our ‘forever home’….but then nothing is forever!
Now at the stage we can see ourselves perhaps moving on in 5-10 years: mid-20s offspring finding their way, house will feel too big in a few years.
We do, however, have a very good set of pals in the area, some of whom we have known for decades, and a great social life….that is the key to a happy life, in my simple view. I get that many might want their own space and no neighbours, but that isn’t for us….

[B235r]

Got my forever house in 2013 at 31 had everything I wanted in a house never planned to move but the wife got a new job, since she's the career drivin one that meant moving so we sold it in 2020 & bought a 2 bedroom cottage that I absolutely hate with a passion

The hunt is on for another forever house

[edc]

Byker28i said:

biggiles said:

When the children will enjoy it? 6+?

IMHO little point in moving to an amazing family home when the children have left home. Perhaps I will feel differently when it's back to 2 of us...

About where we are now. You can never say you'll have a forever home as once the family go it's comfortable, but silly having a huge house with the bills to go with it. at that point it makes sense to go smaller

Similar perspective here. After 3 prior purchases the current and perhaps last at 40. If the priorities or wants change in the future and money permits it I'd move but realistically I don't need to.

[RC1807]

42

Next move will be downsizing for retirement

[Coxey]

On my 58th birthday, but always looking for something else….

[DaveCWK]

Not sure I get this concept of a forever home.

I've purchased 2 houses so far & each one has been what I'd consider a 'forever home' at the time of purchase, in that it was a considered purchase that I could see myself staying in a long time/forever if needed.

My circumstances changed tho, and no doubt will again.

Before that I rented a few places, which obviously I always saw as transitionary.

[ARHarh]

Bought my first property in 1987, bought my "for ever" house for cash in 2012 at the age of 48. It helped moving from the Hampshire Surrey border to the North Wales border.

[rdjohn]

I built it in 2005, age 54, and sold it last year Age 71. Bought the land in 2002.

Life looks different 20-years on.

Edited by rdjohn on Thursday 23 March 11:30

[Evoluzione]

Puzzles said:

1st 23
2nd 31

Maybe one more but that will be it as the stamp duty is too expensive.

Well done for not being able to answer the question, but posting up anyhow

[ukwill]

41. Am 51 now, missus is 48. Next move will be to downsize, prob in around 5yrs. Ideally to a an old bungalow on a decent plot that we can pull apart. Although they seem to be getting harder to find.