When we moved to our rural town 16 years ago, we didn't expect the house market to go up so drastically on the coast. Half an hour away, house prices have rocketed - whilst our place has tripled in value, oceanside houses have gone up ten times the amount.
 |  |
|---|---|
| Our House Now | Our House in 2009 |
Still, we are fed up being inland, and whilst we adore our house and garden, and the five acres we have, we want to be closer to the ocean. If you know me, you'd know why this is important.
Today we went looking at houses. We're yet to put ours on the market, but we wanted to see what was out there.
In a nutshell, nothing under the 1 million AUD mark. We need to have a few hundred left over from the sale of our house so we could renovate and build a shed, but the thought of doing this makes us a little tired. Do we even have it in us? Is it worth it?
And our property is so beautiful. I love it so much and it'll be a tug to leave it. I woke up in the night thinking of my fruit trees, my chickens!
After eliminating a few houses which were either above our price range (we can't afford an extra 500 k even if the view is gorgeous) we got it down to two properties.
Of course, I can't tell you the address, so assume that the two properties below are under fake addresses.
a) Olive Street
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Price | Would need to renovate to our liking |
| Great walking distance to shops & river | Ugly |
| Has a 6 x 5 shed | Quite suburban street |
| Price | |
| Faces north/south |
This house is kinda old. It's been a rental for quite a few years. It's solid enough, but would need some walls coming down and it's quite small - much smaller than Orange Street.
b) Orange Street
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
| Gorgeous house | Faces east/west |
| Barely needs anything doing to it | No garage |
| Has a small underneath car space on slab - can be shed? | Long walk to shops/beach - would always drive |
| Tucked away, private | Is there enough sun for veggies? |
| Kids grow up | Kids next door (both sides) |
| Solid, well designed house | Hotter in summer - faces wrong way for passive heat/cool |
| Woodburner, reverse cycle | |
| Two bathrooms |
The biggest issue I have is the direction it's facing, and the lack of the shed. But we'd hardly have to do anything to it until we decided to - yes, blinds for the heat, and I'd redo the kitchen before long, but that would be easy. The second biggest issue is building a shed or carport for the Land Rovers, and we'd have to spend money on that.
The area we are looking at has had a huge growth. There will be no extra houses built as it all buts onto forest reserve. House prices can only go up. It's one of the most expensive places you can buy, but it's an area we have our heart set on.
We will definitely be compromising on the amount of garden space we have, but with the beach nearby and the bushland a 20 second walk away, it's going to be far better for playing.
I'd love to know your thoughts/encouraging words!
With Love,
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argh such a disaster house hunting especially with those prices and since your current place is the bomb!. Well one thing I know for sure is that the most import one is always the 5 L's
Location location location location location
Apart from that, over the years you eventually chance everything. So if the lot is too small, dont do it. If the east west bothers you, dont do it. The suburban street bothers you? Don't do it.
You guys can make and fix and build anything, there is time. Just dont settle in the location
This is the advice I most wanted to hear! Now to hope they accept my offer....
Crossing fingers with ya!
Oh no, you're leaving the place you grew to love...! (Not that I'd actually seen it, but from your numerous posts I can see how dear it is to you.)
Oh yeay, there is change coming, and you'll be closer to your beloved ocean!
Seeing the pros and cons of both properties, the choice is clear (to me at least). Passive solar is such a huge factor! And knowing you and Jamie, you'll probably do a bunch of work on the place to suit your own needs and likes, no matter how lovely it already is. However, I'm pretty sure that won't include rotating the house by 90 degrees! Also, you mentioned the price of the Olive street house twice. That also speaks volumes.
I'm excited about your move, and I'm looking forward to seeing the new place introduced, once the final decision has been made.
I reckon the price would be around same, but we would have to spend less time and money upgrading the Orange St one... Which also has two bathrooms and is much, much more liveable. We can get double glazing and good blinds to mitigate the direction and we are a bit sick of renovating. It's a shame to lose all the growing space but I think I can do alright with a small garden .. I've learnt a lot on Hive about gardening in small spaces!
Well, I'm sure there are many more factors, including things you haven't even considered (yet). But eventually you'll choose the one that's the best for you. I'm still excited to read more about it once you get to that point.
I'm sure there will be lots of posts!
If your heart is set on making a move to the seaside it's really something deeply personal. Forty years ago the decision made to move, massive drop in earnings it was doable, cost of coastal living is higher with maintenance depending how far from the sea.
Now the small village we bought in has developed into something that no longer appeals. Considering a move inland between the mountains and sea, sea will still be closer simply further to drive than currently.
Happiness or well being always comes at a price, we only live once. Good luck with your house hunt.
We only live once... Thankyou. That's exactly why we are moving. Good luck with your own move!!
Still a way off for me, many matters need consideration. Enjoy house hunting sure to find exactly what you desire. Always reminds me of "Sitting at the dock of the bay", happiness is!
It takes me a six minute walk and I can have my feet on the sand of the nearest beachfront. So I would say get closest to the sea.
Truth be told, I was quite surprised you lived so far inland.
Yesterday Mrs T and I were in Edinburgh doing a few things. We went into a charity shop...
So back to your house, you gotta pick the house that can let you have a yarn room🤣
Now back to the charity shop. I stopped when I saw this and thought of you, and of course snapped it....
Omg I can't believe someone in Scotland thought of me in a chazza looking at knitting needles!
We moved where we could afford and we really wanted land. You know how plans change when you get older? Yeah that!!!!
lol yeah they needles just screamed River!
Oh don't I just know how the plans change as we age lol
I know it sounds like I'm quoting estate agents, well I am, but it's all about location!
So unfortunate Orange Street is not north-facing, but one can't just look at that. If you live in a mild climate, it shouldn't be a problem.
My home is north-facing, the sun comes up on the right side, away from the bedrooms, but, our area has deteriorated, and although it's picking up again, it's a little too late so the new owners got more than a bargain!
My new home is not north-facing and it gets very cold in winter, but it's in a sought-after location, is gorgeous, and close to my youngest brother, important at my age.
You need to be closer to the sea, and both you and Jamie are good with renos, price is right forhouse number 1, you can change it exactly how you like it, so may be a good choice.
Not an easy decision, but get closer to the sea while you're still young and qualify for a bond. Ties you down, but..
Good luck with the house hunt🦭
I think that, since you love the place you are in, there is no hurry. Wait until you find the perfect place. Neither of these are perfect for you, imo.
There's a bit of fomo - it's a popular place, and they get snapped up quick, especially the cheaper ones. Sensibly, we'd wait - but we might miss out. These have been on the market for a while so we can do a lowball offer and then do it up to our liking. But that's good and sensible advice. I wish we had an extra 500 K, there's some incredible places with views that's for sure !
HODL. With rising seas, you'll be on the coast without needing to move in a few short years. Particularly if bombs keep going off in cafes in far flung corners of the Earth. No one talks about the carbon emissions of war, while trying to reach net zero.
Anyway, I hate stamp duty (Especially in South Aus) - and its EXPENSIVE to move and up your life. I am, however, not too fond of flinging myself into the sea.
Don't forget the extra coats of exterior paint to handle the salt, and all the other bits and bobs.
My in laws's place is on Lord Howe, Sharn grew up there, among other places. They're a ~15 second walk from the beach, but then again, most people who live on Lord Howe are. They are planning to move to SA at some point in the future. I welcome it. Very much so.
However, a literal sea change is also so good for your mental health. Having moved "further out" recently, I've never been happier. Went to pick up an office chair for Sharn today from a warehouse near the airport, as a plane flew overhead, and I forgot HOW LOUD that side of town was.
Back to your situation - is there the option to hodl and subdivide the existing place as society encroaches on that land?
Sadly we are too close to a water reservoir which prohibits subs near it. We are in a rare position pocket sought after land.
It's all well and good to survive here on acreage but when push comes to shove we are all doomed anyway. Plus Mum has an acre we can grow on if need be.
We are right on the edge of a national park at the proposed new place which will be wild.
I love the ocean as much as you don't, and I was worried i would die without living by it again, or only return to it as ashes thrown from a cliff top. At least this place can't have housing estates built on the outskirts...
I'll still be an 8 minute drive from the sea. Not fully salt blasted.
Stamp duty sucks but it won't be that expensive (famous last words) to move. We don't have that much. Hoping they're desperate enough to take a low-ball offer... orange St has been on the market for a year. Started at 1.4 mil. Down to 1.2 and I'm hoping they'll go lower. Basically will be an exchange in the end.
Reservoir sounds like a psuedo-sea!
I'm not going to stand in the way of your passion for the wet, salty abyss. I see the appeal, I like to think I barely understand the metaphor and appeal, the vastness of it all - but I just don't like it in my ears.
Maybe put the offer form in, conditional on the sale of property, to the value of at least $x, by Y date and see if they bite.
My friend just got the keys to her new place, and for her (as a first home buyer) the stamp duty hurt savagely.
Check for the Internet availability at the address before you put pen to paper, as well. Having worked in that sector, and having people just move into their dream house, only to find out the Internet there will be shit, or involve public works to make it not shit, is absolutely crushing. So check it!
The hierarchy of "internet" would be (best to worst) - Fibre to the Premises, HFC / Cable, Fibre to the Curb, Fibre to Node, Satellite.
Has fibre to node /nbn
Better than the bottom of the barrel ;)
Great tip about the internet!!! Somamy things to consider. Didn't your friend get a first home buyers grant. . I thought that covered the stamp duty? Maybe that's changed or varies state to state.
Definitely going to low-ball it!!!
I am not entirely sure, things are different in South Australia. I didn't get any help from nobody when we got our first home, or when we sold that one, and then got our second home, being absolutely violated by the bank's "bridging" loan product that I insisted we didn't require, but they insisted we did, or they wouldn't approve the finance.
Another $2k expense swallowed... :D
Having said that, I got an established home as the value was higher vs build.
I am sure you will keep us updated on the process, and I look forward to you knitting new curtains for the new place.
Knitted curtains, lmao.
They don't do bridging loans anymore here. Since COVID and volatile property markets I suppose. It would kinda help us out some.
ANZ were way too keen to do it for us, no other bank would touch it.
You've been curated by @plantpoweronhive! Delegations welcome!
I hope you get the house you will love the most, ♥
@riverflows, I paid out 1.127 HIVE and 0.271 HBD to reward 7 comments in this discussion thread.