Help me shop for a property?

ycbm

ycbm

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The recent snow and ice made it very obvious that when my OH is no longer able to do the plumbing, electrics, roof tiles, snow clearing, water management etc, etc it simply isn't viable for us to live where we are now.

It breaks my heart to think of leaving, but I have to be sensible, we are both getting on in years. To set my mind at rest about this (not to buy right now, just to shop) help me find a property that fits this spec, please? All criteria approximate except price.

Budget £600,000

Location anywhere UK, possibly NI

Fifteen minute drive from:

Major supermarket
Good Indian restaurant
Small to large pleasant town with a U3A group.

Forty minutes from multi screen cinema.

Easily maintained smallish property not requiring renovation. Absolute minimum of three acres of well drained land. Existing or guaranteed planning consent for a 40x60 arena and 30 x15 barn for horse use and 3/4 stables. Brilliant hacking without driving anywhere (preferably something open like a National Trust park or large area of Forestry Commission land)

Is it even possible?
 
ycbm said:
The recent snow and ice made it very obvious that when my OH is no longer able to do the plumbing, electrics, roof tiles, snow clearing, water management etc, etc it simply isn't viable for us to live where we are now.

It breaks my heart to think of leaving, but I have to be sensible, we are both getting on in years. To set my mind at rest about this (not to buy right now, just to shop) help me find a property that fits this spec, please? All criteria approximate except price.

Budget £600,000

Location anywhere UK, possibly NI

Fifteen minute drive from:

Major supermarket
Good Indian restaurant
Small to large pleasant town with a U3A group.

Forty minutes from multi screen cinema.

Easily maintained smallish property not requiring renovation. Absolute minimum of three acres of well drained land. Existing or guaranteed planning consent for a 40x60 arena and 30 x15 barn for horse use and 3/4 stables. Brilliant hacking without driving anywhere (preferably something open like a National Trust park or large area of Forestry Commission land)

Is it even possible?
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Sign up with equestrian property specialists as they tend to know what is out there. I am sure they would be able to tell you if your requirements are possible for the price.
 
ycbm said:
Brilliant hacking without driving anywhere (preferably something open like a National Trust park or large area of Forestry Commission land)

Is it even possible?
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Well your budget would buy you a lot in NI, but you wouldn't get the hacking because there aren't any bridleways and the forests and beaches which are or have been open to horses are being taken away on a daily basis.

I'm of the view that it can be as useful to rule places out as well as rule them in, so I'm sorry if that sounds a bit negative!
 
Ooo, I love property shopping (well, window shopping) - so will fritter away an hour later and post back :D

Out of interest though, what is U3A? Apologies if that is a really dense question.
 
DabDab said:
Ooo, I love property shopping (well, window shopping) - so will fritter away an hour later and post back :D

Out of interest though, what is U3A? Apologies if that is a really dense question.
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University of the Third Age. Sort of teaching/lecture/skills group for older people.
 
Rowreach said:
Well your budget would buy you a lot in NI, but you wouldn't get the hacking because there aren't any bridleways and the forests and beaches which are or have been open to horses are being taken away on a daily basis.

I'm of the view that it can be as useful to rule places out as well as rule them in, so I'm sorry if that sounds a bit negative!
Click to expand...

That's really useful info, thank you !

It's definitely a worry of mine that wherever we move to needs a guarantee that it will stay the same until I die. I can't face another move !
 
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DabDab said:
Ooo, I love property shopping (well, window shopping) - so will fritter away an hour later and post back :D

Out of interest though, what is U3A? Apologies if that is a really dense question.
Click to expand...

As Clodagh says, very sociable group with sub groups like book clubs, technology, walking etc etc For retired or semi retired people only. It's a worldwide movement for people who think age is just a number !
 
My honest feeling is that it will be tough.

Funnily enough, the amenities side could fit here, but the hacking is rubbish...

Any chance of selling off a plot to fund modernising yours?

Or sell yours and use to proceeds to build a bungylow?

PS Obv keep equestrian side.
 
turnbuckle said:
My honest feeling is that it will be tough.

Funnily enough, the amenities side could fit here, but the hacking is rubbish...

Any chance of selling off a plot to fund modernising yours?

Or sell yours and use to proceeds to build a bungylow?

PS Obv keep equestrian side.
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Our property has been modernised. It isn't possible to split because of the layout. There is no mains gas or water and no possibility of obtaining mains gas or water, we're on a hilltop at 1100 feet in a National Park. No planning consent is possible in the Peak Park for anything except a holiday let, but in any case, the electricity supply won't support what we've got, never mind more, and the upgrade to three phase has been estimated at £40-50,000. Yup, just for the power. No, we can't have a wind turbine, there's a blanket ban on those in the Park too.

Sorry, it's move or nothing :)
 
Yes, definitely possible! We have your wish list (not selling though) for less than your budget. Try Welsh borders or Forest of Dean: Hay on Wye, Brecon, even Builth and Knighton/Presteigne. Forest towns and villages are very diverse. All have good communities and access to wonderful open riding, depending on exact location of course! Hilly, yes and occasionally cut off in bad weather but certainly easier than many places. Good luck if you start searching in earnest :)
 
ycbm said:
That's really useful info, thank you !

It's definitely a worry of mine that wherever we move to needs a guarantee that it will stay the same until I die. I can't face another move !
Click to expand...

This is the problem. Where I used to be in England my yard backed onto Forestry Commission land which had been open to riders for generations. By the time I left they had introduced a permit system and restricted riders to 2 tracks only.

When I moved to my last place in NI, we were 5 minutes from a beautiful forest/mountain park where for a small annual fee you could ride for miles off road, and it was the best hacking I'd ever had. The permit allowed access to five other forests within a forty minute drive. Only one of these is now open to horses (and it's a very short circuit) and the nearest one now costs double and is vastly restricted compared to what it used to be.

We have the most incredible beaches about an hour away, but these too are now severely restricted, especially spring to autumn which is when you have the daylight to travel to them.

It's the same in Co Down which is prime horse country but the riding is being taken away bit by bit. So you could buy the house of your dreams there, with amazing horse facilities, but you wouldn't be able to go anywhere decent on a hack.

If I was looking to move again I'd go to the RoI and find somewhere ultra-rural!
 
ycbm said:
The recent snow and ice made it very obvious that when my OH is no longer able to do the plumbing, electrics, roof tiles, snow clearing, water management etc, etc it simply isn't viable for us to live where we are now.

It breaks my heart to think of leaving, but I have to be sensible, we are both getting on in years. To set my mind at rest about this (not to buy right now, just to shop) help me find a property that fits this spec, please? All criteria approximate except price.

Budget £600,000

Location anywhere UK, possibly NI

Fifteen minute drive from:

Major supermarket
Good Indian restaurant
Small to large pleasant town with a U3A group.

Forty minutes from multi screen cinema.

Easily maintained smallish property not requiring renovation. Absolute minimum of three acres of well drained land. Existing or guaranteed planning consent for a 40x60 arena and 30 x15 barn for horse use and 3/4 stables. Brilliant hacking without driving anywhere (preferably something open like a National Trust park or large area of Forestry Commission land)

Is it even possible?
Click to expand...

Pay for part time odd job assistance where you are now? When offset all selling and moving costs, could you fund a regular 10 hours a week of handyman type work?
 
UK Land and Farms, Rural Scene, Land House Farm all websites with that sort of property. Or if you set up an alert on Zoopla or Primelocation you can apply filters, max price, no of bedrooms etc. I use the word "acres" and "equestrian" but anything that will flag up what you are looking for. The best value on the mainland are in Lincolnshire, Powys or Carmarthenshire, but not sure about the local restaurants!
 
wingedhorse said:
Pay for part time odd job assistance where you are now? When offset all selling and moving costs, could you fund a regular 10 hours a week of handyman type work?
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Sadly we've already offset all selling costs before coming to the budget of 600k. That's a low estimate, but we want to sell by auction, as is normal for properties in this area, because it's a quick sale done and dusted in 30 days from fall of hammer.

It really is no joke thinking of being snowed into your house and digging your way in to feed your horses when you are in the last couple of decades of your life :( and of course the odd job man can't even get to you.
 
Rowreach said:
This is the problem. Where I used to be in England my yard backed onto Forestry Commission land which had been open to riders for generations. By the time I left they had introduced a permit system and restricted riders to 2 tracks only.

When I moved to my last place in NI, we were 5 minutes from a beautiful forest/mountain park where for a small annual fee you could ride for miles off road, and it was the best hacking I'd ever had. The permit allowed access to five other forests within a forty minute drive. Only one of these is now open to horses (and it's a very short circuit) and the nearest one now costs double and is vastly restricted compared to what it used to be.

We have the most incredible beaches about an hour away, but these too are now severely restricted, especially spring to autumn which is when you have the daylight to travel to them.

It's the same in Co Down which is prime horse country but the riding is being taken away bit by bit. So you could buy the house of your dreams there, with amazing horse facilities, but you wouldn't be able to go anywhere decent on a hack.

If I was looking to move again I'd go to the RoI and find somewhere ultra-rural!
Click to expand...

Again, really useful info RR, thanks.
 
Can't help with the property search really although W.Yorks/E. Lancs , there are properties which will fit your criteria. I know of one which was sold just before Christmas, it had been on the market for several months at least.
But I do sympathise with your problem. We are down to 2 horses now and have just been planning how we can avoid the problems caused by snow in future. It will mean reconfiguring the fields, as they are now and using a different gate out of the yard but I really don't want to be struggling to lead excited horses who have had to stay in over a week, as I get older and presumably less fit. I am hoping to have the horses well into my 80s but I want to be able to open stable doors and just let them into the field, as easily as possible. I think we will have to invest in hard standing in at least one field, too.
 
palo1 said:
Yes, definitely possible! We have your wish list (not selling though) for less than your budget. Try Welsh borders or Forest of Dean: Hay on Wye, Brecon, even Builth and Knighton/Presteigne. Forest towns and villages are very diverse. All have good communities and access to wonderful open riding, depending on exact location of course! Hilly, yes and occasionally cut off in bad weather but certainly easier than many places. Good luck if you start searching in earnest :)
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That's good to know. I know that area, we used to live in Bristol. Thanks.
 
DabDab said:
OK, so this is my pick so far (not near a beach though unfortunately): http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70093913.html
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Well that certainly gives me hope. Shropshire is strangely cheap for some reason, and not that far from where we are now, either. I wonder what the hacking is like there, anyone know?

Well found, DD, you get a fudge finger as a reward as it's all that's left. I'm on a birthday trip in a beeeautiful hotel in Kent and I've already drunk all the champagne.
 
My friend lives near Wem, it's very rural, lots of windy roads for a long way. She did used to speak about some moorland they used to walk dogs on a lot, can't remember about hacking
 
ycbm said:
Well that certainly gives me hope. Shropshire is strangely cheap for some reason, and not that far from where we are now, either. I wonder what the hacking is like there, anyone know?

Well found, DD, you get a fudge finger as a reward as it's all that's left. I'm on a birthday trip in a beeeautiful hotel in Kent and I've already drunk all the champagne.
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Happy birthday!!

Yeah, North Shropshire is, south Shropshire less so. But its such a big county that I guess theres bound to be differences. Its a beautiful part of the country, but not really that commutable to anywhere, so ideal if you're retired but not so much otherwise. No idea on the hacking but good horsey community - I think Oliver townend is based in that area.
 
palo1 said:
Yes, definitely possible! We have your wish list (not selling though) for less than your budget. Try Welsh borders or Forest of Dean: Hay on Wye, Brecon, even Builth and Knighton/Presteigne. Forest towns and villages are very diverse. All have good communities and access to wonderful open riding, depending on exact location of course! Hilly, yes and occasionally cut off in bad weather but certainly easier than many places. Good luck if you start searching in earnest :)
Click to expand...

second this, last time i was in a position to look about 4 years ago there were very promising spots in these areas - less so in FoD if you want a school already put in, god knows they are few and far between here (I'm looking for livery!) but across the border into the beautiful welsh hills there was plenty of choice.
 
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