Life decisions. Horse vs upsize house

[atropa]

Horse prices aren't good at the moment but to be honest neither are house prices!!
I'm not sure I'd want to be buying either atm, but if it were normal times I'd buy the bigger house near to a decent livery yard where you won't require full livery, then buy the horse and cut your horse keeping cloth alongside your mortgage so to speak.

 

[MuddyMonster]

I think house, too.

I was incredibly fortunate to keep my horse whilst buying a house but he was on a cheap, no frills DIY livery yard and he's a generally cheap, low maintenance type (disregarding the current four figure vet bill ?) It was still hard and if I hadn't had a horse, it would have been much easier. I have a really understanding OH too, which makes it easier.

If you can, I'd look at sharing to get your horsey fix whilst you buy a bigger house and then re-evaluate in a few years.

 

[McFluff]

Is it one of the signs of the apocalypse when the forum doesnt say ‘buy the horse’?

i have to agree with the consensus here, the house is by far the more sensible thing to do. Horses are a luxury item, a house that suits you both is an investment. Horses break - how would you feel if you spent your savings on a new horse, all your funds keeping it, and it was lame so you couldn’t ride?
sharing or lessons will give you a fix in the meantime.

 

[laura_nash]

House, but when you're house hunting maybe consider potential future horse when choosing your area.

 

[GSD Woman]

Housing and horses are both crazy high right now. (mid-Atlantic USA). If you can get a good mortgage rate and take care not to get in over your head the house is a sound investment. I remember the housing bubble, sub prime mortgages and recession of 2008 all too well. Just remember the home owners insurance and taxes go up as the value of your property does. My taxes have gone from $404 to over $1200 a year and my house is a tiny, mid 50's brick ranch starter house.

 

[Lois Lame]

And don't forget interest rates. They are low at the moment here in Oz, very low, and it's easy to think you can afford more than you can. When interest rates rise, many people find themselves in unworkable situations.

The way I see it is that you have a really good incentive to save (you want a bigger place one day). Since you enjoy your riding lessons (a GREAT thing IMO) keep up these but give up all those little things that you can do without (avocado on toast in cafes). I'll sound like an old hen (and probably am one) but young people today spend a ton of money of stuff I wouldn't have dreamed about when i was that age.

 

[hock]

Could you partner not get a second job? ?

 

[GSD Woman]

Sounds like Lois Lame and I both remember how easily people got in over their heads during the last low mortgage rates run. I could stand on my front porch and hear a sheriff's auction of a place down the street and across the creek from mine. They lost a lot of nice stuff as well as their house.
Cut expenses, keep up the lessons and save. Second old hen out.

 

[Renvers]

If you are horse free at the moment I think sorting out your house and living situation would be best now. If you are both going to continue WFH then get the bigger place and solve your immediate issues with space and such.

You can buy a horse once you guys are settled and know what spare cash you have but the other way around might just add more pressure and stress to you both.

 

[Patch55]

Really grateful for everyone's opinion - thank you all ?