Would really appreciate peoples thoughts on a housing situation !

[randomxx]

Hi to all.

lt's an unbelievable time in life to find myself stuck in this position, just don't know how to look at it, or what to do about with it, if l can anything at all. 

Problem is, at almost 60, yeah l've mixed up details in other threads just a bit concerned some l know may also be here and haven't wanted any connection here that l might know, butttt, yep.

Thing is l didn't get anything out of my last house, the people l went into the property with as it was a big place, went broke.

Well , sort of lucky although maybe a curse , not sure anymore but l do still have a 1ac country property, 18yrs now, from back when l was married.

l can't work anymore for mh reasons but if l took care l can survive until l can get the pension- living at the 1ac place- it only has a small over nighter atm but l could extend and it'd come up quite nice .

Problem is, it's in a ting town, 30mins to the main town which is a really nice place and there's also a couple of tiny ones in between before that main buttttt, out where this place is, is tiny and out on it's own .

l always planned selling it about now but problems are now that for 1, even if it did sell, it's just a cheap little country block it'd only be a good deposit on something closer in- but circumstances now that'd mean a new mortgage and l'd have to keep working too, don't think l could stomach either of those especially the stress in trying to make it happen.

2nd thing highly possible it doesn't even sell anyway.

l know l'm lucky to at least have it and all , with the housing crisis and so many in worser positions , l just never dreamed l'd be living on it though and honestly, just don't know but it looks like l might be forced to.

l grew up in the city and have lived in some of the nicest places in the country but to have to settle on this place out there now- look the property itself is a really cute block and in a nice little back street- if l could put it on a truck to somewhere else it'd be really nice - but this town.

rx

[white knight]

Gidday rx,

Let's see. Ive owned 20ac 2.5hrs from the city. Same town situation. In fact a dying town in the early 80's, now its worse. I sold it 1984.

Ive been faced with employment crisis too and mortgages, now behind me.

Option 1

 Sell the land with the aim of purchasing a good diesel campervan.  Live in free camps.

Option 2

Keep the land. Extend the building by chasing used materials at steel skips, tips etc. But you might run into council issues with habitable rules. The older you get the less you will socialise so the location of the land becomes less relevant 

Option 3

Sell the land and buy the cheapest house/flat in a good country town. It would be a town far from the city but with supermarket, hospital, surgery and between 3000 and 5000 people preferably on a railway line. No council issues. As long as it can last 30 years approx.

My own thoughts are that option 3 is the best, with option 1 being preferred if a cheap enough residence cannot be afforded.

I hope that give you some ideas. 

Care As always TonyWK 

[randomxx]

Gday Tony , thx a lot for the thoughts always appreciated but very on this one.

Yeah funny really, l've only just got back from vanning just last wk. Was away 12mths. l came back to the property for a bit of a break while feeling the situation here and finances out, was thinking for a few mths andddd, to see the ocean again , been really missing the ocean away. 35min from the block .

But yeah, met and saw quite a few living option 1.Thought a lot about it too myself, this 12mths has been really really nice and pretty well stress free. Spent most of it on the Murray with million dollar views for free right, not bad eh.

There's some good ideas though and thx again Tony, l would really rather sell this place and be somewhere else. Bit worried it might not sell just my luck been some other nice blocks come on the market just this last few mths here. Put mine on 3mths ago. He's just dropped the price now see if that helps.

Thought l might stay till jan feb , see how the finances shape up , and maybe the place sells too. God knows.

All the best.

rx

[Eagle Ray]

Hey rx,

The first thing that comes to mind is whether you may feel on the lonely or isolated side on the block, even though you like the town 30 minutes away? I guess I am thinking of your longer term future and whether being in a bigger place may give you more opportunities for connections with others. I am just saying this from my perspective as I moved to a small town, and I have a unit here, but I am really lonely and needing to move to a bigger place. You may be fine though. I have to drive 30 minutes to a town where I feel better than here, and I wish now I had moved to a bigger place. I think looking at the available services, as Tony suggests, is a good idea too. Services are quite limited here and I've had a degree of struggle with mental and physical health issues that I didn't anticipate to be this challenging. I am now working out how to get out of here and actually contemplating moving back to a city. You may wish to stay regional and be happy doing so. For me the lack of healthy social connection here is really impacting my mental health. I guess for you, it's a case of sensing how much do you need connection and what context will make that possible. What sorts of things do you envisage seeing yourself doing in the future and what kind of environment is most likely to support your hopes and interests?

If you did Option 3, as Tony suggests below, you would likely be in walking distance of many services and be around others more. I like Tony's idea of being on a railway line as I am finding it harder to drive a lot these days, and I really value having such options which just don't exist here. There is a regional bus service here, but it's not a super available service that you can just jump on as easily as the trains in regional Victoria, for example.

I empathise with you because it's hard being in that middle-age phase, trying to figure out how to go into the future. Being in those in-between phases and trying to make decisions is challenging. My sense is to trust your gut instincts and also maybe write a list of pros and cons and try to evaluate your future needs. So I guess combine your head and your heart and sense into what may support you to be most happy.

Not sure if that helps much, but just want to send you support. I realise you don't know for sure if the block will sell either, but I guess you can wait to see what offers may come in and then reflect further from there.

All the best and take care,

ER

[randomxx]

Hiya er , nice to hear from ya was wondering how you were going but l couldn't find whatever thread it was we were talking last.

l'm sorry not much has improved , damn it, it doesn't sound like you there at all for sure , like here for me either. From memory l think you were saying you could afford to go back to the city at least to somewhere bigger,me, think you've given it enough time tbh. Unfortunately l can hear it dragging you down. Where my house was, it was pretty similar, and in 8yrs, that didn't change. l mean it was quite a nice little town but it wasn't me never was so l'm thinking for you , don't waste 8yrs trying to fit round pegs into square holes.

And yeah fully agree trains and busses are fantastic aren't they and great to know they're there if you can't drive for some reason later too, for sure.

But yeah, my situation. Lists, hmmm, no need for those unfortunately l know what l'd like and places l'd much rather be.  Social here well, same again. God that's one of the worst things about it, there'd be none. Zero, nothin goin on round here that is for sure. There is a nice pub up corner but not really my thing alone. it's only got people in it one night a wk anyway, think people and families come in from the farms around for tea, bout it l'd say.

No shops, no supe, no bloody people- well, probably a few 100 be about it.

So God no wouldn't wanna stay here l'm like you grew up in the city if l'm gonna be regional or coastal l'd ofc choose a busily town if choice buttttt, that;s my dilemma. Might not have one , just see first post.

Talking to ex w last night. Well the poor things really had a yr from hell but at last some light for her. She's just now moved down the coast to a gorgeous area , managed to line a good job down there from a far and a place to live and now that, that is where l'd be you bet.lf it was possible.

But alas, once again , refer to first post.

One thing l've been thinking about since l got back though- it's only been a week. ldk how bc l might not even be able to afford something somewhere better let alone even remotely close to what l'd actually choose if l had the money.

Buttttt, it doesn't feel right even entertaining the idea of staying here and so maybe, maybe,  l should put my foot down say to myself no, l'm not dong it.

Trouble is, l'm just not sure what choice l might have.

[randomxx]

Yaknow, the vanning was so nice, so away from all the crazy, so stress free- for sure. And god knows l've only been back one wk and stressed to hell that whole wk already. There is one more thing about being here l haven't talked about yet but anyway yeah. lt's surreal compared to that 12mths of bliss.

Well there were a few worries creeping in at times vanning,,,,like what happens when l stop, l'll need a place. And here we are.

Problem is though, even though l feel like running away first thing in the morning and back up to the Murray or Coast somewhere- it's not something l'd wanna do forever , you know.

And l did worry that even if l just said to hell with it and did van another yr or two, problem would still at the end- then what? Unless l won lotto in the meantime.

Not that lucky unfortunately.

[Eagle Ray]

Hey rx,

Yes, I do you hear what you say about possibly not having an option. If you can sell and you go to a larger regional town it may have to be away from the coast as you say. I’m in a similar position in relation to coastal regional towns here in that they are also very much lacking in options in my affordability range. When I mentioned moving to a bigger place, I did not mean a bigger residence, but a larger town or city. If I sell here, I will be looking for a one bedroom unit or bedsit. I’m heading to Melbourne in a couple of weeks to investigate options as that is where I think I may move to. But it’s stressful because I am using the little money I have left to go there. My one asset is this property, so like you that is what I am depending on to determine where I can go next. The market value of this unit is higher than I expected, but that does not guarantee I can sell it for that amount, and someone has to want it with all its asbestos and maintenance issues. But I do have the advantage of being in a coastal town and there being few options here so if someone wants to live here they may buy it.

For you, I can’t help feeling concerned about the possible isolation if you do stay in that small town. Are there some larger towns that you feel you may like even if they are not in a coastal location?  I know you have mentioned still wanting to potentially find a partner and I guess the larger the place, the higher the probability of meeting someone. Not that it’s impossible where you are, but I do think it’s harder in small places to find people to connect with. At least that is what I have certainly found. I am 50 and most people here at that age are in a relationship/family situation. In fact, I don’t really know anyone here at my age who is in my position. I miss having things to go to and the idea of being in a city again is, to my surprise, actually much more appealing to me now than living somewhere like here. I miss things like just going out with friends sometimes, and having events and things to look forward to. I feel there will be more people like me in the city.

I know it comes down to the capacity of your place being sold that will determine where you may be able to go. It’s not easy is it. Like you, I appreciate that I have a property at all, but I can see what you are saying about feeling that options are limited. I really hope for you that a buyer may come forth with a decent offer. I guess, in the meantime, you may be able to spend some time in the town 30 minutes away and maybe make some connections there.

Take good care anyway, and I’ll have my fingers crossed that you can sell your place for an amount that gives you a few options at least, even if they are not your most ideal choices.

All the best,

ER

[randomxx]

Sometimes l did wonder though, so what lf l just keep vanning for awhile ?

On one hand l felt like l might be ready to stop and l had to at least come back check this place and tidy it up, and suss things out more while l'm at it.

The only thing about vanning to was that l thought l might well trip over an opportunity , ldk. A place, town l just didn't wanna leave, lotto ha ha, maybe my investment goes off and l'm in a better position than l thought, God knows.

Strange thing was, none of that happened, ha, maybe it needs another yr of it.

But eh, not getting younger.

[Eagle Ray]

Hi rx, just reading this last post, it’s pretty clear you would really like to settle down in one place. I reckon listen to that and just keep looking for a way to get to that goal. Yes, the vanning is great for awhile, but it sounds like you would really like some community, stability and continuity now. Another option could be to do an extended housesit/petsit in a larger town that you’re interested in while renting out the current property, but I know that presents the hassle of renting it out again. I will possibly house sit for about at least 6 months if I manage to sell here, giving me that breathing space to find somewhere new to live. Anyway, just another thought, all the best.

[randomxx]

Hiya er and thx for the thoughts always appreciated and especially with you bc we're kinda in similar situations. Tony up there has also been through it all to and had all kinds of properties in different towns styles.

Yep l know  you want some hustle and bustle and friends and choices hell yeah, ofc , me to .

Funny, talking about houses though, units whatever, last thing l'd want now s big. Most of our places and properties were big. - Sick of them now, lost interest.

One thing about this property , if l was to stay and extend the cabin, it'd still be just small and very easy and the block it self no work really just some nice room to run about. Wish l could put it on a truck to somewhere else it'd be great.

But nah, sadly , unfortunately nope, l won't be able to do anywhere near a coastal town either.  Even if l do sell this place worried l won't even be able to afford at least some half decent town somewhere l at least vaguely like though too these days - God the prices are insane in this country it's madness.

Buttttt, we shall see and try not to worry right now.

That's a great idea house sitting if you could , as a means of trying the area out good luck too hey.

Pretty well what l'd been doing while vanning. This last few mths l'd been staying over in that new area you and l were talking about in the other thread. Yep finally got around to it and spent a few mths there. lt was really really nice too - just not sue if l'd want to settle there bc it's 3hrs inland and l was missing the coast.

Before that was an area up on the Murray l'd also been thinking about and l stayed there 3mths too trying it out. Was gorgeous but for other reasons once again l decided against it.

So yeah , great idea er if you can manage it, some good time there 1st before jumping into anything, it really helped me.