Relocation continued…

Rachel took practical steps with her relocation to help ensure that the move was right for her.

Renting in the area first allowed her to see if it worked logistically, for work and ongoing connections with family and friends in the city.

It also helped to narrow down what area specifically worked best for her and her partner.

They initially rented in a holiday town, with busy periods. The building next door to Rachel and her partner was used for short term rental stays.

Rachel shared that this could feel a bit disruptive at times, with the unpredictability of stays,

This experience helped to inform Rachel and her partner on what to look out for and what to try and avoid, when it came to buying.

As part of their research, they were able to talk to neighbours during open home inspections and gained valuable insights.

Overall, Rachel feels that the buying journey was fairly straightforward, although did highlight one aspect for potential buyers - being aware of the limitations that can arise if applying for a mortgage, as you get closer to retirement age.

After around two years of relocating to a region, their experiences of renting to try the area first, researching and investigating all helped to satisfy their decision when it came to buying.

Rachel remains connected to the city, whilst feeling settled in their new home. They’re able to enjoy having more space, with a back garden and more flexibility to redesign and renovate their place.