House or Boat????

[Varne850]

We are both in our 50's .No kids at home anymore(except when they come back for money) and want to sell our detached house and buy a Flat/Apartment and move up to a larger boat. Has anybody done this and had regrets. We are both still in full time employment so cant just up anchor and go but would just like to have a bit more comfort when crossing the channel with a bit more space. Any comments? Currently have a 27ft Varne.
Cheers

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[A_7]

Boat.

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[fishy]

Probably a good time to do it in that house prices appear to be 'correcting'(eg falling) so you would n't be exposed by having less money in housing. I had my first period of living on a boat from 87-91. I sold up when the housing market was high and luckily the market had fallen by the time I wanted to get back in bricks and mortar. In 87 I also bought a boat which was that rare creature- one whose value appreciates with age! So for me it worked out just fine.



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[Mudplugger]

Who's money is it?.. if you are both of like mind, go for it. Life is not a practice run
unless anyone can prove otherwise?.. Regards Tony W.

<hr width=100% size=1>Tony W.

 

[ChrisE]

Bin there, done it, don't regret it.

Ten years ago our kids have left home and we swapped our 6 bed farmhouse for our 38' boat plus two bed house. When kids and grandkids come to stop it's a bit cramped but that is only for 4 weeks a year max. The rest of the time we have the boat to play with and a smaller house to keep clean and maintain.

Why do you need to ask the question?

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[mikewilkes]

BOAT - BOAT



<hr width=100% size=1>Mike
Now back home with my mistress and SWMBO of course !!!

 

[RocquaineBay]

Houseboat! Compromise! It's a win win situation.

With a wry smile and tongue in cheek of course.

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[tcm]

um, not sure why you would regret it anyway? I mean, who's gonna sit in a monsterish decent boat and go urgh, what a daft mistake. Money is cheap at the moment, house prices are high.

If you can sell the house, do so, but don't be in a huge rush to get back into house market for the moment, imho.

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[Colin_S]

You just knew what the answer would be by posting on this forum. If you want to be talked out of the idea or for some ideas on how to invest some of the proceeds of the sale of your house, try a post on the forum <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.housemouseuk.com/index.php>here</A>

For anyone interested in investing in property, there's a wealth of info to be had there.

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[jimboaw]

From my floating home in sunny florida. BOAT

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[Benbow]

A house may have more space, but it goes to windward like cr*p

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[AlexL]

we're not quite in the same boat (?!) as we are both in our 30's but were considering buying a larger house recently, but then thought bugger that and bought a larger boat instead. A boat purchase will never make sense on a cold calculating cost / benefit analysis, but if its going to make you happy, and you're going to get alot of enjoyment out of it then go for it. At the end of the day you're not going to loose much money on a boat - you're moving money from one asset to another, rather than spending it. Life's about more than boring investments and sensible decisions - so go for it and enjoy life.

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[Abigail]

The boat!

You say you're still working (as are we). Living on board is a really cheap way to live (as opposed to having a boat and a house which is a very expensive one!) So you can work less too. We have radically changed our approach to working because this way we can do more sailing! So it's worth thinking about that one too ...

<hr width=100% size=1>Sarah & Pip

www.greatlittleboats.com
UK & Ireland distributors of Swifgig

 

[pragmatist]

Assume if you're working you can't move easily. However the model holds - go to places like Dartmouth & Kingswear and you'll find the place full of people who've done just what you're thinking of doing. They have the benefit of looking out on the river at their pride and joy too. But other than the odd one who sold his boat for an apartment in Spain they seem very happy.

<hr width=100% size=1>a pragmatist is an optimist with a boat in the UK - but serious about not being in the UK !

 

[Biddy]

Got to be a BOAT - spend the kids inheritance, you earned it you enjoy it, before the government enjoys it more !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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[Micky]

Now about to do this ourselves. Selling the house, buying a larger boat to live on, also buying a small flat for a rainy day. I am in my late 50s, very late 60 next year. I have just been told that i can-not work again due to back problems, hence pensioned off. Wife is 50 and at the moment working full time and will give it up once we have sold up. She may get a little P/T job but we will see how it goes financially, the idea is to rent out the flat for a little income. The whole issue is a complete new venture to us. Never had much to do with boating other then owned a few small fishing boats and at the moment we have got a small 21ft yacht, can't sail it but use it with the outboard and learning fast what sails are for. Exactly what we are letting ourselves in for is a mystery to us both, but who cares, you only live once and life is short, so get up, get out and enjoy yourself.

Also there are some very helpful chaps on here that have given me some good hints and tips. I am still lost as to what or how big a boat to buy, but we are restricted to a length of 30ft or very close to it due to our budget and mooring.

Will we regret it, i will let you know in a couple of years.

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[ponapay]

I\'d go for the boat BUT

here's a cautionary tale.

A friend decided with his wife to sell up and sail. They bought a 45 footer with good strong ocean capabilities and were about to set off for the Caribean and places west, when their only daughter advised them that she was pregnant again.

Now they had been away in the Pacific when her their first grandchild was born and the daughter thought that they should stay for the birth and have a house which she and their grandchildren could visit!

SWMBO reluctantly agreed with he daughter. Friend and his wife then had to buy a small house, but the market had hardened by the time they found what they wanted and could no longer, with pension money tight, afford both the big boat and the house.

My friends are now both working again and have a small boat and a very small house.

Caution is needed, it can be done but think of all the problems first or do it in your late 20's or early 30's. Make sure you don't touch your pension money.

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[Salty]

Have you thought of renting the house and using the rental income to pay a marine mortgage on a boat? That way you can see if it was the right decision for a period of time before making it permanent?

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