Did you sell your house to purchase a van for full timing (1 Viewer)

[Allanm]

We couldn't wait to jump off the mortgaged property ladder. We bought our van last June using part of Mrs A's retirement lump sum. We sold our house in March this year and are now renting a much bigger house 20 miles away in its own grounds for a third of what our previous mortgage cost us.
We also just bought a house for cash in France at a much more realistic price. The house will go up in value depending on the work we put into it. Its not an investment, having more leisure time is more important, and if we do move full time to France, we won't worry about being able to afford a UK house because we shall be staying here.
We aren't full timing, just glad to be away from mortgages and the worry that interest rates will rise. But if it does, we will benefit from our savings going up in value.
Money isn't everything.
Allan

 

[BreweryDave]

I assume the house in France has sufficient parking for several motorhomes - otherwise known as a 'funster aire'

 

[Gromett]

Just noticed this thread again and it prompted me to think how much I would have spent on mortgage etc if I was still in the house now? I moved out on the 1st May 2009 so 5 years and 6 months or there abouts.
The mortgage was around £500 so £33,000 would have had to have been earned after tax just to pay that. Add on the Electric, council tax and other maintenance and you can imagine it was probably somewhere nearer £45,000.

Just thought that might interest a few of you.

I know Jim is pretty anti fulltiming these days due to his experience. Mine is the opposite I only planned on doing this for 2-3 years and now I can't see myself coming off the road at all. In fact the thought of living in a fixed house depresses me and I am not looking forward to old age where I can't drive any more. In my own perfect little world however I would like a secluded plot of land where I can park which has electric and fresh water. But that isn't possible in this country so I will keep moving on...

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[CazPaul]

Good post Gromett.

Its also about having the space when you are married/relationship etc to have your private time on your own, although I don't know your relationship status/

I loved full timing but it didn't work for Caroline, mainly due to her missing children/grandchildren.

We were abroad fulltiming and I remember actually saving money from renting the house out for £400 a month, using mainly free German Stellplatze, wow, how lucky I now think when I look back.

Paul.

 

[Cobweb]

In the mid 80s there was a book called "Sell up and sail " which extolled the virtues doing just that to the sailing public and for many it became the yachties bible . We were tired of running out small business in Whitby and decided to sail off . We sold our house but kept a small shop with accommodation above which proved to be our salvation .We had 5 great years sailing the Med but in the end realised that we would face miserable and poor old age if we did not take action . We got the shop back worked hard in a seasonal business and invested in property until finally selling the business
and retiring 6 years ago . For us property has been and still is our pension and since our home is our forever home we have no plans selling even with the expense of keeping it . We always look forward to getting back home even for a few months before setting off on our travels again.

 

[buttons]

Just noticed this thread again and it prompted me to think how much I would have spent on mortgage etc if I was still in the house now? I moved out on the 1st May 2009 so 5 years and 6 months or there abouts.
The mortgage was around £500 so £33,000 would have had to have been earned after tax just to pay that. Add on the Electric, council tax and other maintenance and you can imagine it was probably somewhere nearer £45,000.

Just thought that might interest a few of you.

I know Jim is pretty anti fulltiming these days due to his experience. Mine is the opposite I only planned on doing this for 2-3 years and now I can't see myself coming off the road at all. In fact the thought of living in a fixed house depresses me and I am not looking forward to old age where I can't drive any more. In my own perfect little world however I would like a secluded plot of land where I can park which has electric and fresh water. But that isn't possible in this country so I will keep moving on...

If the right partner comes along, you know all these plans could come to a speedy end.

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[bobandjanie]

If the right partner comes along, you know all these plans could come to a speedy end.

Only if he picks a wrong one. Bob.

 

[gus-lopez]

In my own perfect little world however I would like a secluded plot of land where I can park which has electric and fresh water. But that isn't possible in this country so I will keep moving on...

Have a look at " woodlands for sale" Many have direct access from road & allow non-permanent living; i.e. caravan/MH.

http://www.woodlands.co.uk/

http://www.woods4sale.co.uk/

 

[Raindance1]

Or if you don't mind buying abroad Google "Pure Portugal" where they have a lot of plots for sale suitable for parking up with a motorhome, caravan or mobile home.

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[Chockswahay]

In the mid 80s there was a book called "Sell up and sail " which extolled the virtues doing just that to the sailing public and for many it became the yachties bible . We were tired of running out small business in Whitby and decided to sail off . We sold our house but kept a small shop with accommodation above which proved to be our salvation .We had 5 great years sailing the Med but in the end realised that we would face miserable and poor old age if we did not take action . We got the shop back worked hard in a seasonal business and invested in property until finally selling the business
and retiring 6 years ago . For us property has been and still is our pension and since our home is our forever home we have no plans selling even with the expense of keeping it . We always look forward to getting back home even for a few months before setting off on our travels again.

Yeah.........had that book too.....lol

We did similar for three years then in the end came back to 'the real world' (had some great times on the boat)

 

[bobandjanie]

Yeah.........had that book too.....lol

We did similar for three years then in the end came back to 'the real world' (had some great times on the boat)

The real world.

Yes I suppose you're right, we do miss things that we had, when we had a house................Holidays for one. Bob.