[john and helen]

well what a week... ranting tooth ache..still throbbing like mad after the visit to the dentist...

french neighbour rang last night and is desperate to buy the french farm 

so off tomorrow to look at a building  plot .. with field next to it..way out in the sticks 

[doganjo]

Good luck.  Have you got your mortgage sorted out?

[john and helen]

won't need one..it will be a cash sale... i hope that don't sound bulshy, my house sale plus the french property will be enough to get us started just to put things into perspective..i'm 51 and my main house is just paid for...

we will be down sizing on house..but up sizing on land... we don't need a 3 bedroom now..the kids have fled the nest

[doganjo]

You're in a good position then, especially as your French neighbour is keen - push the price up a bit - or get him to pay legal fees.

[john and helen]

he has already said he will pay all the cost's.. thats one big headache out of the way...
its funny what life throws at you sometimes....
the last 3 years have been horrible dealing with mums illness, we missed some good opportunities,

mum is settled now in the home, I went to see her yesterday, and she thought i was my dad..strange illness

anyway..back on track.... really looking forward to today. if we get that feel..then i can test the ground for planning

[Daisys Mum]

Hope it goes well for you

[Anke]

That's exactly what we did, bought a building plot with an additional 8 acres. Great, if somewhat slower way to start, we had very young children at the time and decided to wait with the actual smallholding bit until the house was built. Took two years - house is exactly what we wanted and how we wanted it, we slowly started to build sheds/animal housing and developed the garden/polytunnel.
 
Now got goats, sheep, pigs and poultry...
 
Go for it!
 
Typing this with a bottle lamb snoozing on my lap...

[john and helen]

just got back.... sadly it just didn't have the feel good factor, it was a bit of a mish mash, also some neighbours turned up and no one spoke to one another  ..so...Thats that one off the list, also the field was very sloping, not gentle as described...but!!!! still good to look...

[Backinwellies]

kiss plenty of frogs ..... and the prince will appear!  We looked for a year .... but this one sold itself to both of us before we got out of car!  .... and has only become more and more 'right' in the 3 months we have been here.

Best wishes for your hunt and a great future

[luckylady]

Good luck with your search!  It took us over a year and lots of visits before we found the right one and it was nothing like our original search criteria.  It just shouted ' this feels like home' to us when we looked around and, despite having to completely gut the old farmhouse and sleep in a touring caravan on the doorstep, it has been the best decision we could have made.  We were looking for a house to move straight in to (have renovated a few times before and didn't want to have to do it again being in our early 50's - been there, done that, don't need another t-shirt!) but we have had the best time renovating this place as it has been the biggest challenge.  Our daughter (24) still lives with us and has learned so many new skills that she is proposing to convert one of the old buildings into a cottage for herself (planning app submitted).  Got to get her out somehow  .   Sounds to me like you have your head screwed on and the 'right' place will show itself to you in time.  Exciting time for you - I'm sure your Mum would be thrilled for you.

[Mammyshaz]

It is still good experience to look. The right place will pop up for you.  you don't have to wait too long.