Retiring To The South West
The lure of life in the slow lane is a romantic dream of many with busy work and social lives. To live in an area where nature dictates the pace of life seems idyllic. Rolling hills, sandy beaches, waterfront coffee shops, sailing, surfing, walking – all at a leisurely pace. Family, grandchildren visiting, sun-kissed days with cocktails at 6.
OK! Dream over! This is the 21st century, and whilst it’s possible to slow down, we live in a fast-paced world dictated by the digital online environment, which is impossible to avoid. Moving from the cities to a rural area requires careful consideration of lifestyle terms and can require some mindset adjustment.
As a Property Buying Agent, I regularly have conversations with people looking to escape to the spectacular coastline of Devon and Cornwall – and why not? Understanding people’s lifestyles is key to advising on what and where to buy. Moving from employment to retirement is a big step, ever more so as, generally, our health and life span allow for potentially decades of retirement years.
First, be sure to assess the financial implications ensuring security of income. Second, explore the region to find a location that fits your expectations - are the amenities and facilities you require close by and future-proof the area, if possible, to work well in later years when travelling and mobility may not be so good. Moving again in later years will potentially be significantly more stressful and expensive. Now the exciting part! Find that dream home. This is where a Property Search Agent comes in. With in-depth local knowledge and contacts, I minimise wasted journeys by identifying good locations for your needs and preview any properties that may be suitable. Many properties are sold “off market” – i.e. not offered on internet portals. My contacts with selling agents and other sources ensure we can bring these to your attention. The Recoco Property Search team have decades of experience from which to draw advice.
So, where to look? As a specialist Devon and Cornwall Buying Agent, I am well-placed to identify the best location for your needs.
Cornwall: A magical county with 300 miles of the South West Coast Path following the entire coastline. That’s just a small part of the story. From the University port of Falmouth to the spectacular sandy beaches of the North Coast, the sailing waters of the South it is truly a county influenced by the sea. Known as favoured property hotspots are St. Ives, Mawgan Porth, Newquay, Padstow, St. Mawes, Looe to name just a few. Inland Bodmin Moor offers the antidote to the coastal regions and is equally appealing in it’s own way. The A30 trunk road races through the centre of Cornwall linking to the M5 at Exeter giving a direct and fast route to all of the country. Equally there are mainline train stations through the county leaving from Paddington and Newquay airport serves those preferring to fly. On offer are many traditional Cornish farmhouses and cottages as well as a flurry of contemporary homes complying with 21st century eco sustainable credentials.
Devon: The third largest county in England at 2,600 sq.miles with 205 miles of the South West Coast Path traversing both the north and south coasts. A county of three parts: the dramatic north coast and traditional farming region incorporating part of Exmoor National Park: Central and East Devon includes the Cathedral City of Exeter, Dartmoor National Park, the Jurassic coastline and further excellent farming country: South Devon (The South Hams) spectacular rolling countryside leading to the coastal hotspots of Torquay, Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Dartmouth, Newton Ferrers - A sailor’s dream complimented by excellent hotels, restaurants and retail outlets.
You can see the choice of where to settle is quite varied but in terms of social, business, education and indeed property style Devon and Cornwall has the answer alongside creating a lifestyle that can be the envy of many.
Maybe it is a magical dream after all! Reality is in the believing: “It’s all about coming home”.
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