Are you happy with where you live?

JupiterKid · 03-12-2015 02:05AM #1

So, are You happy with where you live?

Not just the actual dwelling but the location it's in. Is it convenient to shops, transport, nightlife etc?

Where would be your ideal place to live? Where you are now or somewhere else?

Mrs OBumble · 03-12-2015 10:22AM

Yes.

Everything's a compromise. I'd love a bigger garden and late afternoon sun, and not to have drunk people in the street outside at night. But it's worth it for the access to transport, shopping and social life.

Buona Fortuna · 03-12-2015 10:28AM

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Yes.

Everything's a compromise. I'd love a bigger garden and late afternoon sun, and not to have drunk people in the street outside at night. But it's worth it for the access to transport, shopping and social life.

I have a huge garden (8 acres) and no drunks.

But the nearest shop is 5.2 miles away and there's a bus every Friday

Jen44 · 03-12-2015 11:02AM

im delighted now from a location point of view. I lived in drogheda for ten years which was a lovely place to live but both my husband and I were commuting to dublin daily and when our baby came along the commute took its toll. Now we live 5 mins from my job and 20 mins from dublin city centre with loads of public transport around us. My parents live at the top of our road. Yes our house is older and needs a good bit of work over the years but the location is priceless to us!

ladyella · 03-12-2015 11:07AM

No. We bought in a commuter town in 2006 with the intention of selling and moving back. Then the arse fell out of the economy. Now I spend about 14 hours in 5 days driving to work and school with 2 smallies in the back. Hindsight is a marvellous thing

endacl · 03-12-2015 11:09AM

Yep. S'grand.

OldNotWIse · 03-12-2015 11:12AM

Yes. It's quiet and there are very few people. No buses/shops/trams or pubs.

The only sounds I hear are the birds singing and the wind in the trees, and at night there is complete darkness.

If I want any of the aforementioned, I just get into the car and drive.

I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

I did live in a city centre apartment for 2 years and it was great rolling out of bed half an hour before work and being able to walk home from the pub at the weekend, but I'd rather compromise on this and have my peace.

iguana · 03-12-2015 11:16AM

I love it. A fantastic house, a big garden (1/3 of an acre), walking distance to everything, near my family, mostly nice neighbours, a few minutes from the river but high enough that flooding is never a risk. It's like a dream come true, especially as I bought it for cash.

If I could change one thing I'd love rear vehicular access. I have a fantasy about buying a nice camper van in a few years and while it and a couple of cars would easily fit in the driveway, I'd far prefer to be able to park it out back. It's the very definition of first world problems though.

awec · 03-12-2015 11:40AM

So-so.

Positives are it's a 10 minute walk from my work, a 30 second walk to a green luas stop and decent sized.

Negatives are that the area itself is very quiet (you can't really walk to a pub), we don't get much sun (sun gone by 7pm in the summer) and it's an apartment that is overlooked by offices (hence why the area is quiet in evenings and weekends).

borderlinemeath · 03-12-2015 12:51PM

100% happy with location. 5 mins drive from a decent town in a countryside location but walkable to shops and transport if necessary - 1 km to the end of the road. Equidistant to families, 40 mins each way. We were actually thinking of moving to a house at the end of the road, we offered on it but didn't get it, and the only other houses that we would consider moving to are within a half mile radius, on this road or a side road off it. But we built an extension instead so we'll only move if we need to downsize in the distant future.

Sun in Capri · 03-12-2015 01:52PM

Just moved to new place. Very happy with town house, complex seems really quiet and 10 minutes walk to bus and shops. Also I have bought as opposed to renting. Down side is that commute to work is 1 hour and 20 minutes. However the peace of mind I now feel following 3 years of renting means I am up for the commute and am glad to be fit and well to do it.

Good question raised by OP. You have to weigh up the pros and cons and what is great for one person does not suit another.

jester77 · 03-12-2015 02:19PM

Yes, I wouldn't have bought where I did if everything was not to my liking. Would be just setting yourself up for a miserable existence otherwise.

McGrath5 · 03-12-2015 02:30PM

Yes.

The house is in a good location with access to public transport, shops, cinema etc.

Also I am only a 5 minute cycle from work which is a god send.

Tar.Aldarion · 03-12-2015 02:33PM

No, but it's cheap compared to similar apartments and in a handy location. Standard of apartments here is dire.

Logicost31 · 03-12-2015 02:42PM

Very, but we're renting an apartment. It's ideal for now, but will not suit our future needs. We're saving up to buy a house, so trying to find somewhere that will suit us long term. So many factors to consider, it's a bit daunting!

spurious · 03-12-2015 02:44PM

Very happy. Great neighbours, quiet cul de sac, never any bother, twenty minutes walk to the GPO, bus from the end of the street to Tallaght, Dundrum, Howth, Malahide etc.

Malari · 03-12-2015 03:18PM

Yes, it's perfect! We took a long time finding a place we love, but it's 10 minutes walk to the city centre, quiet, parking, nice neighbourhood and close to work. I love living there.

03-12-2015 03:40PM

I love it, I can see the sea, got the dart and bus within walking distance, nice neighbours good facilities, near my family.

The only other place I would live is parts of the north side of Dublin.

Pretzill · 03-12-2015 03:49PM

Very. Live in the heart of the countryside with a big sky and lots of fields and hill views. No next-door neighbours, peace and quiet - easy driving distance to main shops - we don't have any transport links except the car. I lived in a built up area more than half my life and if I want to experience the hustle and bustle it's only a train ride away but lately I have grown more than happy with the rural pace of life.

Property was cheaper should be mortgage free in a few years - Best decision ever to move to the country although the first couple of years it did take a little bit of getting used to. Winters can be hard but beautiful too!

El_Dangeroso · 03-12-2015 03:51PM

Love the location, Have all the major supermarkets within 5 mins walk including cinema, greengrocers, butchers and fishmongers. 20 minute walk into town.

Lovely warm new build, only downsides are I live amongst students that have regular parties and can be really noisy.

I'm lucky I'm renting as if I knew I had to put up with it long term I'd be more annoyed.

03-12-2015 04:07PM

I have lived in the countryside in the past and loved that as well it has it disadvantage as you get older though.

I had an operation last year and could not drive for four weeks, I would have been very stranded and dependant on others if I was in the countryside. Where I live now I was able to walk everywhere.

Ciaran_B · 03-12-2015 04:31PM

S'grand. 25 minute cycle into town for work. €12 home in a taxi if required. Loads of buses, shops etc Quiet street. Close enough to the 'rents so I can keep an eye on them. Nice garden (although I have zero interest in gardens or gardening but it's a thing). Loads of parks.

Team Dublin 12 representing.

03-12-2015 09:16PM

Not happy with the house, it's a houseshare and im sick of sharing I could afford to rent my own place now but I just can't justify the cost of it the way things are and for now I'm sticking it out and saving the money for a deposit.

As for location I enjoy where im living at the moment it's close to a city centre and a walk to work however it's not where I want to live long term. I want to settle down back near home and my family (currently a few hours drive away) in the countyside. I also love working on the family farm and would like to be involved in that day to day rather than just on weekends etc (along with a full time job too of course).

Diamond Doll · 03-12-2015 09:22PM

Love the area. I'm five minutes walk to bus stop, eight minute walk to train station, both in easy distance of city centre. I have a big shopping centre and just about every facility you need in walking distance. Good choice of schools and all amenties. Family friendly, safe, nice place to live.

The house itself isn't my ideal. It's grand, but not my forever home.

But if I won the lotto, I'd definitely be considering buying a house somewhere in the general area! It's a nice place to raise a child.

Chris_5339762 · 03-12-2015 09:43PM

Happy. Right on the outskirts of Dublin a 10 minute drive from the mountains. 20 minute drive to work (outside of rush hour obviously). Am in an apartment which does me fine for the moment but will be buying a house within the next decade.

NIMAN · 03-12-2015 09:59PM

Very.

In beautiful rural location, yet close to small villages and towns, beaches. Loads of space round house. Close to school for kids. Great community.

Plenty of pubs nearby too, although with young kids my social life is not what it used to be!

25min from the border, with 30 taking me to centre of city that offers anything I need that I can't get locally

Moonbeam · 03-12-2015 10:30PM

Our location is perfect but then we probably would not have bought it if it was not. I could do with a bigger more modern house but it would be hard to give up the location.

We live within walking distance of schools,a Universtiy,Lidl,Aldi,Tesco,Dunnes and Super Valu,the train station,Dublin Bus stops,Bus Eireann stops,lovely playgrounds,restaurants,pubs,coffee shops.

aujopimur · 03-12-2015 10:35PM

My location was ok until a few weeks ago, since my pisshead junkie neighbour dropped dead it's perfect.

The Randy Riverbeast · 03-12-2015 10:52PM

There tends to be some problem with every place I rented but this one is pretty good and cheap. Looking at daft now Im unbelievably screwed if I have to move.

Jamsiek · 03-12-2015 11:39PM

I live in a very central location in a beautiful city and have a great choice of restaurants, bars, clubs, concert venues (including a football stadium and ice hockey stadium) all within 10 minutes walk from me.

I am surrounded by mountains, beaches, forests and spectacular scenery so I can take a drive out there whenever I feel like it so I have the urban/rural mix too whenever I like

...so the answer is yes

JupiterKid · 03-12-2015 11:52PM

OP here. Great to see that most posters are very happy with where they live.

I myself am pretty happy. 20 min walk from city centre, located right along the wall of the Phoenix Park. 1 min walk to bus stop and a big Tesco within a 10 min walk. The abode itself is 2 bed apt on the ground floor with a decent sized kitchen. Ideal for me on my lonesome.

Planning on moving within the next couple of years, but this location is really good.

Deer · 04-12-2015 09:20AM

My current dwelling drives me insane, two bed terraced with an attic conversion because there are six of us living here. However the location / area is great. We have lovely neighbours, it's very near kids school, very quiet and close drive to lots of shopping centres, pubs etc.

We are moving though this day next week. Moving to a five bed detached in a commuter town with a short walk to shops, park, river walk. It will be a further drive to schools and if I go out for the night in the city centre it will be an expensive taxi home. But finally we will have space, and be able to park car in our own driveway and a nice garden. And if it's rainy the kids can run around the house and not drive me mad like in the teeny house. It's been a long wait but so worth it. I hope the neighbours are just as nice as the current house !

OldNotWIse · 04-12-2015 12:32PM

Deer wrote: »

My current dwelling drives me insane, two bed terraced with an attic conversion because there are six of us living here. However the location / area is great. We have lovely neighbours, it's very near kids school, very quiet and close drive to lots of shopping centres, pubs etc.

We are moving though this day next week. Moving to a five bed detached in a commuter town with a short walk to shops, park, river walk. It will be a further drive to schools and if I go out for the night in the city centre it will be an expensive taxi home. But finally we will have space, and be able to park car in our own driveway and a nice garden. And if it's rainy the kids can run around the house and not drive me mad like in the teeny house. It's been a long wait but so worth it. I hope the neighbours are just as nice as the current house !

Good luck in your new home!

Kai123 · 04-12-2015 03:07PM

I flat-share with my landlady. A slight personality clash but being the super introvert I am, give me a room, PC and a full kettle and I am very happy.

I live next to Blanchardstown Shopping Center, which means everything I need is in one place which has made life for the moment very boring. I miss town but have no need to do in. I'd love to live in town, even a bedsit but then commuting to work becomes impossible.

Its 25 minute walk to work (or 15 minute cycle after buying a new bike last week). I want to live on my own in Ongar but I'd need to get a car which is something I am not willing to do whilst saving for a deposit. If there were more one bedroom apartments around Waterville or Mulhuddert I'd be very happy. Life is on hold until I can buy a property which might not be until the middle of next year.

_Kaiser_ · 04-12-2015 07:07PM

Upside;
- Nice 2 bed apartment in a nice quiet estate
- 5 mins drive to all the major shops, pubs, takeaways etc
- Motorway is 5 mins the other way
- Costs less than half the price to rent than it would for a similar place in Dublin

Downside:
- 1000km weekly commute to work (but at least I have flexible start/finish times)
- Cost of that (diesel/extra wear and tear on the car) isn't cheap (but still cheaper than living in Dublin)
- It's nowhere near family or friends (but then they live all over the place anyway since the Good Times)

... all told it's worth it. Ideally I'd live closer to family/work but most things in life are generally a compromise.

air · 04-12-2015 09:03PM

1000km of commuting a week is insane IMHO.
You've got to be putting in an extra 3 hours a day at least on top of the normal 8.
When you factor in that you're working 55 hours per week for 40 hours pay and the 10k+ of net income you must be spending to do it, there's surely a better way!

NIMAN · 04-12-2015 09:08PM

No great shock that most people like where they live, especially if you are the house owner. Its rare you'd end up putting so much money into a house in an area you don't like.

Renting might have higher numbers admittedly. But again, unlikely to rent in a location you don't like.

Pretzill · 04-12-2015 10:39PM

NIMAN wrote: »

No great shock that most people like where they live, especially if you are the house owner. Its rare you'd end up putting so much money into a house in an area you don't like.

Renting might have higher numbers admittedly. But again, unlikely to rent in a location you don't like.

I don't know if that is totally true - I have stated I love where I live but I cut my cloth I didn't spend a fortune on a mortgage - bought a small house - probably at the time didn't think it would be a forever home - but the economy had other ideas - but I'm so happy that I choose a lovely place to live at a price that I can afford without too much worry.

Yes I would love a bigger house - but having more doesn't consume me - I think there is a lot to be said for making the best of what you have and making some sacrifices too. A lot of people mentioned pluses and minuses - I mentioned harsh winters - lack of public transport. I think in essence you move into a house and you have to make it a home. This can take a while.

04-12-2015 11:19PM

I'm renting with my OH in Cork City. Pretty much in a city centre, a couple minutes walk away anyway. We are quite lucky as the house is very nice for Cork city rental.

It was knocked down and completely done up only about 8 years ago and the landlady lived here until a couple of years ago. It's also in a gated area and we have a load of old retired men living around us who are basically a neighbourhood watch! Rent is very reasonable also. I reckon she will put it up a good bit this year though. Close to work for both of us also. Within walking distance (40 mins) for me and bus for himself.

Parking is a nightmare, however. I have a parking permit but there is never anywhere to park my car near my house on the street! Sometimes I can get lucky if a car is driving off, but it's rare. Usually end up parking my car a 10 minute walk away. But sure it's grand, that's what you get when you've a car in the city.

boobar · 04-12-2015 11:25PM

Small village with pubs, shop, school all within walking distance.

When we moved in ten years ago, thought that the quiet life would be very dull. Two years later a kid comes along and now it's the best place we ever lived.

Nice neighbours that are now friends. Plus a big town only 10 minutes drive away. Happy as Larry.

sparksfly · 05-12-2015 12:15AM

I live in the countryside, its only 5 minute drive to M7 and nearest town but unbelievably rural. My house would have approx 4-5 cars pass daily and apart from neighbours and relations, the road is totally free from traffic.The only sounds we hear are neighbours children, weather and animal life.
Having to drive everywhere can be a hassle, but for walking, cycling and zero crime and great sleeps, its perfect.

jayjay2010 · 06-12-2015 08:33PM

Bought a 2 bed apartment in April this year.

I love the apartment and its in an area that is full of amenities: shopping centre/gym/buses/luas etc.

Literally 3-4 minute walk to work.

I got very lucky as the location I got I didn't think I'd be able to afford as the demand is high and every other property I viewed went well over my highest bid.

If I am fortunate enough to buy another place in a couple of years, I'd love a 2 bed apartment beside Dundrum shopping centre (I like the convenience of having one nearby!). I'd love that area because 1. its upmarket and 2. green line luas handy into town

Thargor · 07-12-2015 11:06AM

awec wrote: »

So-so.

Positives are it's a 10 minute walk from my work, a 30 second walk to a green luas stop and decent sized.

Negatives are that the area itself is very quiet (you can't really walk to a pub), we don't get much sun (sun gone by 7pm in the summer) and it's an apartment that is overlooked by offices (hence why the area is quiet in evenings and weekends).

If you are where I think you are you might be getting a town the size of Bray dropped on your head in the next decade or so...

fro9etb8j5qsl2 · 07-12-2015 12:03PM

Bought our first house 6 months ago. Didn't like it at all when we went to view it first. Then the vendor dropped the price and made us an offer we couldn't refuse and it didn't seem too bad at the second viewing. We took a big risk buying it but it turned out it just needed a bit of a facelift and we love it now

45 minute walk from town, 10 minute walk to lidl/dunnes/tesco and schools/amenities. Luckily we have great neighbours and a relatively quiet neighbourhood. Our garden is small enough but we're a 2 minute walk from a large park. I would love to be a bit closer to town (our last place was only a 25 minute walk) and have 1 extra room to use as a play room but tbh, I'd rather build an extension than have to go through the hassle of buying/selling and moving again.

I was reared in the country and as much as I would love country living- detached house, large garden, chicken coop etc, it would drive me mental to be away from shops and not be able to walk everywhere. There's a lot to be said for footpaths!

Emme · 07-12-2015 12:42PM

sparksfly wrote: »

I live in the countryside, its only 5 minute drive to M7 and nearest town but unbelievably rural. My house would have approx 4-5 cars pass daily and apart from neighbours and relations, the road is totally free from traffic.The only sounds we hear are neighbours children, weather and animal life.
Having to drive everywhere can be a hassle, but for walking, cycling and zero crime and great sleeps, its perfect.

That's similar to me but I am not happy

I bought an old house that has been in the family for years. I'm 5 minutes from the M9 and about 10 minutes from 2 different towns. There's a village 5 minutes from me. The road I live on is rural but reasonably busy. It can be nice in the summer and there is a woodland walk nearby. It's good for cycling in the summer but on dark evenings you can't walk the roads for traffic. Oncoming cars tend to turn their headlights on walkers/cyclists which can be dangerous and makes anything but driving unpleasant. I find it hard to get to know the neighbours even though I would have known some of them as a child. Crime is high in the area and farmers are always being robbed. I was robbed myself 2 years ago - my fuel shed was broken into and my garden equipment taken.

I used to rent in Dublin and I really miss the convenience of being so central and being able to meet friends at the drop of a hat. I haven't managed to make friends as easily where I live now. Unfortunately I could not afford to buy anything in Dublin at any time. My life has gone downhill in every way since I moved and I have put on 2 stone through comfort eating and not having as much time or opportunity to exercise as I did in the city. Ironically some locals who were great friends when I was in Dublin aren't so friendly now. I guess I don't have a pad in town where they can crash anymore.

Some people say life is short and to move back to Dublin. If I could move back to Dublin I would do so in the morning but there are certain circumstances which make it impossible at the moment. I consider living here to be a sort of purgatory.

Maximus_1 · 07-12-2015 01:50PM

Yeah thankfully, got lucky with a nice large (1900) sq ft detached house in 2012 when the market was low so have a small mortgage of <600. No shop in the village but doesn't bother me as I didn't grow up near a shop. 2 good pubs though which is great!

House is great and its in a nice quiet estate of 20 whcih I like, there ar epeople around but not too many if you know what I mean. Only thing I don't like is rear garden overlooked but am working on that by planting trees!

_Kaiser_ · 07-12-2015 05:46PM

air wrote: »

1000km of commuting a week is insane IMHO.
You've got to be putting in an extra 3 hours a day at least on top of the normal 8.
When you factor in that you're working 55 hours per week for 40 hours pay and the 10k+ of net income you must be spending to do it, there's surely a better way!

See you would think that on the surface but ..

- it's all motorway. Off peak it takes 45-50 mins each way (you'd spend that getting out of town to say Blanch at peak)
- flexible start times means I miss the traffic at both ends. Plus I manage teams in the US and elsewhere so the later finish actually suits better. I usually also work from home one day a week.

Yes if I was tied to a fixed 9-5 it'd be a massive pain with commuter traffic but I generally breeze in for 10 having left just after 9, and can leave at half 6/7pm and will be home in just under an hour

I'd say there's many people living within the city limits that take longer than that to get around!

Eric Cartman · 07-12-2015 05:53PM

renting 1/4 of 2500sq ft on 2 acres , <10 minute walk to the pub, UPC broadband , cheapest rent in anywhere on a dublin bus route (thats not in a war zone) I can find and have plenty of driveway space for my cars and mates coming over.

downside is its a stone building built pre 1900 and you have to use oil rad's for heating but thats a minor concern.

would consider myself pretty happy.

gabsdot40 · 08-12-2015 01:46PM

I like where I live, 3 bed semi in suburban Dublin. Everything we need is nearby. I like our house and garden and the estate we're in. But when my kids have left home I'm moving to Chapelizod, I love the river.

blackbelted · 08-12-2015 01:52PM

Very satisfied with the house I rent, not very happy with the location where it takes at least 40-45 mins to work. If I get the same house closer to work, in a nicer place, it would double the rent.

Sala · 08-12-2015 02:19PM

Location is perfect, accommodation is not. I can't afford to buy anything near here though so I'll be moving

Are you happy with where you live?

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