Escape to the Country couple had to give up their dream of living in the idyllic Welsh Gower when they realised their budget didn’t stretch far enough. On the December 20 episode, Alistair Appleton accompanied Leela and Peter, from near Stansted Airport in Epping, Essex, as they pursued a new life in Wales.
With a hefty £500,000 budget, they sought a three-bedroom detached house with a spacious garden, sea views, and potential for a holiday let. As passionate golfers looking for tranquility and fond memories of beachside summers with their children; the couple hoped to relocate to this picturesque location.
However, property views in Gower led Alistair to expand the search to Pontarddulais to find suitable homes within their financial reach. It was here that they explored a 1990s-built family home, complete with utility room, separate dining area, three baths, four bedrooms adorned with bespoke ash carpentry, a detached garage, workshop, and a moderate garden.
When asked to guess the cost, Leela anticipated: “Top of our budget – £499,000,” while Peter’s guess was spot on at £495,000, which was the exact asking price of the house.
After a hectic week, it became apparent that the couple needed to broaden their search beyond their preferred location to find their dream home, reports .
Escape to the Country couple Leela and Peter found their dream home (Image: BBC)
Leela confessed: “I liked the mansion, it was a fantastic property. It really was. I think I wanted to be on the Gower but what I realised was, if we wanted to be there we have to up our budget in order to get the sort of property I would like there and it’s just not realistic.”
She went on to say: “You showed us that moving away a little bit more, you can get more for your money. With the mystery house, we weren’t on the Gower, but we had the views of the Gower.”
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Alistair had a tough challenge on his hands (Image: BBC)
Initially, the couple hesitated about making an offer on any of the properties, contemplating a rental first to get a ‘true’ feel for the area.
However, Alistair disclosed the following day that they decided to make an offer on the Pontarddulais property, which was subsequently accepted.
Escape to the Country airs weekdays from 3pm on One and iPlayer