Big house with compromised location, or smaller house in great location?

LilacPixie

Sorry not read all the posts but I will tell you my history. I bought in 2003 two places caught my eye. Number 1 was a 2 bed flat, Big rooms, right in centre of town, walking distance from pub no garden but a country park literally across the road. Number 2 was a 2 bed semi, quieter location about 7 miles from town centre, no local shops to speak of just houses. rooms slightly smaller with large front and back gardens. At the time my then BF still lived with his parents so where as we were in love and were planning a future together kids seemed a long way off. We opted for Number 1 with the theory that it had enough room for children and with park so close garden didn't matter.

Fast forward 6 almost 7 years and we have 2 children, one is 3 and the other 1 and oh how I wish I had bought the semi.

Its all very fine and well saying there is a park near by, which there is and its fantastic but the kids can't go there alone. If we had an enclosed garden the kids could be playing out while I did dishes or got team on or one to the thousand other things you cannot do when you are across the road playing in the park.

House space and garden everytime for me.

skintchick

Lilacpixie - the more I think about this the more I know you are right.

OH doesn't mind because he drives to work and is happy to do long walks. But he said he will not buy a house and then have me not like it six months later because it's too far from town, which is fair enough.

So I've been really thinking and while I've lined up viewings of other houses nearer town for Monday, i still think the bigger house is right for us and our future, as I plan to have at least one more child and probably two more.

Very interesting to hear other people's thoughts on it though, especially those who have been there.

tek-monkey

A work colleague was asking this week where he should move to in my town (he lives about 35 miles away). I honestly couldn't advise him, he's 25 and what I wanted then is most definately not what I want now I'm 33! But thats why I rented til I was sure

hethmar

Id forget about both of them and carry on looking. The house in town is going to be too small especially if you extend your family.

The house 40 minutes walk away is going to be a pain when you have to get to shops, doctors, schools etc. On top of that, you will find that you will not see your friends so often if it is too far away from town and schools and it will be difficult when your child/children want to go to out of school activities or have friends back.

There is no rush at the moment, take your time and find the one you really are comfortable with. xxx

clairehi

Hmmm....been there done that made the wrong decision lol!

I personally would not buy UNLESS I was fairly sure would want to stay for at least 5 years - because of all the costs of moving (solicitor, EA, stamp duty, searches, surveys, removal men....)

if in doubt, rent til you are sure?

clairehi

Running_Horse wrote: »

We bought the biggest and most expensive house in our street, knowing we should have done the opposite. But it is a huge house in a desirable village where room sizes of 10 X 10 foot are not unusual, and we plan to be here 20 years to raise a family. So any potential losses don't really matter. Are you more interested in a family home or an investment?

well we did that too...if its a desirable village, and a 1-off build, the idea of streets having "ceiling prices" may be redundant.