location verses house - your opinion please!

cattie

For me it would have to be the older house with character rather than a bog standard new build that is similar to many thousands all over the country.

Location can be very important, but what's the use of living in a good location when the house is really nothing special. I'd prefer a house with the x factor in an area that is slightly less sought after any day.

Scabarella

hethmar wrote: »

what is the problem with the area?

Hmm, I see on the street view that there appears to be a LA estate near the property - is that the problem? It certainly is a one off in the road, isnt it.

There is a LA estate nearby and the nearest school is not as good as the other house, but saying that we don't have children at the moment, just you have to plan for the future.
It is not a bad area at all, much better than where we are living currently, just not as good as the smaller house

greenjellybean

hethmar wrote: »

Well, Id always plump for location, but having said that, my ideal location would never be on an estate of similar properties which is what the little boxes first property is!

The bigger house looks lovely, the area doesnt look rough in the photos, what is the problem with the area?

And, my goodness, you are lucky with prices like that, it wouldnt buy a 3 bed terrace in my area.

Hmm, I see on the street view that there appears to be a LA estate near the property - is that the problem? It certainly is a one off in the road, isnt it.

I cant believe the prices! Im paying way more than that for a 3 bed terraced house with a much smaller garden. Why does anyone live in the South-east?
The larger house is lovely. A right show-stopper. The other house looks like it would be one of many on an estate. But Phil and Kirstie would always say Location x 3. There must be something in that... Love the stairway on the big house though....

girl_withno_name

Scabarella wrote: »

There is a LA estate nearby and the nearest school is not as good as the other house, but saying that we don't have children at the moment, just you have to plan for the future.
It is not a bad area at all, much better than where we are living currently, just not as good as the smaller house

It doesn't sound like there's enough difference in the quality of the areas to sway me from the larger house... just my opinion! My OH loves the new builds, so would no doubt be opting for the other one :rotfl:

Scabarella

girl_withno_name wrote: »

My OH loves the new builds, so would no doubt be opting for the other one :rotfl:

That sound's the same as us, my OH loves new builds too!

Thank you for all your opinions so far

motherofstudents

I was ready to say location every time and I do think that is right but I don't like new builds on estates. The bigger house is much nicer but you really need to visit the street at all times of day/evening/late. It is not worth having a nice house if you have any anti-social stuff going on. Isn't it a shame that you can't pick up the nicer house and move it to a better area.

robatwork

No choice- the bigger one. The newer one says I'm a house. The other says I. AM. A. HOUSE.
You'll regret not buying it....

Amazing prices too... I expect the rebuild cost won't be far off the value - unheard of around here.

Kynthia

Location is the priority but it's always a balance between the two, otherwise we'd all be living in tiny flats in posh areas. Location doesn't just mean how nice the area is, it can also be important to you for transport links, schools, near to employment, shops and family. These all need to be factored in as you can make a lot of changes to a house but you can never change it's location. However you have to love the house too, even if it isn't the finished product yet but has potential to be perfect for you.

Alybea

How well do you know the area of the bigger house? Is it one of these places which had a reputation 10-15 years ago but has changed now, but the reputation lives on?
Have you been to visit at various times, morning, evening night, weekends weekdays etc?
Does it matter that the school isn't great... are you buying the house to have children in?

Buy the bigger one

DannyboyMidlands

If the old one was on a road of similar properties then fine but it sticks out like a sore thumb on that estate. It just looks OTT and would be even more so if you tidied up the (cold) glazing and made it look proper nice.

Even though I'm not a personal fan of new builds, I can see the advatages and if the area is better I think you should definitely go for the new one.