2 bedrooms vs 3 bedrooms

Ciderarmy1987

Hi,

We are a single couple looking to buy a house soon, we have looked around a lot of 2-3 bed houses and all the 3 beds in our price range appear to have 1 big bed room, 1 ok size bedroom and a box room. Where are the 2 beds seem a lot better proportioned.

Is there much of an issue with us being able to sell either of these types in the future? Will one be easy to sell than the other? is ether likely to see a fast rate of increase in value?


Cheers

BitterAndTwisted

Horses for courses. People with half a dozen kids won't be able to squeeze all of them into a two-bedder. Childless couples probably won't need a tiny third box-room.

Neither sized-property is likely to see a faster rate of increase in value than the other. Homes are for living in, not speculation. Buy what suits you, what you can easily afford and plan to be in there for the long-term. Then, barring divorce, joblessness, serious long-term illness or some other unforeseen disaster nothing should go wrong.

yoyoegg

Is there much of an issue with us being able to sell either of these types in the future?

Can be. When I sold last year in on Cambs/Lincs border, pretty much the only buyers for 2-beds were BTL LLs looking to rent out and the price was dictated by the yield. All private buyers reckoned the increment in price to 3-bed was worth paying.

3-beds given you the option of main bed, kids room, "junk" room or space for visitors, a room for WfH etc.

michelle2008

I am single but would only consider a two bedroom if it was very special - i like having a guest room plus an office. I would also really worry about resale with a two bed.

ognum

yoyoegg wrote: »

Can be. When I sold last year in on Cambs/Lincs border, pretty much the only buyers for 2-beds were BTL LLs looking to rent out and the price was dictated by the yield. All private buyers reckoned the increment in price to 3-bed was worth paying.

3-beds given you the option of main bed, kids room, "junk" room or space for visitors, a room for WfH etc.

I think a lot depends on the location, for BTL houses in cities or with good transport links with two equal sized bedrooms are great for professional renters.

If I was buying a three bedroom I would want a decent sized third bedroom but there are also people happy with a box room office.

When buying for yourself to live in decide what you can get in the best location you can afford and go from there.

Excited13

Ciderarmy1987 wrote: »

Hi,

We are a single couple looking to buy a house soon, we have looked around a lot of 2-3 bed houses and all the 3 beds in our price range appear to have 1 big bed room, 1 ok size bedroom and a box room. Where are the 2 beds seem a lot better proportioned.

Is there much of an issue with us being able to sell either of these types in the future? Will one be easy to sell than the other? is ether likely to see a fast rate of increase in value?


Cheers

You say you're a couple, are children likely to be an issue in the next 3 years or so? When I was with my ex we bought a 3 bed (2 doubles and a single) just incase we did want kids in that property but we would still have a spare/office if that happened.

I'm currently single and my rental property is a two bed and I've struggled but I'm used to having lots of visitors.

To be honest it's personal preference, I do a lot of entertatining with people staying over so bedrooms are very important to me. Although I'm single I'm in the process of buying a 4 bed property even though people think I'm mad.

julieb1987

We're a young couple but went for a 3 bed as we want to live there for a long time, and potentially start a family. Also the in-laws live in Cornwall so good to have a bedroom all set up (at the moment sleep on an uncomfortable sofa bed in our small spare room). The benefit of buying an ex-council property is that we have 2 good sized double bedrooms and a decent single (prev. owners had a cot, junior bed and a set of drawers in there). I can see how some people would only want a 2 bed to cut down on bills etc.

Do you plan on living there for a long time or is it short-term?

cats2012

julieb1987 wrote: »

We're a young couple but went for a 3 bed as we want to live there for a long time, and potentially start a family. Also the in-laws live in Cornwall so good to have a bedroom all set up (at the moment sleep on an uncomfortable sofa bed in our small spare room). The benefit of buying an ex-council property is that we have 2 good sized double bedrooms and a decent single (prev. owners had a cot, junior bed and a set of drawers in there). I can see how some people would only want a 2 bed to cut down on bills etc.

Do you plan on living there for a long time or is it short-term?

Seriously bare this in mind - will all the costs with moving there's no point buying if you'd be forced to move if you were to fall pregnant or anything as it could happen any time, or you could simply want it sooner than you think right now.

Our 3 bed feels far too big for us at the moment, but we plan to stay 5-10 years and by then it's pretty likely we would have had at least baby number 1.

Ciderarmy1987

cats2012 wrote: »

Seriously bare this in mind - will all the costs with moving there's no point buying if you'd be forced to move if you were to fall pregnant or anything as it could happen any time, or you could simply want it sooner than you think right now.

Our 3 bed feels far too big for us at the moment, but we plan to stay 5-10 years and by then it's pretty likely we would have had at least baby number 1.

We do understand that, and if this was question of paying 15-20k more for a "proper 3 bed" ie 3 double bed rooms, then this wouldnt be an issue.

However as it is, we are looking at 3 bed houses that are more expensive and most of the time all we would get for the extra 15-20k is a bedroom that you would struggle to fit a single bed in.

SuzieSue

Ciderarmy1987 wrote: »

However as it is, we are looking at 3 bed houses that are more expensive and most of the time all we would get for the extra 15-20k is a bedroom that you would struggle to fit a single bed in.

But most 3 beds are like this, but, as you say, people are prepared to pay the premium for a single room.

With more and more people able to work from home at least some of the time, I think 3 beds are going to become more important for couples unless they are renting when they obvously want to pay as little rent as possible and a 3rd bed would be a luxury.

However, if you really won't use a 3rd bedroom then there is no point in buying a 3 bed house and with the BTL market 2 beds will probably do just as well as 3 beds.

sunshinetours

Square footage is the important bit. if you can find a spacious 2 bedroom then converting it to a three bed may be a cheaper way of achieving this and gives you flexibility for future