deadlocked.....

Tygermoth

We are FTB. Older couple, rented old farm cottages mainly over the last 15 or so years. 1 dog, prone to barking on occasion (when startled) as old , blind, deaf and doddery but still loving life.

We finally have scraped together a deposit and since we have managed this all we have done is bicker (lightheartedly)

both below are the same price and really the only two options available in our megre price range.

House 1

Newish built house - two bed - living room combined with diner then kitchen. small pokey a bit scruffy and unlooked after - nothing major needs doing but needs a cosmetic overhaul (kids stickers on walls and windows - stained carpets) - but its semi detached - allocated parking - small overlooked garden - in large estate of similar properties. longer drive for both of us to work 40 mins.(580 sq ft)

Flat 2

One of four flats in a converted huge edwardian manor. comes with 25% of freehold. 4 bed rooms - all rooms are either 20 or 17 ft - recently refurbished to a very high standard. large windows so light bright but has a weird layout as the front door is in the kitchen and bedroom one and two are in the old loft space so there are two sets of stairs - has garage - parking - utility - 100ft garden and backs onto a massive old quarry site that has been handed over to be parkland. semi rural. 25 mins OH 15 for me to work. (1390 sqft) we will have a flat below and a flat on one side (though the loft space has no neighboring rooms)

I like the edwardian flat. The OH likes the edwardian flat and does not like the 2 bed.......... but thinks a house is always better than a flat and thats the end of it as far as he's concerned.

I think we will outgrow a 2 bed in seconds and being surrounded by thousands of people crammed onto a rabbit warren of an estate will get to me, i think.

He is thinking ahead - future saleability - who wants a weird laid out 4 bed flat? to big for most and to small and awkward for a family to live in it. Whereas a two bed in areas with schools and services will likely sell better.

I am thinking that we will have to live in this house for about 5/6 years and in a two bed we are going to kill each other, get rid of half our stuff and hack off the neighbours as well as spend our lives commuting.

Any thoughts? people who live in flats, yes or no?

AnotherJoe

Are you buying an investment or a home ?
Work that out and the decision is clearer.

Sianybaby82

I'm not a fan of flats (but also would never have bought a two bed house) but this one sounds like it fulfils your needs and is in the budget you are looking for. Make a list of what your ideal property would have and score them both.

I think the four bedroom flat will have saleability after you have finished with it due to its size. It sounds like you both like the flat so why wouldn't someone else.

Pixie5740

Is the flat leasehold and if so does the lease prohibit pets?

Tygermoth

Hi,

The flat is freehold - no pet restrictions.

The gardens are not shared - the original manor grounds are separated in to four and each flat has their own.

Investment or to live - i think thats where the problem lies. I am thinking about living day to day where the OH is thinking about getting on the ladder and not ending up with a lemon.

a very expensive lemon.

Pixie5740

In that case I would and did myself opt for the large flat over a house. I like the larger rooms, higher ceilings and bay windows. I almost bought a new build house but the location and style of the flat just won me over.

moneyistooshorttomention

Re investment thinking - how old are you both?

That will rather dictate how likely the chances are of you being able to afford to "move up the ladder"?

I was picturing a middle-aged couple (ie from your first post). Is this the case?

greenbee

Rooms and layouts can be changed over time, so that's not something you need to worry too much about. however, it is becoming more common for the kitchen to be the main room and focus of the house, so not entirely surprising that the door opens into it.

Where I live no one uses front doors, just back doors straight into people's kitchens....

Not sure of the point do MTSM's comment above, as with a private garden what the dog does or doesn't do in it is nothing to do with neighbours.

jayII

If it's a first floor flat, how will the dog cope with going up and down stairs several times a day? Or is he/she small enough to be carried?

That aside, I'd go for the flat and look at changing the layout if needed, if/when you do sell it. The high ceilings, light rooms and extra space sound lovely!

theartfullodger

Tygermoth wrote: »

......Older couple, rented old farm cottages mainly over the last 15 or so years. 1 dog, prone to barking on occasion (when startled) as old , blind, deaf and doddery but still loving life. .......

Sorry to hear about your health problems - glad you still love life - but, please, enough of you, how is the dog?? :rotfl:

knightstyle

Forget buying a property for what it may be worth several years from now. Buy a property for your life style.
Me, I would go for the flat as long as you both can manage the stairs easily in the future.