What's wrong with a two bed house?

moneyistooshorttomention

The biggest market seems to be for 3 bedroom houses and my preference ideally would be to have 3 bedrooms (partly for that reason and partly because that's what I would like to have personally). Though I'm single it would be nice to have a guest bedroom - something I currently don't have (as I'm using the 2nd bedroom as a study).

However, as pointed out, 2 bedders are going to vary. I bought a 2 bedder for a starter house in home location and another 2 bedder here (very different location). In both locations - 3 bedders are dearer.

However, the size of the house can vary and there are 2 bedders that are bigger than 3 bedders (ie more square footage). My last house was bigger than some 3 bedders (ie a Victorian terrace). My current house is bigger than some 3 bedders (ie 2 reasonable size bedrooms and a fair-size through lounge) - and that means its bigger than some newly-built 3 bed/2 bath houses near me.

A family could live in my house (provided the 2 children were same sex as each other).

The main thing is that the main market for 2 bedders are those people that cant afford 3/4 bedders and there are plenty of such people around.

princeofpounds

In my town there's desperation as developers love building 'executive' homes and completely ignore the younger/divorced market.

That's a decision that is almost certainly driven by the planners, not the developers.

clint_S

House over flat 100% of the time. Lots of new builds are leasehold so freehold leasehold doesn't really apply in my decision on this, although freehold beats leasehold.


It's the same reason why a detached, beats a semi, which beats a mid terrace, which beats a flat. Risk of bad neighbours, thin walls, lack of privacy.

[Deleted User]

Whilst there is nothing wrong with 2 bed houses so to speak, I do think demand for 2 beds has gone down because people are buying later. FTB's who are creeping up to 30 and their biological clock is ticking may well prefer to skip the 2 bed starter and go straight for the family 3-4 bed house. It also saves you an extra load of stamp duty/fees if you go straight for the family home.

[Deleted User]

When we were looking for a 2 bed house demand was huge- as it’s of interest to first time buyers, couples, friends buying together, and small families. We decided to buy a flat instead and it was far easier to view/secure a property because we were only really competing with other first time buyers, rather than all the other people I just mentioned.

SuzieSue

Deleted_User wrote: »

Whilst there is nothing wrong with 2 bed houses so to speak, I do think demand for 2 beds has gone down because people are buying later. FTB's who are creeping up to 30 and their biological clock is ticking may well prefer to skip the 2 bed starter and go straight for the family 3-4 bed house. It also saves you an extra load of stamp duty/fees if you go straight for the family home.

Yes, but there are also more people living on their own than previously eg after divorce who would prefer a 2 bed house to a flat.

I think that the view that the OP's friends have was probably correct 30 years ago but is not relevant now especially as people now realise the problems with flats (managing agents, service charges etc).

chelseablue

We live in 2 bedroom leasehold flat, that we are currently selling


We are moving to a 3 bed freehold house.


I purchased the flat when I was single so 2 bedrooms were plenty for me.
I would say there is definitely demand for 2 bed properties, although possibly less demand for 1 bedroom places if you wanted children or a lodger

greensalad

This sounds crazy to me and the opposite of what I've heard. My understanding is that there is a massive requirement for 2-bed houses (typical "starter" properties) that are usually absorbed by the rental market meaning first-time buyers are struggling to get anything that they can consider a family home (a one bed flat is not suitable if you want children, IMO)

marksoton

I think the bottom line is there's demand for every sort of property (Bar regional anomalies)

The fact is there simply aren't enough properties to meet demand. You'd have to choose very poorly to have a problem shifting a property in the coming years.

saddatabid

princeofpounds wrote: »

Never heard of problems with 2 bed houses.


Some people talk a lot about resale issues with 1 bed flats. But again that is typically overstated. If they are less in demand relative to supply (which is often not the case in cities) then they should be priced lower. If you pay the right price on entry, you can sell for the right price to get the market moving on exit.

I agree with you. There is nothing wrong with 2 bed houses. It is good option for couples, small families and first time buyers.