Location vs House ?

Octothorpe

I've seen a lot of posts about bad location vs good location,  but nothing really on convenient location vs less convenient location. 

When you have children to consider, would you choose a large house that is a drive from schools and pretty much everywhere vs a smaller house but not much storage/reception rooms that's central to everything including schools?

On one hand I want the kids to not have to rely on lifts from parents, on the other hand I don't want to live in a house where once they are teenagers (not that far away) we will be fighting for space 😄

Getting_greyer

I went with large enough house (subjective opinion) that's walking distance for both primary and secondary but entails a commute for work. No school run needed.  Small towns maybe 10 mins away, big towns 10-15 mins and cities maybe 30ish.  I placed a higher value on kids having a reasonable walk from school and house size than convenience for shops and the like. 

Greymug

Getting_greyer said:

I went with large enough house (subjective opinion) that's walking distance for both primary and secondary but entails a commute for work. No school run needed.  Small towns maybe 10 mins away, big towns 10-15 mins and cities maybe 30ish.  I placed a higher value on kids having a reasonable walk from school and house size than convenience for shops and the like. 

and how is this relevant to the OP's situation?

UnderOffer

We ruled out a large house in a big village as we’d have to drive kids to secondary school, local town, friends houses, cinema, restaurants etc., we wanted them to be a little self sufficient with transport, so easily walkable or short cycle journey away from amenities and I’m glad we’ve done that. The house in the village was bigger and had great views but we’ve equally settled in our newish build property on an estate. They can come and go as they please and we are only an occasional taxi now, so much so, we’ve even reduced the number of cars we own. 

moneysavinghero

Greymug said:

Getting_greyer said:

I went with large enough house (subjective opinion) that's walking distance for both primary and secondary but entails a commute for work. No school run needed.  Small towns maybe 10 mins away, big towns 10-15 mins and cities maybe 30ish.  I placed a higher value on kids having a reasonable walk from school and house size than convenience for shops and the like. 

and how is this relevant to the OP's situation?

Grey on grey action.

Personally i would go for the bigger house. You will get used to the school run, but living in a cramped house will eat  away at you day after day.

If they are nearly teenagers they will be changing schools soon anyway. if they are a distance away maybe there will be a school bus anyway.

Getting_greyer

Greymug said:

Getting_greyer said:

I went with large enough house (subjective opinion) that's walking distance for both primary and secondary but entails a commute for work. No school run needed.  Small towns maybe 10 mins away, big towns 10-15 mins and cities maybe 30ish.  I placed a higher value on kids having a reasonable walk from school and house size than convenience for shops and the like. 

and how is this relevant to the OP's situation?

Second paragraph of the OP.

Greymug

Getting_greyer said:

Greymug said:

Getting_greyer said:

I went with large enough house (subjective opinion) that's walking distance for both primary and secondary but entails a commute for work. No school run needed.  Small towns maybe 10 mins away, big towns 10-15 mins and cities maybe 30ish.  I placed a higher value on kids having a reasonable walk from school and house size than convenience for shops and the like. 

and how is this relevant to the OP's situation?

Second paragraph of the OP.

I don't think so.

He says he has to choose between house size (A) and vicinity to school (B).

You then come up saying you chose a house that has both A and B

Doesn't solve the OP's dilemma

Getting_greyer

Greymug said:

Getting_greyer said:

Greymug said:

Getting_greyer said:

I went with large enough house (subjective opinion) that's walking distance for both primary and secondary but entails a commute for work. No school run needed.  Small towns maybe 10 mins away, big towns 10-15 mins and cities maybe 30ish.  I placed a higher value on kids having a reasonable walk from school and house size than convenience for shops and the like. 

and how is this relevant to the OP's situation?

Second paragraph of the OP.

I don't think so.

He says he has to choose between house size (A) and vicinity to school (B).

You then come up saying you chose a house that has both A and B

Doesn't solve the OP's dilemma

I see what you mean.  In my defence I would add that imo B wasn't just distance of school as also included convenience. I took this convenience to mean big shops, entertainment etc.  So I separated convenience (C) from B.  I therefore responded that I valued both A and B over C.

HanPop

We have chosen a larger house where we have to drive 5 mins and walk 10 mins for the school run. The only houses close to the school were all too small and no parking so a no go for us. I would love to be able to walk to the school but we got such a good deal on a bigger house further away and for us it is definitely the right decision. However our home is still only a 20 min walk from the town, not sure I’d have moved further away than that.

lozenlady

I grew up in a larger house in a village about 20min drive into town and school, but there was a school bus for secondary school. Be mindful of public transport routes and how late they run, I often got caught missing the last bus home because it was before 7pm!! Mums taxi wasn't too chuffed.

lookstraightahead

Further away. Expand a child's surroundings