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any reason to consider 2 bedroom flat over 1 bed house?

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Comments

  • AFF8879
    AFF8879 Posts: 655 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 30 November 2023 at 10:37PM
    tiger135 said:
    I have close to 200k to put down and want a small mortgage as possible. I am single, dont want a lodger, very minimal. 
    Here are a few examples of what I can buy:

    https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141843707

    any thoughts welcome, two houses and two flats there, all in decent locations .
    thanks for any thoughts.
    I really like this one. Separate kitchen and window in the bathroom which is unusual for flats, and (what appears to be) lovely countryside views from the bedroom window. It has a nicer feel than the other properties IMO.

    That said, having sold a flat and bought a house a couple of years ago, I’m not sure I could ever go back…but some people prefer the perception of increased security etc, it really depends how long you plan on being there.
  • AFF8879 said:
    tiger135 said:
    I have close to 200k to put down and want a small mortgage as possible. I am single, dont want a lodger, very minimal. 
    Here are a few examples of what I can buy:

    https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141843707

    any thoughts welcome, two houses and two flats there, all in decent locations .
    thanks for any thoughts.
    I really like this one. Separate kitchen and window in the bathroom which is unusual for flats, and (what appears to be) lovely countryside views from the bedroom window. It has a nicer feel than the other properties IMO.

    That said, having sold a flat and bought a house a couple of years ago, I’m not sure I could ever go back…but some people prefer the perception of increased security etc, it really depends how long you plan on being there.

    How long is the lease though? It doesn't say and that is very important. Also, it says service charge £0, which I find very unlikely. I suspect the EA doesn't know. You need to know what it is and also who the managing agent is and whether they are any good. 
  • tiger135
    tiger135 Posts: 438 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    AFF are you referring to the 235k one? It has views i think and right next to the rail line. 
  • RelievedSheff
    RelievedSheff Posts: 12,337 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Fifth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    I would always choose a smaller house over a larger flat.
  • bouicca21
    bouicca21 Posts: 6,641 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    In principle I’d buy a house over a flat.  In principle I’d buy 2 bedrooms rather than 1 (I’m not minimal and I like to have a space for the books and for people to stay).

    In reality it would come down to size of rooms (can’t bear small ones), transport links (don’t want to be more than 10 minutes from a station), local amenities (restaurants, coffee shops, park with nice walks, library, cinema).  Parking space would be a bonus, but for some people would be essential.

    OP needs to think about lifestyle.  What I want is the complete opposite of what many others would want.
  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Posts: 17,004 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I'd prefer a house over a flat.
    Indeed, I was hoping to get a one-bed house starter home when I bought my first home, but they were just too expensive.
    It is a personal choice, though.

    A couple with child would choose a two-bed flat over a one-bed house.

    You mentioned currently single, but what do you think the next few years might bring?
    Do you wish to have guests stay over?  Maybe friends, maybe parents (if not local).
    All things to consider.
  • Herzlos
    Herzlos Posts: 15,386 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    It depends how you feel about outdoor spaces and noise.

    Having a private garden is nice when the weather is nice but needs maintenance. Ditto for a driveway.

    A flat has the potential to have more noise than a house, because you're sharing more walls with other people.
    A flat will have better use of space because the stairs are on the outside (if you're not on the ground).
    A flat should be cheaper to heat than a house too because it has less external wall.

    Assuming you don't need the garden/driveway or a separate access door, and aren't overly noise sensitive you're probably better with the flat.
  • GDB2222
    GDB2222 Posts: 25,719 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    I have never lived in a  cluster house, but you have two neighbours with which you share a wall, and one other where you share a corner. So, as far as hearing each other is concerned, is it that much better than a flat? Sound transmission depends so much on the quality of the construction.

     
    No reliance should be placed on the above! Absolutely none, do you hear?
  • MFWannabe
    MFWannabe Posts: 2,430 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    tiger135 said:
    Thanks I do kinda like house 1. I like the area and garden plus parking.  I guess you should look for things that cant be changed. Ideally I dont think I want carpet downstairs, any ideas on cost to change to a hard wood style floor?
    That all depends on size of room, if you go for laminate or hardwood 
    google flooring and it will give you a cost per square metre and you can work it out from there 
    However you shouldn’t let this put you off the property; especially if area etc is all good 
    MFW 2025 #50: £259.20/£6000


    18/01/25: Mortgage: £68,500.14
    27/12/24: Mortgage: £69,278.38 

    27/12/24: Debt: £0 🥳😁
    27/12/24: Savings: £12,000

  • tiger135
    tiger135 Posts: 438 Forumite
    100 Posts First Anniversary Name Dropper
    Thanks I just am used to walking in and out of ground floors without taking off shoes, just a quick wipe, I imagine a carpet in the hall/lounge would need cleaning a lot?
    I need to stop this putting me off, its the whole can/cant be changed thing I should remember. 
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