Buying 1 bed or 2 bed

Addison89

Hello, I wonder if you could offer some advice please?

We are a couple in their 30s, have a buyer for our 2-bed flat in London and moving to the country to an affluent town (fingers crossed). We found something then had to pull out due to structural issues.

Our buyer has been waiting for 4months now, she has sold her own and being pushed by her buyer to move. She has threatened to pull out of the sale as she thinks we are not serious about moving.

We are but nothing ideal has popped up. We are now considering a 1 bed converted flat with a private garden (potential for garden office) OR a 2 bed flat (leasehold, no garden). 2 bed flat is £135k more. 

No children (none planned) but we have a dog. Reason of moving is to be in a safe area and be closer to nature (it wasn’t upgrading but of course in an ideal world it would have happened). I am very fond of this town as it’s ideal commuting time to London and has a good selection of entertainment and lovely community.

I understand we could just let the buyer go but we don’t want to wait potentially another year to move. Which option would you choose?

gwynlas

Usually I would suggest two bed if you can afford it but given dog a garden is a necessity. 

DullGreyGuy

Is a temporary move into a rental a possibility?

We decided to buy when our rental was put on the market and so had to get the best we could find rather than what we wanted. Those compromises are painful to live with and are worse than we had thought they'd be

Addison89

DullGreyGuy said:

Is a temporary move into a rental a possibility?

We decided to buy when our rental was put on the market and so had to get the best we could find rather than what we wanted. Those compromises are painful to live with and are worse than we had thought they'd be

Sadly not unless we pay early repayment charge on our fixed mortgage - it would be too much money and it’s difficult to rent with a dog from what I heard.

elsien

gwynlas said:

Usually I would suggest two bed if you can afford it but given dog a garden is a necessity. 

Not necessarily, Particularly if moving somewhere with more green spaces anyway. It does depend on the dog and how willing you are to accommodate.

I’ve lived in a flat with no garden, and at the moment the only dog safe bit I have is a very small side return which my dog refuses to toilet in. My dog would be happier in a house with a garden I think, because he enjoys visiting my mums,  but in terms of practicalities it’s perfectly doable to have a dog without that private outside space. Although it’s a pain having to get up in the morning and get dressed to go out when it’s cold and wet you do get used to it. 

Energetic bull terrier, In terms of size and disposition, if you were wondering. 

I think it depends how important the garden is to you for other reasons.

RHemmings

Out of curiosity, what are your reasons for choosing those two flats? Are there, for example, few flats in your price range so that choice is small? Few flats in total because it's a small town? Or are there plenty of other flats you can afford, but these two stand out for non-financial reasons? 

Which breed of dog? E.g. Chihuahua or Great Pyrenees would make a huge difference.  

Addison89

RHemmings said:

Out of curiosity, what are your reasons for choosing those two flats? Are there, for example, few flats in your price range so that choice is small? Few flats in total because it's a small town? Or are there plenty of other flats you can afford, but these two stand out for non-financial reasons? 

It’s a small town and very few flats are available in nice parts/walkable distance from station. We would be able to afford others but those were either next to a main road or too far from the town.

Addison89

RHemmings said:

Out of curiosity, what are your reasons for choosing those two flats? Are there, for example, few flats in your price range so that choice is small? Few flats in total because it's a small town? Or are there plenty of other flats you can afford, but these two stand out for non-financial reasons? 

Which breed of dog? E.g. Chihuahua or Great Pyrenees would make a huge difference.  

She is a greyhound! 

RHemmings

Addison89 said:

RHemmings said:

Out of curiosity, what are your reasons for choosing those two flats? Are there, for example, few flats in your price range so that choice is small? Few flats in total because it's a small town? Or are there plenty of other flats you can afford, but these two stand out for non-financial reasons? 

It’s a small town and very few flats are available in nice parts/walkable distance from station. We would be able to afford others but those were either next to a main road or too far from the town.

In which case: it's tricky. 

Given solely the information on this thread, I think I would go for the one-bed with the garden if you have a pet (assuming not a Chihuahua EDIT: I missed your post of  'greyhound'), and I'm guessing the garden is big enough for a decent garden office. But, only if you are sure that you don't want children. 

By garden office, I'm imagining something like this:

https://dunsterhouse.co.uk/garden-offices/helena-garden-office-right-w4-3m-x-d2-7m



With £135k less mortgage, your overall costs will be less and you can save more. Depending on house price movements, this may set you up better for the future. 

Silvertabby

If possible, I would choose a house rather than a flat - but if that's not an option then I would go for the one bed with the garden.  Mostly for the benefit of your dog (greyhounds have a lot of energy!)  but also so your 'spare' bedroom won't be targetted by friends/family who fancy a break in the country.

propertyrental

'garden office' is likely to need not just planning consent, but consent from the freeholder....