Can't decide between houses

[LizzieMint]

Largely because none of them are quite right, but we need somewhere to live and can't hang about for too much longer.
Our ideal would be to have a spare bedroom, large garden and walking distance to school (kids are between 4 and 8). This apparently doesn't exist.

So ok, house 1 is brand new, loads of living space, spare bedroom but tiny garden. Walking distance to school and shops etc.

House 2 is smaller, no spare bedroom but masses of outside space. Fantastic garden. Converted coach house which needs a bit of updating (new kitchen/bathroom etc) but largely in good nick. Out in the middle of nowhere, would be a (short) drive to school.

House 3 also has no spare bedroom but decent size garden and walking distance to school. A lot cheaper than the other two, again would need some work, kitchen/bathroom etc.

Something else to consider is that we only expect to be here for a few years, so will need to resell within the next 5 years - this makes me think the new one would not be as good a bet.

[Pinkje]

House 3. Given the stage your children are at, being able to walk to school is a huge draw.

[yomellamoHelly]

Depends if garden in proportion to the type of house. Family house would need a family-sized garden, so would consider that for ease of selling on.

From what you said house 3 sounds best bet.

[FunMitFlags]

How important is the spare bedroom?

I'd go for 3. If you do need to stay longer than 5 years there then #2 will be a PITA. You'll spend all your life in the car ferrying children around.

[Pipbin]

How important is the spare bedroom? Do you need it for an office or visitors? Are there work arounds?

I say house three too, depending on how important the spare bedroom is. If you can work round then that is the best bet. If you will only be there 5 years then the children will get the best use out of the garden and walking distance. Will the cost of a new bathroom etc be covered by the resell value?

Alternatively, given that you know you will only be there a short while, is it worth renting?

[LizzieMint]

The spare bedroom is pretty important, we've moved away from family so it'd make things much easier for them to come and stay. We also just have a lot of stuff!
The first house is definitely not in proportion, the house is massive and the garden is, modest, shall we say. It's not as ridiculous as some new builds, but it's not really in keeping with a big family house. The house is stunning though!

[LizzieMint]

Nothing available to rent pipbin.

[meadowquark]

House 3 sounds like a good option.

[TheHouseofMirth]

Can you convert the loft and add a bedroom to house 3?

[Nospringflower]

I'd go for house 1 since its not forever. Would want a big garden long term but would find big fab house important for now and being able to walk to school.

[AwfulBeryl]

How long have you being looking ? Can you hold off for a while until you find the house ?

[AwfulBeryl]

Sorry just noticed you will be moving soon, I would go for house 1 then. Are you close to any parks ?

[ChablisTyrant]

If you buy 1 you might well end up selling it for less than you bought it in 5 years. Can you cope with that financially?

[Branleuse]

house 2, and make family stay in the coach house

[Branleuse]

or put a caravan in the garden for guests :D

[cartoonsaveme]

1 as avoid hassle of DIY. We have huge garden and its a pita as we actually always go to parks and meet friends etc. it's just one more job to do all the time

[LizzieMint]

We've been looking (sort of) since August or so, we've had one purchase fall through in the mean time. We are renting a small house at the moment but inly have it for 5 more months.
That's what I think Chablis, we'd pay the premium for it being new then potentially lose out later. Unless we could get it for a good offer, it has been on the market for months so it may be possible.

[Ikeameatballs]

I wouldn't go for House 2: the driving back and forth for the kids will massively increase over the next 5 years, you will feel like a taxi service and it doesn't have a spare bedroom.

Between houses 1 and 3 I would think hard about the following:

How much do you really need that spare room?
What would be the likely costs of the work to house 3 and, if done, would you be likely to recuperate those costs on selling? That is the financial risk with house 3.
How much is the new build premium that you are paying for house 1? Could you afford to lose that in 5years? That is the financial risk with house 1.
If house 1 is financially safer then go for that. If house 3 is financially safer then is the difference in cost/risk between 1 and 3 worth the spare room?

[SoonToBeSix]

House three and the dc share when family stay over.

[PiratePanda]

House 1 or 3. Can you extend 3 or put a heated garden studio in that can double as a spare room (lots of that round here - overcrowded southeast)? Conversely with 1, is there a nice local park close by that you can effectively use as a garden?

[LizzieMint]

Interesting that the consensus seems to be house 3, to me it's the least interesting option because it has neither a lovely house nor a lovely garden. It's safe but dull.

I do think it's probably the practical choice though. There's a very significant leap in price between that one and the other two, so we'd have the money to extend or convert something potentially.
Argh, it's so hard to give up on finding something lovely!

[SylvaniansAtEase]

You give up on finding something lovely because you save that thought (and money) for the next (forever?) house!

You're only going to be there for a few years - DEFINITELY prioritise boring things like distance to school and cost. Because these will be the things that actually pay dividends in the short term, which is what you are dealing with.

House 3 for sure. Bank the money you've saved for the next house, minus some for doing bits which will improve its value for when you sell. Then enjoy the extra time and ease of having the school run simplified for the next few years.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

House 3. Mainly because you want to sell up & move within 5 years. It sounds like the one with the most potential to add value.

New builds often drop in value, or at least stay the same price. Also the small garden might put families off.

House 2 also sounds like a good option - but less conveniently located.

[PiratePanda]

House 3 definitely then, and spend money on upgrading it, extending it, and making it lovely!

[Artistic]

House1 for certain. Am not a DIY person & am also more of an indoor person. So long as there is room for a trampoline or playset & some room to run around the garden would suffice.

[SpecificOcean]

House 1, walking distance to everything, spare room, loads of living space and garden wouldn't put me off, as we have a small garden and it's fine -less maintenance and easy to keep looking good. I've still got plenty of plants and seating in sun and shade.