Which house?!

[Chinless500]

I have a dilemma. I need to move to the other end of the country soon to a quite specific area. There are two houses available, neither of which is quite perfect. I have to move asap, so I can't wait for a perfect third option!

So, house A is in a 100% perfect location, but ancient (maybe 300 years!) and maybe a bit small. I have never lived in an old house and don't really want to, but location is ideal.

House B is modern and bright but in a generally less good location. Also not in catchment for preferred school. DS would be likely to get in anyway, as school undersubscribed, but obviously this is not certain.

WWYD??

[redhat]

I live in an older property (although not that old). Do you like being cold and have a bottomless pit of money for repairs and maintenance? If so then go for it!

Generally I would always say go for location but there's a difference between a beautifully maintained and warm old house and a money pit. Which is it?

[Chinless500]

Thanks for your comment redhat. I think it might be a money pit.

[Chinless500]

Still torn though. It's really hard to let go of the great location.

[redhat]

Money pits can be soul destroying. We had to have a very small section of roof redone last year. It cost a fortune and at the end of it we had nothing to even see for it. We had a roof before and a roof (albeit a better one) afterwards. You're spending money just to stand still.

Think carefully about whether you want/can afford that.

[redhat]

can't you rent until something better comes up in the good location? That's what we did.

[Chinless500]

It's a small place and there is literally nothing to rent!

[Marmitelover55]

Location, location, location!
Linkys?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

B

[ItMustBeBedtimeSurely]

A every time. But I love old houses. And location is most important of all.

[wonkylegs]

Old houses don't have to be cold and expensive but it can take more effort to make them warm and well maintained than newer ones. Ours hadn't had anything done for 25yrs so we completely refurbished it (we budgeted for this when we bought it and knew we would be doing this) and now we have a characterful, warm, energy efficient, quirky home which is a balance of modern comfort with historical space and character. It's definitly not the easier option but long term it can be more rewarding.
I don't consider it a money pit because we anticipated what we needed to spend and budgeted accordingly when we bought it. If your going to live anywhere for a length of time you are going to end up spending money on it. So it may depend if this is a long term prospect or not.

[FrannySalinger]

House A, 100%. It's not a given that old houses are freezing or money pits - mine is mostly 15th century and it's been extremely well behaved so far (in my ownership anyway). Plus A is in the right location - it doesn't sound as though house B has much to offer really other than being modern.

[redhat]

Its certainly not a given that A will be a money pit which is why I asked which it was - beautifully maintained and warm or cold money pit. OP suspects its a money pit.

[PennyHasNoSurname]

Yes links would help. But Id go for the best location and buy what I could afford within that.

[Chinless500]

Sorry for the silence! I was viewing house A. It's in OK condition but the owners have let it go a bit. I have no idea how much these places cost to get into great condition but I guess I'd have to get it for the right price.