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not sure what to do!!

10 replies

willhazboz · 14/03/2016 21:32

This may all be hypothetical however I just wanted some unbiased views...
A house has come on the market which is at the top end of our budget. It is 4 bedroom detached with very very big rooms. It has a large garden and is wonderful. It needs quite a bit of work to modernise but from what I can see just cosmetic.
Downsides are I don't like the area as much as where we currently live. It's not awful and our area isn't perfect. The other main sticking point and this is the big one is it is next door to my in laws! They are nice but they are a little overwhelming to say the least.
My husband thinks we would be cutting our noses off to spite our faces if we didn't take that out of the equation when considering it.
So we paid £150k for our current house (3 bed detached with large garden and amazing views) but much smaller rooms. This house is £250k. I think we'd be better extending our current house. But I also know that I would be so interested in this house if it wasn't for the neighbours. Thoughts??

OP posts:

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Moving15 · 14/03/2016 21:58

Do you really want to live next door to your in-laws?!

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 14/03/2016 22:00

I wouldnt live next door to my inlaws.

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SquinkiesRule · 14/03/2016 22:00

I'd live in a small house any day before living next to my in laws. But then my in laws had issues.

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JillyTheDependableBoot · 14/03/2016 22:02

It depends on lots of things. Are your ILs likely to retire to Tenerife in the next five years? Do you rely on them for childcare etc that would be easier to arrange if you were closer? Is the new area likely to improve? Is it currently much worse for schools etc? Does DH work and you not so you'd be putting up with them dropping round all the time while it was water off a duck's back for him? Would spending £50K on your current house increase its value in line with the other property?

Personally I can't think of anything worse than living next door to ILs but I don't actually have any so it's a moot point.

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OnePlanOnHouzz · 14/03/2016 22:05

Is In laws a similar home ? Why not suggest a house swap instead ? You up size and they downsize ?!

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wowfudge · 14/03/2016 22:08

Genius OnePlan! A friend lives next door to her in-laws, but they have very clear boundaries. It wouldn't be for me.

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Kidnapped · 14/03/2016 22:10

No.

You can change anything about a house internally (subject to planning laws), but you can't change the area and you can't change the fact that the in-laws are next door. You refer to them as a little overwhelming, so that makes it a definite no way in hell.

Keep looking or extend your existing house.

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willhazboz · 15/03/2016 07:40

Glad I'm not being unreasonable not wanting to live next door to them!
Unfortunately no plans to retire to Tenerife. We do rely on them and my parents for childcare but they are only a 5 minute drive away at the moment. And due to the proximity it shouldn't make a difference re schools. Though technically we are closer to the nicer school at the moment (dd is only 18 months) the area isn't likely to improve. I don't know I huge amount about it now as don't really socialise with people from where I live but I used to know of at least 2 drug dealers living in streets just off this road. Whereas the street we are currently in does seem likely to improve. (One way system due to be done so would cut down on a lot of traffic!)
I don't think that extending our current house would increase the value to 250k however I do think we'd be looking at 220-230. As it still wouldn't be as big. We have already done a lot to it as it was a wreck when we bought it so not just been cosmetic work. I guess I am also reluctant to sell this house as it was my dream home that we thought we couldn't afford (price dropped after years on market!) and I love the views and house!

OP posts:

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lighteningirl · 15/03/2016 07:50

I'd move and set boundaries new house sounds great

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willhazboz · 15/03/2016 07:52

Oh and currently we both work full time but I am pregnant and due to go on maternity leave (next week!) and won't be going back full time. That's another issue. As I think the stretch on the mortgage would mean we wouldn't have enough money to do the home improvements it needs. I know technically we are no where near the top end of what the mortgage company say we can afford but I like that at the moment we can afford to save for holidays and larger home improvements without struggling.