Would you buy a huge apartment in a better street or a smaller house in a not so good street

[Kaloo20]

I am struggling with the very British middle class concept of houses over apartments as a famly dwelling. I am reluctantly downsizing and everything I look at gives one of the dcs a box room size bedroom, and a cramped amount of living space in comparision to what we are used to. Plus they are usually not what I want and the street is not as good as I wish. Typically everything I like is out of my price range.

Well .... now I have found a freehold conversion apartment (cannot being myself to call this a flat!) where the smallest bedroom is 17 x 9.3 but is directly off the dining room. I just not sure if this would work (although DD is very keen and is not bothered by the double doors).

It has a lovely patio area for me to potter, a good expanse of grass for the children (admittedly on a slope) and a copse at the back where I could build them a fab treehouse. (DS loved this area)

oh hell, look here is the link

Your opinions please
DCs 8 and 7

ps I must tell tech apostrophes are not working

[charliecat]

Thats lovely.

[hockeypuck]

definitely go for location.

You cannot beat it for peace of mind, plus also, location pays a big price in what you will sell it for too.

That apartment looks gorge too, definitely NOT a flat!

[Hulababy]

We lived in an apartment with DD, when little, and we loved it. The apartment was fab. I'd go for more room inside as that is where you will spend most of your time. It looks good. Has it's own garden too which is a bonus.

Location and size. Seems an obvious choice to me.

[allgonebellyup]

look gorgeous

bloody pricey mind!

[lulumama]

looks gorgeous, lovely garden, big rooms, origional features

definitely better option to have smaller dwelling in better area

[pesme]

looks fabulous, i live in a big flat on a lovely street quite happily. do you know anything about the 'upstair people' as that is pretty important.

[barbamama]

Hmm I have to say that looks quite spacious to me for a flat, I might put an offer in myself - just joking.

It's a tough one isn't it? I am not sure - would it really be any different from a semi - that's what it looks like sizewize. Would there be people above - noise issues might make me look for a semi - which down the road in Coulsdon are a similar price, if not in Purley itself.

Also, Purley hight st nothing special, Coulsdon high st truly nothing special but very much on the up - big renovation grant, new coffee shops/restaurants opening etc.

[Mud]

it loos lovely id' go for apartment

but would check on upstairs neighbours and sound that comes through. i would make sure i visit when the neighbours are around because theres nothign worse thna hearing peoel walking overhed and these old conversions can have problems

[meandmyflyingmachine]

Neighbours?

Soundproofing?

But those are my only quibbles. My dad lives in something very similar and has no problems at all. It looks lovely.

[MintyDixCharrington]

huge apartment

[Kaloo20]

Coulsdon is too far for the school run. I am looking (west of)Purley, Sanderstead or if you twist my arm Riddlesdown

Need a passport for Coulsdon don't I ?

[Kaloo20]

I've visited 3 time and haven't heard the neighbours yet, but I will ask.

Thanks

[barbamama]

yeah I know what you're saying, I'm not mad on either Coulsdon or Purley - Sanderstead is nicer I think, my friend just bought a good sized semi for about the same price there.

[Blu]

It looks really good.
Would you have to use the 'rear lounge' as the other bedroom, rather than the 3 other rooms that don't lead directly off the dining room?

[RanToTheHills]

Apartment for its better location, definitely. Though it is an Edwardian converison, so likely to have noise from above - definitely check it out at different times of day if you can, find out if upstairs have carpets etc. Looks fab!

[LazyLine]

That garden is lovely.

If you are worried about appearances, it doesn't look like a flat.

[noddyholder]

I live in something very like that and its great.Much nicer road than where we could have afforded a house We have just sold it same price too!I thoroughly recommend it.

[noddyholder]

do you have your own front door?We are in the upper section of a biggish house like that with a basement flat.We own the freehold too so feels secure blah blah Go for it

[tortoiseSHELL]

Looks lovely!

[oranges]

i think it looks lovely - much better than a lot of houses in london. oh, really, really lovely (getting jealous)

[manicmama]

I am probably on my own here but I would go for the house. Having previously lived in an apartment, I just love having my own front door and (tiny) garden. It probably isn't such a good investment though.

However, I have just looked at the link and I have changed my mind. The apartment looks great

[NAB3]

Always buy a crap house in a good ares. You can change the house, not the area.

[pesme]

find out WHO live upstairs and where their living room is. for example and old person may sound good until they sit up all night watching tv at full blast right over your bed.

[Kaloo20]

OMG Pesme, never thought about that! will check where their living room is above me (owners of the apartment used to own the house before it was converted and will know this answer :-)

Blu - a RL friend mentioned this about room layout too, but the big living room is so much nicer than the rear lounge and has huge windows. It's too beautiful to use as a bedroom.

ManicMama, Sadly, I won't have my own front door, it's a shared entrance, but I have all the front flower beds and back gardens

shared maintenance cost wise of house exterior, roof and driveway)

I need your opinion because I'm so swayed by the lovely rooms I'm frightened I'm not thinking straight

[noddyholder]

we have just sold ours to a couple who were only looking at houses til they came here I think a big flat is better than a poky house That is lovely and one day you may be able to buy out the other flat and have the whole house.