Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if it’s better to buy the worst house in the best street or the best house in the worst street?

119 replies

BluntLilacGuide · 23/10/2024 20:46

I’m currently house hunting and I’ve come across two very different options. One is a not-so-great house in a highly desirable area, and the other is a beautiful, well-maintained home but in a not-so-great area. I’ve heard the phrase ‘buy the worst house in the best street’ so many times, but does that always make sense?

AIBU to wonder whether it’s better to invest in the location even if the house needs a lot of work, or to go for the nicer house in a less desirable area? Would love to hear your thoughts or experiences on this kind of decision.

OP posts:
HippyShopper · 23/10/2024 20:52

Always Location, Location, Location !! Phil and Kirstie have been saying that for 20 years !!

BeyondMyWits · 23/10/2024 20:52

It totally depends on whether you can afford to improve the worst house.
We ended up with a lemon. Great location, crappy house, the cracks were papered over etc... we can't afford the £55k+ to make it better.

Would go for more of a compromise both ways with hindsight. An OK house in an OK area.

bananafishbones1 · 23/10/2024 20:52

Location always, Kirsty and Phil were right

WhereIsMyLight · 23/10/2024 20:52

How bad is the worst house on the best street? Are you able to repair it yourself? If not, can you afford to pay someone for the renovations?

If it liveable, safe and you can feasibly do the renovations over a long time, then the worst house on the best street. Otherwise, give it a pass. But I wouldn’t necessarily buy the best house on the worst street, I’d keep looking.

Bubblesgun · 23/10/2024 20:51

@BluntLilacGuide always the worst house on the best street, never ever the other way around

StrawberryWater · 23/10/2024 20:51

Always location!

Comedycook · 23/10/2024 20:51

Location

ViciousCurrentBun · 23/10/2024 20:51

Always the best street, I live in one of the few modest houses on a very lovely road where some have indoor swimming pools and cinema rooms. There has never been any incidences or noise issues on the road.

PickAChew · 23/10/2024 20:50

You can improve the house but not where it's located.

Sassysoonwins · 23/10/2024 20:50

Location always. You can fix the house but if the worst location has noisy close neighbours or a loud dual carriageway, you can't fix that.

bitesthedust · 23/10/2024 20:50

location location location

Quitelikeit · 23/10/2024 20:50

The worst house in the best street is an amazing coup if you can do it!!

All you can do is bring it up to standard

Girasoli · 23/10/2024 20:50

Worst house in the best street!
As long as its livable and safe, you can do it up slowly.

ChristmasPostman · 23/10/2024 20:49

Buy the not-so-great house in a highly desirable area, you have years to bring it up to scratch. You can’t move the nice house into a decent area though!

coxesorangepippin · 23/10/2024 20:49

Location 100%

Kirstles was right

QuarterZip · 23/10/2024 20:49

Best location. Every time.

CamillaCanterbaum · 23/10/2024 20:48

It's hard to choose which to vote for in your AIBU

But ALWAYS location 100%

mimblewimble · 23/10/2024 20:48

MontySaucy · 23/10/2024 20:47

Always the best street. Always.

Agreed.

MontySaucy · 23/10/2024 20:47

Always the best street. Always.