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Original poster

everyone telling us its a terrible decision.

41 replies

fireworksonfirre · 15/10/2026 17:36

We loved where we lived but its too small to have a baby in as its a 40 square foot 2 bedroom.

The three beds in our area are about £400k for 100 square foot. We only have £350k. We live in the perfect area next to a great school.

A run down three bed came on the market next to us, that needed alot of sprucing. One hasn't come on the market for this price in along time because it small for a three bed (80 square meters), two of the bedrooms are more offices. We put in a really high offer of £315k which was 10% over valuation. We have sold ours for 10% over valuation but most things in the area go for 5% over. We have spent £30k doing it up. But we know the value is only £320k done up.

We can now TTC and think this was a great decision.

We plan to stay here 7 years so hope we can break even in that time.

Everyone is telling us it's money down the drain.

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 15/10/2026 17:40

How lucky they must all be to be able to predict the future - ask them for the lottery numbers. The truth is whether or not they think it's misguided, or you've overextended, or where you have purchased won't gain much/be hard to sell is immaterial - remember that saying about arseholes being like opinions? Everyone has one! If you can afford it, if you are moving forward with your life and are happy and healthy then in this climate particularly that's all anyone can ask. No one knows what the next seven years will hold, I hope that for you it plays out in exactly the way that you want it to. Good luck.

flarp · 15/10/2026 17:41

I’m hoping you mean sq m, because otherwise yes you are making a truly terrible decision.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 15/10/2026 17:55

It’s not their money though is it? Who is “everyone” in this instance?

Original poster
fireworksonfirre · 15/10/2026 19:30

yes square meters! Its both sets of parents and siblings. i don't know anyone who has made a decision like this

OP posts:
AgentPidge · 15/10/2026 19:33

You need to make decisions based on your life now, rather than what might suit someone else in the future. I think you've done the right thing.

FreshInk · 15/10/2026 19:35

You don’t know anyone who has bought a house which needed work doing to it? It’s very common.

MustUseAName · 15/10/2026 19:35

It sounds to me like you’ve bought a house that is in an area you like, with great access to schools, that you can afford. You’ve done it up and made it a home for your future children.

Houses are supposed to be homes, to live in and enjoy. They are not empty piles of masonry for investment purposes. This home sounds perfect for you and your family. I hope you have many happy years living in it and enjoying it.

Minasama · 15/10/2026 19:35

It’s no one else’s business. You have the home you want in the place you want and that is all that matters.

GreengrocersApostrophe · 15/10/2026 19:37

I mean, do you know all their financial dealings? Why allow them so much info about yours? And about ttc? It's not their business.

Original poster
fireworksonfirre · 15/10/2026 19:42

thank you. I come from a family of fixer-uppers. So they were horrified i paid over for one and then spent so much doing it up, i would lose money if i sold now

OP posts:
GrillaMilla · 15/10/2026 19:43

I don't think you've done too badly at all.
You've got the house you want in the area you want.

Lots of people add extensions etc to their homes and won't get all that back in value as they've reached the ceiling price, but they love where they live, it's their home and they don't care!

Are your family jealous?! None of their business really.

Mumtotornadoes · 15/10/2026 19:45

You've paid more than it's worth on the open market. But have you paid more than it's worth to you? Doesn't sound like it.

godmum56 · 15/10/2026 20:08

MustUseAName · 15/10/2026 19:35

It sounds to me like you’ve bought a house that is in an area you like, with great access to schools, that you can afford. You’ve done it up and made it a home for your future children.

Houses are supposed to be homes, to live in and enjoy. They are not empty piles of masonry for investment purposes. This home sounds perfect for you and your family. I hope you have many happy years living in it and enjoying it.

This absolutely. I am not saying your family are bonkers or anything but they certainly have a different outlook and there is nothing wrong with that, except that I prefer yours.

PS for anyone's mental health its a good idea for them to a) disabuse themselves of the idea that thier family's opinions are "everyone's" and b) to give the opinions of others only as much weight as suits YOU.

FriendlyNPC · 15/10/2026 20:10

Well, so what? You can't go back in time and not spend the money can you? And like you say, you'll lose money selling it now.

We paid over for this house because it was perfect for us. We haven't fixed it up though lol, but we don't intend to move and it'll gain back anything and some more even if we don't do much in the way of fixing it up.

Boreded · 15/10/2026 20:15

You’ve basically made a ‘loss’ of 25k…but now you feel in a good position to have a baby that you may not have had otherwise.

I would say that 25k isn’t a huge amount to pay for the security you needed in order to grow your family.

Anyone buying a (fully decorated to a reasonable standard) house and paying market rate then doing ANY decorating (to get it to their taste) is technically making a loss, but nobody tells them not to do it.

Good luck TTC, don’t pay any attention to the negative people in your life, they’re not worth the headspace

Pumpup · 15/10/2026 20:19

It’s not just about money and future finances though is it, it’s about the location, the school, the community you’re already bedded in. There’s so many other things to consider.

Original poster
fireworksonfirre · 15/10/2026 20:25

thank you everyone for the reassurance. To me having a baby in this area is the priority and i would pay £25k to be able to do that!

OP posts:
AluckyEllie · 15/10/2026 20:45

I got a bit worried about doing work and it not adding value. My husband pointed out we aren’t property developers and we will live in the house, and enjoy it. I’ve never regretted the money we put in.

Scout2016 · 15/10/2026 21:01

Why 7 years?

RatsCatsandPuppies · 15/10/2026 21:04

flarp · 15/10/2026 17:41

I’m hoping you mean sq m, because otherwise yes you are making a truly terrible decision.

🤣

Scout2016 · 15/10/2026 21:06

It's done now anyway so why on earth are people telling you it was a mistake? Even if it were the biggest mistake ever it can't be undone, what are they hoping to achieve other than make you feel miserable and less happy about your home?

Betterbeingdead · 15/10/2026 21:22

Ours is worth less now than when we bought it ( 2022) despite doing it up . But we love it and don't regret buying it .
When my mum was alive every time we moved( 3 times ) she said you silly fool you will regret that you will never afford to live in it . We never regretted any of them and yes we afforded them too

Biscuitsforbreakfastt · 15/10/2026 21:31

fireworksonfirre · 15/10/2026 19:42

thank you. I come from a family of fixer-uppers. So they were horrified i paid over for one and then spent so much doing it up, i would lose money if i sold now

But the entire point of all this is that you’re not trying to flip houses (and doing it really badly), you’re buying into a future and a lifestyle. Sometimes you can’t put a price on that.

We had the same thing when we moved with folk giving their (unsolicited) opinions. When folk said they thought it was the wrong move for me buying the house I’m in, I genuinely couldn't give a fuck. Why give them so much headspace 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
fireworksonfirre · 15/10/2026 21:34

we have almost finished rennovation and we have made it look lovely. I grew up in cold empty homes that were decorated and painted grey to sell only in the last 3 months we owned them.

OP posts:
Tryagain26 · 15/10/2026 21:35

Why are they telling you it's money down the drain. You need somewhere to live and you have found somewhere you can afford in an area you like.and you have made it comfortable .
If you don't plan to sell in the near future it doesn't matter what the house is worth now. It's your home

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