So, WWYD? We need some thoughts from you.

[Hoopsadazy]

Constructive thoughts good, but I would like to get some outside opinions where you guys don't know all the details and how hard or easy the decisions are for us.

We are married have one son (3 yrs) and live in SE England in a rented house. DS needs to be registered in a school by Jan 2013. The local school is a 5 min walk but is average. Any other choices are a drive, which is ok, if not ideal. DH works long hours in London.

So.....do we...:

1. Stay in this house with all its niggles and get on with enjoying life as much as poss
2. Stay in this house but buy a flat to rent out
3. Stretch to buy nice house in nice area with nice school but makes commute worse
4. Rent elsewhere to make commute better, school choice better and put up with not being able to change the house and lack of security with staying there
5. Buy a small house/flat somewhere for us to live in but near better school/commute
6. Move away from friends, family, what we know to improve all things to somewhere else completely

Go on, give me your view.

Oh my goodness - so many options so early in the day

I think you need to discuss with your dh about his commute and whether he wants it to become longer.

You could find a nice area and rent there before you buy.

And if you change your mind, changing schools is not the devils work.

BUT there is a lot to be said for feeling comfortable in your house/area.

I'd buy a nice house in a nice area if it was possible. Im guessing that you couldn't afford this with a short commute? Depends on what a longer commute would actually be. If it was ridiculous I'd go for the small house.

Of course I have no idea if you are planning more children (nice house in nice area) or not. Moving is expensive, think ahead.

No more children. Job market such that this current job is not necessarily fixed for more than a year.

I like the idea of living somewhere that is right for us and making work/commute fit around that. However, both of us have grown up in a rental environment where you move for work. Getting too old and tired of that though. Also, realisation that can't have it all - house, school, good salary, good commute like used to believe was possible.

bump

ok...

what single thing about your life pisses you off most at the moment?
or put another way...
what is the main thing that is stopiing you from just leaving everything exactly as it is?

and

tell us more about the school that is near you. what things worry you most about sending your ds there?

and finally

how long is your dh's current commute (door to door, and how does he travel). Does he work during the commute?