Which house do I want? Bigger or the view?

[Mountainsided]

Looking at a new build house. Both are doable on a long term mortgage. Onideally want house 1 with the location/orientation of house 2, but he house that was perfect someone has bought.
House 1 - 4 bedroomed, better layout, double garage and 2 side by side parking spaces. The living room and kitchen/diner out the back face directly onto another house over the fence. Garden not huge. To the side of the house where there are no windows there is a view of the hills. You should be able to see this view from the garden and looking out the windows at an angle. Also another house 1m gap away, both detached. Possibly overlooked by another house next to the one opposite.

House 2 - smaller 4 bed, layout not as ideal. Single garage and parking for 2 cars end on end.
House either side separates by a garage and drive so garden is flanked by single garage each side. Kitchen diner at the back with no houses overlooked and private garden from the flanked garages. House backs on to view of fields over the hedgerow.

I wanted somewhere to escape and feel by myself and sit in an armchair and look out greenery. I think o could do this at a very active angle in house 1. The development is very packed together and feels cramped from the front of the houses, but the house inside is double what we have now.

Would you go for ideal house layout and parking or the view?

Is it actually a "view you want or a pleasant private outdoor space? If it's the latter, are you sure you couldn't create that in house 1?
Would you be happy looking out from kitchen diner onto a trellis with lovely evergreen climbers? If you erect the trellis inside the fence on your land it can be higher than 6 ft.

perfect lay out is worth an awful lot in my book

Ok @Mountainsided

Of these I would go for the one with the better layout.

It is slightly annoying the garden is overlooked, but you still are on the edge of the development. The n/s orientation is better and its bigger.

Only you can decide if you are happy with the 'lack' of view!

I'd probably leave the one with the tree (if I am looking at the right house) the garden is north facing... so regardless of tee will be shaded.

Although if you can stretch to it that one that is bigger still looks great!!!

As my dad always says, only buy a house with a view if you can afford to buy the view. Nothing stopping it from being built on, of course if you own the field it can’t be

I agree.

Thanks for everyone that replied, didn’t get either in the end as they both sold before our mortgage offer was finalised. But you did get me thinking that I want somewhere with a view, and more than 2 car parking spaces. Am now being brave and looking at houses that need new kitchens/bathrooms/windows.

I wouldn't go for the view. Anything could happen tomorrow and you would be gutted,.a hedge planted, more housing anything.
Also my parents have a house with an amazing view . You look at it once for a couple of minutes when you first arrive, but then you are so used to it, you never really take much notice of it (not like when you're on holiday or something.)

I'd definitely go for the better layout. You spend most of your time living in the house, much less of it staring at a lovely view. We had a stunning view when we bought our house but the farmer hasn't maintained the field so thick brambles and a vast holly bush have grown up, obscuring it. Their right not to have to cut it back so there's nothing we can do.

Make some gorgeous corners to hide away with a book or a coffee in the house and garden, then go for lots of lovely walks nearby to admire the view.

Do be very careful about buying a house with a view OP - unless it is absolutely impossible to build within your view.

We bought a house 25 + years ago on a small development on the edge of a rural village. 10 years ago they built behind our back garden blocking our view. 6 years ago they built on the field across the road. 3 years ago they built on the field at the side of us. Just when we thought we had been completely surrounded, the farmer who owns the field (agricultural land) at the end of the road managed to get PP for a development directly opposite the end of our street (our living room faces the end of the road) so now we have absolutely no view of green fields anywhere from our house.

As someone said upthread - don't buy a house with a view unless you can also but the view!

buy not but

Absolutely wont be owning the fields!

Hold out for a view, op.

I’m amazed at the posters saying they forget about the view. I used to look out on the sea, but gave it up to move to a bigger house. I missed my view desperately; pined for years for an outlook that wasn’t houses and roads. Eventually I got my way and we moved back, not quite to the sea but now we have a beautiful view of hills in a national park. Every day there is something new to enjoy - vivid sunset, trees changing with the seasons, this morning it was mist rolling down the slopes. I could never get bored of this view.

Thankyou, I’m glad it’s not just me who needs the view! If it gets built on in 5 years I’ll have to move! Looking at non new builds with views

How much time in reality are you going to spend looking at the view bs how much time you’re going to be actually living in the house and needing enough storage/space?

Saying that would the smaller house be big enough?

Heard on the radio last week that a good view contributes to better mental health and a sea view is especially benificial.
Saying that we moved to live by the sea and my dh ended up depressed!!
Also my mental health would be seriously affected by parking difficulties. Wait until your children are young adults and park in your spot.

Both houses are gone now, so they’re not an option not looking at other houses with views that need a bit of work. I’m in the house 24/7 so the view is very important to me.
Bit thanks to everyone that replied i realise house layout and parking also are so back to the drawin board!

Sorry you missed out on these houses but I’m sure something will come up and you’ll be glad you waited for it.

I have a view and enjoy it every day. Can’t understand posters saying they don’t notice after a while.

We have a partial view now, can see a glimpse of a hill behind a house and it makes me really happy that it’s there! Even 10 years later.

And have realised that with future car driving aged kids the 2 parking spaces on the new build with no road to park on would have been an issue.