Two houses...which would you pick?

[Bells3032]

Both in similar areas

House A - in perfect condition. On a main road but slightly set back. Only 7 years old and beautiful. More than big enough for us. On the edge of good catchment for three good schools. Lovely garden. However, it's about a 20 minute walk from the station and high street (I reckon I will only be communing 1-2 days a week in future but my husband commutes). However, there is a bus literally outside that takes you to the station but it's a bit round the houses. Husband could cycle though. And about a 30 minute walk from my dad and sis who i am close to.

House B - on at 150-200k cheaper but needs to be refurbished etc. Also probably larger than we really need. Could just manage with repaint and re carpet but I'd prob redo kitchen and bathrooms etc to be happy and maybe consider a loft extension. Garden is small. Only in catchment for one good school and a couple of very poor ones. Also on a main road. However, it's a 5 minute walk to station and station and about a 15 minute walk to my dad and sister.

We are currently just married and living in a flat belonging to my in laws so could still live here whilst work was done. We are looking to have kids within the next couple of years.

Or do we just sit and wait and hope for something else?

House 1

Keep looking

I would wait

I also wouldn’t want to live on a main road

House A if you really have to but i would wait as neither sound ideal.

Neither. Keep looking. Main road is a big no

Main road would be a no in both cases

Wait. I'd never live on a main road. We're temporarily near a main road and I cannot bear the constant drone of traffic. Plus if you're actually on a main road, that level of air pollution is so bad for you.

If lockdown has taught me one thing, it's that a decent garden is priceless.

neither. the main road would rule it out.

if you haven't got kids yet, then don't worry too much about catchments because they may well change in the next 4 years.

I agree with neither one. House B with small garden in a large house is no good. And house A sounds ok but nothing special from what you've said.

I'm all for making a commute as short as possible but 20 minutes walking is really close in my opinion. My husband has done that for years and doesn't seem to find it too much, particularly with the option to cycle. I would go with house A definitely.

Keep looking.

We live on a main road and I hate it. I hate that there's always cars passing, I hate that when we want to park in our drive we either have to wait in a side road until we can quickly pull out and reverse back in, or we have to stop in the middle of traffic with everyone beeping at us as they cant wait 10 seconds while we manoeuvre. Also, with small children you have to be hyper vigilant, so we have installed an old school latch as well as the double key locks, so it's visible that the children can't escape easily.

We have a lovely big garden though, which we are currently landscaping, and will probably spend the majority of our time out there when the weather is good. If a decent garden is important to you, move on.

by main road I mean more a busy road than like an A road. House A is off a little side bit of the road so not directly on the main road so no backing out the car onto the main road or anything. House B is just off the high street and an area with lots of cars in the morning as it's right by a shopping centre and the entrance to the high street

It's a buyer's market. Keep looking.

You seem to want House A. I wouldn't buy either, as I said

If you’re wanting to bring up a family then better to be on a less busy road imo.
Just remember location is the most important factor.
When we bought a house in a busy small town we paid a premium to live in a cul de sac and also get a driveway.

Write a list of definite must haves and then a list of would like but not a necessity.

I think I’d wait.

House A

House A or keep looking.

Keep looking as neither are ideal and this is something that is going to affect you for years to come.