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Original poster

Big house in ok location or small house in great location

60 replies

FlowersLucy · 19/01/2023 03:31

We live overseas. We have the equivalent of about 700GBP (with a mortgage) to use for a house where we live now.

At the moment we live (rent) in a very sought after beach town by the sea. No gardens, or space but the sea is on the doorstep and the atmosphere is great. That amount would buy us an ok but VERY small house with a tiny slip of a garden (we have two DSs - 6&8). Houses very close together.

OR we could move further inland to a more quiet town and buy essentially what is a mansion in my eyes, with a pool and huge garden, heaps of space but quite a boring area. 45 min / 60 mins drive from the sea and beach.

WWYD?

OP posts:
subtoprem · 19/01/2023 03:34

I would stay by the beach.

Leobynature · 19/01/2023 03:36

How often do you go to the beach? Are you outdoorsy or indoor people? Surely the answer depends on your lifestyle

LHReturns · 19/01/2023 03:40

How important will return on investment be to you?

Original poster
FlowersLucy · 19/01/2023 05:30

We live the beach and swimming. Not sure if pool would meet that need though.

@LHReturns sorry, not quite sure what you mean?

OP posts:
LHReturns · 19/01/2023 05:31

FlowersLucy · 19/01/2023 05:30

We live the beach and swimming. Not sure if pool would meet that need though.

@LHReturns sorry, not quite sure what you mean?

Sorry I worded it terribly. If you want to see a significant increase in the value of the house, I would always go with the best location…

Frenchfancy · 19/01/2023 05:34

Stay by the beach.

Original poster
FlowersLucy · 19/01/2023 05:35

LHReturns · 19/01/2023 05:31

Sorry I worded it terribly. If you want to see a significant increase in the value of the house, I would always go with the best location…

Show quote history

That’s helpful thank you

OP posts:
Tamarindtree · 19/01/2023 05:36

Location is always better than size of property.

BananaSpanner · 19/01/2023 05:40

I’m not sure there is a completely right answer. We chose location/smaller house over bigger house in ok location but mainly for secondary school choices.

Im mainly ok with the decision and we will very likely get the school we want but I can’t lie, the lack of space for how much we spent does bug me at times.

WouldBeNiceToSleep · 19/01/2023 05:42

Beach. I used to live in NZ & those were the options. Personally never regretted choosing the beach.

Dontsparethehorses · 19/01/2023 05:44

I was all set to say small house but I think no garden and 2 young children makes summer harder (even if so near coast) and 45mins still feels close to beach (spot the mn-er who lives in the midlands no where near the coast!) so I would be tempted to go for bigger house. Is there no compromise about 20mins from coast with in between house size? If the area of the bigger house is dire then definitely go with smaller house though…

HandsOffMyCarrierBags · 19/01/2023 05:47

Beach 100%

but maybe find a house which has the potential to extend

HandsOffMyCarrierBags · 19/01/2023 05:48

A tiny slip of garden would be fine for me if the sea was on the door step and the area enjoyable

AllIwantforChristmas22 · 19/01/2023 05:49

Always location over size

nzeire · 19/01/2023 05:51

We have the tiniest house in the best area, wouldn’t swap it for anything!

managed just fine with little ones too, kept on top of the clutter.

TrianglePlayer · 19/01/2023 06:05

I agree with others. As long as you have a garden, albeit small, that you can let the kids play in unattended if you are busy and can’t take them out, then I’d go for current location. We live in a house in an amazing location but our garden is small. We have so much on our doorstep though that it doesn’t really matter.

Original poster
FlowersLucy · 19/01/2023 07:59

Thanks these comments are so helpful!!

OP posts:
SirWalterElliot · 19/01/2023 08:04

Would be the house near the beach for me (assuming the weather is good enough to be outdoors regularly).

Greenfairydust · 19/01/2023 08:21

Always choose the best location.

You can always try to improve the house but there is nothing you can do about the location...

So I would go for beach.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/01/2023 08:24

Location, always. I’ve just massively downsized for a great location and don’t regret it at all.

Redlorryyellowlorryblue · 19/01/2023 08:27

Location, location, location.

Original poster
FlowersLucy · 19/01/2023 08:33

SirWalterElliot · 19/01/2023 08:04

Would be the house near the beach for me (assuming the weather is good enough to be outdoors regularly).

Weather is great 🙂

OP posts:
SheilaFentiman · 19/01/2023 08:33

I would go for the big house. Your children are growing, being able to have friends over when they are teens and use the pool etc are good options.

BigotSpigot · 19/01/2023 08:39

Definitely stay where you. We moved to a big house with a huge garden (different but good location) from a house in London with a tiny garden when ours were 6 and 8... and they barely go in the garden let alone play in it!

HeyBearILoveYou · 19/01/2023 08:42

I'm sat in my small house, in my epic location, with my two inherited teenagers and 9 month old baby, and would 100% go for space.

Believe me, living on top of each other when they're older is NO FUN AT ALL (there's only so many head clearing sea walks you can escape on).