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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

house versus location

47 replies

Amber76 · 21/09/2016 16:46

We'd like to buy a house.

I have an area i love but it is expensive - we might be able to afford a small three bed semi there. Its a coastal town, somewhere tourists love.

We've seen an amazing house - much bigger, period style, great garden and its under budget. But the area isn't as great. Its an okay town - not really somewhere you'd go to unless you had to.

Dh thinks we're mad to not jump at the period house. Aibu to really want to live in the lovely coastal town in a much smaller house?

We have three young kids - schools are good in both places. Dh works about 25 mins from both places. I'm at home with kids.

Two places are about 30 mins apart. Such an important decision as it will be the town where the kids grow up.

Which is more important - house or location?

OP posts:

Giratina · 21/09/2016 16:48

I'd go for the nicer house personally if the area is ok, I'd only pass on a house like that if the area was awful. Think of the extra traffic in the tourist town too, it will be hellish trying to get around in summer.

SecondTimeIsBetter · 21/09/2016 17:01

Nice coastal touristy towns can be dead in winter and overcrowded in summer! I'd go for the bigger house.

YelloDraw · 21/09/2016 17:04

Most people say location not the house - but I'd probably go for thehouse!

solittletime · 21/09/2016 17:05

Always location over house for me. When children are older they can more easily get out and about.
But then I'm very much a popping out kind of person. It often surprises me just how much time other families are ablebto spend at home without going out. Often their houses have a more homely feel than mine though!
Which type of person/ family are you!

KnockMeDown · 21/09/2016 17:07

Can you share what the locations are?

Believeitornot · 21/09/2016 17:07

Location.

But I would question the location in your example - why do you like it, why is it suitable, what's wrong with the other location?

HereIAm20 · 21/09/2016 17:08

Is it going to be your forever home or a move soonish home?

If forever home go for the nice period home. Small children grow. The area may be up and coming and prices rise anyway.

If a stop gap home then go for the coastal town/small house with a chance of making more profit in the short term to reinvest in your forever home next time round.

Can the smaller house be extended (loft conversion/garden room extension) to give more space later when you have some spare cash etc?

Thefishewife · 21/09/2016 17:09

Personally being at home with the kids all day I would go for the bigger house

Op it's the actual street not the area my sister lives in Notting hill it's lovey to look at very affluent area she hates it always crying to me her neighbours are a bloody night mare she lives next to some artist guy who's is a sculpture and is alway frigging chipping away at the stone all day and any time of night he fancys also she can't really afford to shop were she lives tbh

I live in a ok area in a ok house we could of moved to a boss areas in a tiney house I have 3 kids can't be fucked with that that's why we moved in the first place as the old house was tiney

FlibbertigibbetArmadillo · 21/09/2016 17:10

I think we need to know the towns if you feel you can?
I'd normally say location is slightly more important than house, but it isn't always the case

EssexGurl · 21/09/2016 17:13

Location, Location, Locqtion.

The programme is called that for a reason.

NoncommittalToSparkleMotion · 21/09/2016 17:14

Hmm, tough one!

When you say "okay" town, are there any amenities/points of interest/things to do? Or, at the very least, can you drive/access via transport those things easily?

Also, does there need to be work done to the period house?

SolomanDaisy · 21/09/2016 17:18

We've always gone for location, including a coastal town, and never regretted it. It's not like you'll be having to live in a tiny apartment, a 3 bed semi is fine!

Original poster

Amber76 · 21/09/2016 21:15

I won't say locations as i'm in ireland and could easily out myself.
We are at home a lot - the period house would be a forever home whilst the smaller house we'd hope to trade up in time to come.

I've always wanted to live by the sea but i feel that i'd be putting my wants over what our little family of five really needs - space and affordability.

OP posts:

blueturtle6 · 21/09/2016 21:24

Depends on if you are stay at home types or out and about types. Personally id go house as I grew up in north and stuck indoors a lot of winter. Less family arguments in a big house

butterfly990 · 21/09/2016 21:34

I used to live in Dublin by the sea in a village and the community life was fabulous. The house was relatively small.

I knew someone who moved from the outskirts of Dublin to our village and was blown away by the community spirit and welcome they received.

I would go for location, although how well you get on with other If it is small house would play a factor.

t4nut · 21/09/2016 21:34

Hard one. Depends on how you think you're going to live and end up living.

Rented a house in an area thought I'd love with so many nice amenities. After living there a while realised what I'd pay for i wasn't using. Glad rented first as was expensive to buy and got more for my money elsewhere.

In this case will you or your family make more use of the house or the local area - now and in the future.

LugsTheDog · 21/09/2016 22:12

Visit the schools.

Unhelpfully it is just personal preference. You can probably have a lovely life in either house.

cluecu · 21/09/2016 22:27

I say go for house if location is ok. I live in an 'ok' location that has a huge park nearby but isn't classed as 'naice'. But the house we live in is right for is practically and financially and will be for others if we decide to sell. It isn't our forever home should we have children.

Btw it doesn't sound like it but i love my house despite it being very non descript.

PNGirl · 21/09/2016 22:42

I think ideally you'd want to move again fairly quickly as the kids age if you went for a small 3 bed. If you can afford for them to have their own rooms from the get-go then I would do it and go for the period house.

namechangedtoday15 · 21/09/2016 22:53

Location every time. Love everything about the place we live - neighbours / safe / amenities / nice area. House is okay (been in 6 years and only just extending). Is that an option for the coastal town - a smaller house but with potential to extend when finances allow?

I know it doesn't help but visited a friend who lived on the coast just outside Belfast. Honestly I love where I live (English surburbia) but I'd have lived there in a shot. I just felt relaxed walking into the house seeing the sea. Loved loved loved sitting in the garden having a morning coffee.

I realise that doesn't help but very jealous of the possibility of you living by the sea!

Queenbean · 21/09/2016 22:55

Location, Location, Location

The programme is called that for a reason.

But on the programme they often show them bigger houses further out!

I'd go with the house over location every time

UnderTheGreenwoodTree · 21/09/2016 22:57

Location, probably.

We compromised a tad on the location when we moved, got a bigger house in the next village - I did fall in love with our house - rather than a smaller house in the ultra desirable village we wanted a couple of miles away. I do still love the house - but I do regret it somewhat. I'm not where I quite want to be iyswim.

AntiHop · 21/09/2016 23:04

From what you'vd said I'd choose the better house.

GeekyWombat · 22/09/2016 00:08

We had a similar conundrum and went for the bigger house. We drive over to go for a walk at the beach every Sunday morning as a family and every Sunday morning I feel pangs that we live twenty minutes away. But I see what bedlam it becomes with traffic in the summer and as we drive home I know it was the right decision.

I do talk to my husband about how if we had a lottery win or retired we could move there once the children are grown though...

Original poster

Amber76 · 22/09/2016 00:15

Thanks so much for all responses.

Couldn't extend smaller house really. But period house could be improved upon, even though its already lovely.

I know that the bigger house is the sensible, practical choice for a family. But i wonder if i'll always yearn for a coastal home?

Have looked at schools and spoken to Principals - would be happy with schools in either place..Slight preference for school in coastal location.

Its just that the town where the bigger house is one of those places that people pass through and don't stop in - its okay,it has shops, etc. Activities for the kids, etc. Mixed opinion from people we've talked to as whether it has good community spirit.

Coastal town is touristy and has a lot going on, even in winter. Its somewhere that i'd be proud for my kids to say that there is where they are from. Dh thinks i am overthinking the whole thing and tying myself up in knots..

OP posts:

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