Estate vs Non Estate

[estatenonestate]

Currently getting our house ready to put on the market (we are not crazy - we have done a lot of work to the house and even if price dips slightly, we are still in a good position).

We want to stay in the same area. Current house is 1980s house in what can only be described as bungalow- ville. We are on a culdesac. Looking at a house on a new build estate that is 3 years old. Kids school friends are all there, good location. House is big and spacious with decent garden, play area at end of the road.

Other houses in the area are all older bungalows or older style chalets on main roads. But they are all advertised as being Non- Estate houses. Why is this seen as a good thing? They are all family homes but kids won't be able to play in the street or knock for their friends. Are we going to regret moving onto an estate? I want the kids to be able to hang out with friends, cycle their bikes up and down etc. The non estate house feels like something we might want once tbe kids are at university. But surely easier to be on an estate with friends when they are young?

It's tough - I guess we have to remember there is always a compromise - somewhere.

Personally for me it would be the Petersfield house as locality to shops and train is really important to me - i'm such a townie - also DH job requires we have to be near a station. I can only see the house prices go up in that particular area. BUT that is just me and my considerations yours will be different. From the viewpoint of a Year 11 mum - ( which you may wish to disregard as frightfully a long time away) easy access to excellent colleges is also a plus - Bohunt Sixth form, Godalming, HSDC Havant, HSDC Alton - all excellent provision.

There is space between the main road and the houses - kind of like a verge and you might find that local kids make use of the ample driveways. Something else to consider is activities getting to that age when after school activities are very important - how much driving around do you want to do ?

As I say - these are just my reasonings though based on my circs.

I would never move into an estate. My children are 8,10 and 12. I live in an older area but very urban. My friend used to think it was weird my kids didn't have friends on the road to play with. She then moved into an estate, cúl de sac. Well did she change her mind, kids knocking on the door all the time, kids just walking into her home, she's not mean but can't give her kids an ice pop without giving one to every kid in the cúl de sac, Kids parents getting over familiar, bring asked to watch little Johnny whilst Mammy pops to the shops, trying to get kids to bed when others are still out playing. Then there's the fights, arguments between kids. She hates it. My sister also lives in an estate and she feels the same. I'm lucky I've a huge back garden so kids play there together and we also arrange for friends to visit.

Oh, for me personally (also a y11 mum) it would be the Petersfield house hands down too, I'm more of a townie and also in the non-estate camp. An excellent secondary school, easy access to all those 6th forms / colleges, direct train to London, sports centre, outdoor swimming pool, there is a great youth theatre group too and I'm sure lots of other clubs and sports provision, nice shops and restaurants, still close to lots of lovely countryside. I don't live there but do like it.

@expletivedelighted I can see myself living there as an ageing but active old lady everything in easy reach!

I suppose in other counties when you consider secondary schools when moving you do also look at sixth forms and destinations .

My flat was in an estate. Loved it but in the summer it was a nightmare. The noise from kids out in the street was a nightmare. There were skateboarding ramps built in the car park, football played against the walls & what is it with wee girls and their need to just run around screaming 😂

None of the children lived in the flats they all lived in the townhouses with big gardens but their parents encouraged them to use our car park because it was safer than being out on the road.

When I moved I opted for a much older house in quiet village cul de sac. It's great
I'd never live in an estate again but I can certainly see the appeal for families

House two for me; I despise new builds (currently live in one). Prefer a house with a bit of character and I love that garden!

@OrangeCinnamon I do really like the Petersfield house. It is pretty perfect but tbe niggle is the main road and the lack of space for the kids to play out with friends. I wonder if I will get over that though! I do really like tbe house. Hmm 🧐

I love our estate (although we prefer to call it a “development”) 😁
There’s a FB group and nobody bitches on it or falls out on it and we all help eachother out. The stuff that’s been given away the last couple of months has been amazing and if you need help someone will usually offer. Pre Covid we organised events etc
It’s very big and made up of several dead end roads and cul de sacs with a few green areas too so safe for the dc, I really do like living here

New build estate usually means the houses aren’t the best quality and it’s a bit like living in a goldfish bowl. Also, more likely to have overbearing neighbours and there’s usually a ‘keeping up with the Jonese’ competition going on. We tried it. Lasted a year. I’m not the most social of people and like my privacy and space, so it wasn’t for us. New build estates aren’t usually forever homes, if there is such a thing.

However, the benefits are that your kids will be surrounded by friends, you can ask your neighbours for a quick favour and you’ll make friends easily yourself. It’s a shame you can’t live in them part time! I’d have maybe coped with that.

I should have enabled voting. I don't know if the pros out weigh the cons long term. But I don't know if tbe pros to a non estate house outweigh the cons in the short term. I feel like I am being tortured 😩🤷‍♀️🏠

It really does depend on the estate, when we bought our house 18 years ago we looked at loads on estates as we wanted a new build. We hated most of them due to proximity to other houses, small gardens, claustrophobic, etc until we found this one that we love
The estate is big but built in several parts that attach to older roads and there’s a big wood in the middle. It really is lovely here but I can see why a big sprawling estate wouldn’t appeal

I do think new build estates in your area are different to the rest of the country though. I visited my friend in hers just outside of Norwich.....nothing else around , one corner shop and a supermarket!

How fo you envisage your life in five years time, in ten years time? What makes it easier? What could you put up with ? What is non-negotiable as part of your lives?

I should have enabled voting

Op it’s fairly unanimous, you just need to read the thread to see that, most people don’t wish to live in new build estates but understand you do and why you feel it benefits you personally . Voting wouldn’t have told you anything different.

Bear in mind that some of us have posted because we know the area rather than having DCs the same age as yours which might change things.

We live on a new build estate next to a park. Safe for children to play out and bike ride. Shops at top they can walk to. Bus stop to all secondary schools at bottom. Primary school in walking distance. Estate Facebook group and a nice neighbourly spirit. My DC. is a teen now but set up ideal for families with kids.

Have been thinking about the goldfish bow and overlooked, close together comments. And when I look out of my window in my current home, I see houses everywhere. I guess I am on an estate already. Albeit a much older one with proper roads. T he houses are actually quite close together and by luck the garden is quite private. This is probably why I don't see much difference with the new estate. The houses are just more modern. Anyway thanks everyone for your thoughts. It has given us a lot to think aboutz

But what house you want to. Don't listen to strangers on what to buy. I bet half of them couldn't afford the 'lovely' house on a main road anyway, or wouldn't choose to live there due to location. I don't think it's that nice for half a million, it's a bit boring.

If you want the estate house, get it. Your kids know the kids there already, they have friends there. You've only got to live there for maybe 20 years tops, and can then downsize and move, if you want to.

Yeah the ‘overlooked goldfish bowl’ comments always come out on these threads. Along with words like ‘despise’. It’s very boring.

I moved to my goldfish bowl from a period semi with a box room and tiny garden, overlooked by at least four houses. 🤷‍♀️

Non estate every time... I live on a street that was well established with mainly older retired residents alongside the odd younger family.
In the past three years it’s changed considerably, lots and lots of young families have moved in, lots of children running around (my own son included at times), the noise is endless but even more off putting us the constant rows between the children, bad feeling amongst the parents, my son navigating who’s allowed to play with who and who isn’t.....
I can’t wait to move!
You’ll want the non estate house after a few years of living on the estate. Go for that option and save yourself the bother of another move in a few years!!

For those interested, went to see two houses. The first was the bungalow I posted below. Hallway excellent, great lounge/diner and option to knock through to kitchen. Great garden. Green option for play room. Bedrooms won't work with tbe kids and the drive way is very very narrow and the house is very close to the road. It may be non estate but too many negatives.

Saw estate house. Yes very bland but good space. Neighbours in front are quite far back due to layout of drive ways and access. Side neighbour separated by double garage. Back neighbour is fine from Tbr garden. But in the master bedroom because Of the levelling the back neighbours kitchen is in line with the bedroom. You can see what they are doing in their kitchen. This is the reason it isn't selling.

Ahhh that doesn't sound fun! Perhaps more coming on market soon.

Oh, that's a shame. Thank you for updating. Are you viewing either of the others?

What was really nice when we were at the estate house was that some of the kids my son knows were out on their bikes and they were calling over to him. But I need to be able to walk around naked without wondering if someone can see me!

Virtual tour of the Petersfield house posted below on Monday. They won't allow proper tour unless you have offer accept on your house

With young children, definitely estate.

When DS was 2 a large estate was started on the edge of our village. 9 years later they are on the final phase. About two thirds of the children in DS and DD’s classes live there , it’s a very sociable place. The side effect is that few families with children live in our cul de sac anymore.