AIBU that to stay mortgage free this house is fine !

[Whattheactual20201]

I know you can’t see them them in person but help settle a debate !

We have 3 kids between us, 14,7 and a baby we have a 3 bedroom house in a slightly
More expensive area than the one in link but pretty local to each other.
The house I like is a bit further out than ours currently but with lovely outdoor space locally for walk: woodland animals etc but only
0.5 miles away from station.
It is cheaper than our current home and would officially mean I become mortgage free. We were looking at 4 bedrooms due to kids ages but this is a 3 bed but has 2 receptions room so thinking we could use one as a room as my DS is 14 so not a young child.
It also 2 bathrooms so that’s helpful.
DH prefers going for a 4 bed and keeping reception rooms and 2 bathrooms and closer to where we are now ( we both drive and have cars ) this would mean having a mortgage for longer.

This is the house we are looking at I think
It will be suitable he doesn’t 😅 but think he might just hate the house haha

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73182624?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=whatsapp#/

[RightOnTheEdge]

My God! What is wrong with some of you people?

The OP has asked a completely reasonable question about a house and she's been accused of being a troll, a stealth boaster and been questioned on whether her child is actually hers because she doesn't care about him enough because of a bedroom not being good enough for him in a house they don't even own.
She's even had to show a picture of medical stuff to shut people up who doubted her child's major illness!
It's bloody ridiculous.

[Whattheactual20201]

@Thedarknightsaredrawingin I love love that last house ! I’ve just sent the DP it ( at work )

[Whattheactual20201]

@RightOnTheEdge I do regret asking haha
I literally have nothing to hide

I work as a make up / costume / hair stylist I was very fortunate that my skills were picked up early and have had some fantastic career opportunities. I also prioritised my mortgage maybe more than I should have at times where maybe we could do used money in other ways instead of paying or more than I needed to. I was also extremely lucky that when my DD did fall unwell ( she is doing much better ) that my family financially covered my income loss whilst we were waiting.
I know I am very fortunate but I am also not loving in a mansion. I have a very old car and walk around in black primark leggings and jumpers most days. Haven’t replaced my boots in 3 years !

[Thedarknightsaredrawingin]

@Whattheactual20201 DH will testify, house hunting is my strong point! I’m wasted in current job, should be Phils new companion on Location, location, location

[unevengap]

I have a similar age spread with 3 dc and we are moving to something like the OP's Hampton house to something more like the Begonia Place house. We've really had enough of open plan living (especially in lockdown!) and I really think 4 bedrooms is essential with those age gaps. We're in London too but looking north so I don't have much local knowledge of the areas.

We're lucky to be mortgage-free on our current home, but our next one will be quite a lot more expensive. Being mortgage-free is nice, but our jobs are stable with expectations of promotion, so we don't feel it's a big risk to take on a mortgage. Having a small, manageable mortgage is much less stressful than the stress of all being cramped together with not enough space!

[Whattheactual20201]

Wow sorry it’s feeding time here and a creamy dog those typos were horrendous ! My apologies !

[Ellmau]

It's an awkward layout and I wouldn't fancy the flying freehold over someone else's house either.

The Twickenham one is better, but tbh unless you anticipate financial difficulties I'd bite the bullet and get a mortgage for something bigger.

[Whattheactual20201]

Haha @Thedarknightsaredrawingin he likes it to ! Will show the kids in the morning ! May have just saved me months of debating !

[Thedarknightsaredrawingin]

Hope it’s in a lovely area! Let us know how you get on with the family conference!

[SleepingStandingUp]

Begonia and turn the downstairs bedroom in to a playroom / music room

[TatianaBis]

I never said it was substantially cheaper, I said you get more house for your money. Your claim that the normal price of a small flat in EM is 650k is incorrect.

Sigh. More house for your money = cheaper. Not really true. That applies to flats too - 650k is a 2 bed flat in Wandsworth and much the same in EM. Like this

[Lalliella]

Ooh yes go for the last house darknights found, that one is lovely. I love a house thread! I think you should go for a 4 bedroom house so each DC can have their own room. Then even if your oldest goes to uni he still has his own place when he comes home.

[TatianaBis]

OP you don’t have to explain yourself. Anyone who bought property in London the 90s or 2000s has seen the value rise exponentially. It’s no-ones fault.

[Streamside]

It looks lovely and the bi fold doors are a nice touch. I'd be worried about the lack of a utility room or laundry area. Practical things like where you hang your coats or keep the ironing board there's not a lot of storage.

[Whattheactual20201]

Tatiana it’s not only this one though any thread ( not mine ) but you know like
Posts etc it’s like no one can be a high earner or they are trolls who do they think lives in the houses in London.

[TatianaBis]

@Thedarknightsaredrawingin Good finds!

[Dddccc]

First House you would have to put a wall up as he would be without a room really and second house kitchen is way tooo small

[CuppaZa]

I’m with your husband here. You may be mortgage free, but you’ll have other problems with all of you living in that!

[StillCoughingandLaughing]

@London1977

Your 14 year old child should have his own room, not a converted reception room downstairs. I mean that's ridiculous. I wonder if your 14 year old son is really your step son, because I can't imagine wanting to put your 14 year old in a downstairs reception room.

What absolute, unmitigated crap. Do you think there’s something intrinsic in a room that makes it a reception room rather than a bedroom - something that’s going to make a 14 year-old feel desperately unloved?

Newsflash - stick a bed in a reception room instead of a sofa and voila: it’s now a bedroom. Also, apart from the fact that this reception room isn’t downstairs, never heard of a fucking bungalow?

[CrazyCatLazy]

@DrinkRefilled

Jeeeeeeeeesus Christ!!! I take it you’re near London? How do you all afford to live down there?
No live in the north (the proper north, not Manchester) and £650k would but you a 10 bed mansion.

I was thinking the same 😂. I bought mine 3 years ago, it’s just been valued at £140k (23k more than I paid) and it’s pretty huge. 3 double bed, 2 bath, separate dining room, utility room with a huge garden and off street parking.
My friend that lives down south says he doesn’t ever think he will be able to move out! It’s crazy how prices vary in one country.

[CrazyCatLazy]

Hope you manage to find something OP 😁

[Whattheactual20201]

@StillCoughingandLaughing what’s funny is the only reason we are moving is because of that said unloved child to make sure he keeps having his own room.

[PeggyHill]

Wow, some people on this thread are massively projecting...

I think it's a bit of stretch to start saying that a 14 yo being a giving a downstairs bedroom is somehow unloved. Life is really fucking great if that is what constitutes a bad childhood these days.

[SleepingStandingUp]

I've realised in too working class for opinions on these lovely houses op, but I'd hire darkknight as your Phil

[StatisticalSense]

I would say that if you move to a house with one reception room that you could guarantee that you'd never see your 14 year old as he'd stay in his room all day to avoid the younger siblings but considering this is the poster who thought that leaving him alone all day on Xmas would be preferable than leaving her sleeping daughter with trained health care staff she'd probably be happy with that.