To move to a nicer house in a less nice area?

[Conkergame]

DH and I are planning to move quite a long distance, to have a better commute and be nearer family. There's a particular lovely town we want to move to and buy in eventually, but we're not in a position to buy just now and we don't know the area very well, so we're looking to rent for the first year, to get to know it better.

But it's just impossible to find a nice house to rent there! Hardly any come up and when they do there are 20+ people viewing them and it turns into a money race to the top, which makes it unaffordable.

However there are some flats available, which are smaller than where we live now and would leave us quite cramped, but DH thinks it's worth it for a year as at least we'd be in the town we want to be in and could learn more about what it's like to live there/where's good to buy etc. He says once we're back in the office (due in June) we won't notice the house so much as we do now/in lockdown.

I can see his point, but there's another town nearby (20 mins drive/on the train) which is not so nice and we are seeing more larger properties coming up there that we would be more likely to get as it's a less popular area. I feel like maybe we would be happier in a decent sized house in a nearby place, as we could still travel to the nicer town at weekends and wouldn't be so cramped in the meantime.

AIBU?

Tricky. Is it just these two options? Have you told the agents what you want? Something might come up that is a compromise and they could direct it straight to you without having to bother with viewings.

I wouldn't live for a year in a cramped flat. It could add stress.

Thanks @Cowbells unfortunately I think it is, as the train lines for work only go through these two towns in the general area, then they go through much more expensive towns after that.

yes, we've told the agents but there are so few properties coming up and so many people looking that they usually don't both contacting us as they don't need the business!

I agree with your DH.

I wouldn't buy a flat for a year, they can be tricky to sell, especially if leasehold. I personally would go for a larger property in a less good area.

Better a less nice house somewhere you love than the perfect house in an area you don’t like.

Location location location.
I always thought this was the idea but what you can afford in the best place.

I suppose it depends how small, but I would be tempted by the smaller flat in the right area if it's only temporary.

Depends how small, if it’s too small for you to enjoy living there then you can’t really afford the area imo. I know people who are cramming their families into tiny flats that they have no space in so they can live in “nice” areas, when they could afford a house in a perfectly decent area, it’s madness to me, but I suppose we all have different priorities.

I know people who are cramming their families into tiny flats that they have no space in so they can live in “nice” areas This will probably be us soon

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer, I would always go for location but I can't drive and like to walk to the shops/park plus have DC so think about catchment areas. I suppose if you rent for a year location doesn't matter as much because if you don't like it you can move more easily.

I'm with your dh. He is right in that you will only notice the smaller space when not in work. And then too you get to be out and about in the place that you like.

Definitely rent a flat in the better area as its only a year. He's right about getting to properly know an area before you buy as well. But, when will you be in a position to buy? It might depressing when you do go to buy and are faced with the same issue you have been faced with when looking to rent (i.e., no houses you can afford where you have been living for a year). Is it realistic to think you will be able to buy what you want in a place where you can't afford to rent what you want IYSWIM.

Depends how much "better" the area is. What makes it better, if it's prettier and has more cafes I would opt for the other area and a bigger home but if its crime, schools etc then that would be a no for me.

I would definitely go for the "better" area. We once compromised to get a larger house and it was the worst year of our lives. Antisocial behaviour caused a lot of stress and unhappiness. We sold at a loss just to get out. Isn't there a saying about buying the worst house on the best street?

Always always always location.