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AIBU?

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Original poster

Which house should we buy?

47 replies

Animallover87 · 21/08/2022 12:56

Same price.

House 1 - great location and handy for schooling/shops etc (no DC yet but TTC) 3 bed 1 bathroom and needs a new roof and garage roof. Won't have loads of spare money for this. It's about 60 years old.

House 2 - lovely rural location, quiet, still 3 bed but this one has 3 bathrooms. HUGE garden and house is only 13 years old and looks like a new build. Less convenient for amenities, there is a primary school in the village but would need to drive future DC to it.

Me and DH both drive and are both full time teachers. House 2 we get so much more for our money and it's gorgeous. I just worry about being frustrated at being less handy for things. Houses are only about 15 mins max drive apart.

Please help us make a decision!

OP posts:
QuebecBagnet · 21/08/2022 13:01

How would house 2 work from a practical point of view if you and dh are both teachers? Because I assume after maternity leave you wouldn’t be taking them to school? So in the more rural location are there childminders who would take them to school? Do they start early enough for you to drop dc there and get yourself to work? If it works I’d get house 2. I had to drive Dd to primary school for five years, it was fine.

Original poster
Animallover87 · 21/08/2022 13:04

We haven't figured out the logistics for primary school, but as long as we could drop DC off at school by 8ish we could get ourselves to work on time. House 1 would prob save about 10 mins in the morning. Also my dad is desperate for us to have DC and I know he would be willing to help out as his job is very flexible.

OP posts:
Bellyups · 21/08/2022 13:06

I’d go with house no 2

carefullycourageous · 21/08/2022 13:08

I'd always choose convenience so house 1. I've had a smaller house than many of my friends due to opting for location first, but definitely an easier life and less ferrying about to do. The value of my house was more secure too as the urban area near schools is always desirable.

GingerPigz · 21/08/2022 13:10

House 2 for sure... we moved to a small village location when DS was yr 4 and DD was yr 3 - it has been wonderful to be part of a safe and caring rural community. We could walk to the primary school but there was a little school bus that collected pupils from nearby villages. Absolutely love where we live! (That said, after 9 years we are now trying to move back to the city... The DC's have outgrown their attic rooms and are desperate for a more active social life)

Rainbowqueeen · 21/08/2022 13:10

How many DC are you planning?? Is this a long term home?

House 2 sounds like a lot of work to me. 3 bathrooms means more cleaning, big garden means lots to maintain. Do you have the time and the inclination to do that??

Im also not clear what the most important factors in a house are for you. You haven’t said anything much about the internals.
It sounds like you have fallen in love with house 2 but for me after years of living rurally in a house with huge garden I’d go house 1. I’m sick of maintaining my garden and having to drive DC everywhere due to lack of public transport

fufflecake · 21/08/2022 13:10

Which one speaks to your heart

Original poster
Animallover87 · 21/08/2022 13:15

Thanks for the replies!

I want house 2 in the location of house 1 🙃

I've been so used to rural life I feel this is a chance to finally be more convenient for things!

We are only planning one DC. We are both getting on a bit!

I want the convenient one but DH wants the bigger rural one. I'm sure I'd be happy in both. Also I really do like peace and quiet and I would like a bit garden and more than one bathroom. I'm so torn!

OP posts:
ThinkingForEveryone · 21/08/2022 13:19

House 1 for me, 3 bathrooms to keep on top of sounds like hell unless you can afford a cleaner!

maddiemookins16mum · 21/08/2022 13:23

House 2, no question.

flirtygirl · 21/08/2022 13:26

House 1 is a winner.

Reasons:

  1. Large gardens are hard to maintain.
  2. The convenience will be great with young kids.
  3. The convenience is also better in current economy if your finances change, you can still get to places, rurally you would be stuck in had no car for any reason.
  1. 3 bathrooms is a no.
  1. If you choose house 2, you may have to move when kids are teens or preteens as getting around will be more difficult or you will become their constant taxi driver.
flirtygirl · 21/08/2022 13:27

Reason 1 got deleted.

  1. Would always choose the 60year old house over the 13 year old house.
flirtygirl · 21/08/2022 13:28

Aargh still got labelled no 2 and not 1.

When will mumsnet give us an edit button.

SwedishEdith · 21/08/2022 13:29

House 1. If you're both teachers, how will you manage the dropping off for school and getting to school yourselves?

SwedishEdith · 21/08/2022 13:32

I'd never choose a house which made me car dependent. Is there any public transport?

Anonymouseposter · 21/08/2022 13:33

If you are intending to stay there for a long time the convenience of House 1 would be better. Your children will be able to meet friends and get to activities independently much earlier. I lived rurally and was driving kids around until they were nearly adult.

CaptainMerica · 21/08/2022 13:33

Is there lots of wrap-around childcare choice in location 2? It's easy to assume there will be options if you are willing to pay for them, but in many locations there is really literally nothing.

Several friends who lived very rurally came to really dislike it during maternity leave. I think they mostly missed the idea of being able to step out of their house and go for a walk with the pram, if there were no pavements, etc.

Anonymouseposter · 21/08/2022 13:37

Yes-rural houses-no pavements, poor streetlighting, few busses-none after 6pm.
I didn't realise that it would be very difficult for teenagers when buying with a 2 year old.

mamabear715 · 21/08/2022 13:43

House 2 appeals to me. Although that's after living in a 200 yr old money pit, 60 yrs is probably fine!
I'd try & kid myself on that I'd put an offer on one or the other, see if you feel uplifted or depressed.. maybe I'm just weird, but it works for me! ;-)

custardbear · 21/08/2022 13:44

House 2

Quartz2208 · 21/08/2022 13:44

Neither sound right you seem to be compromising on too much in both of them

and driving to a primary school is a no from me

are these really the only two options

fufflecake · 21/08/2022 13:45

Would you be happy in house no.1 if ttc didn't work out?

Randomthoughts992 · 21/08/2022 14:03

Id go house 2 and deal with the logistics

ariesalien · 21/08/2022 14:15

House 2 sounds better to me as long as you're happy with driving more

Snoken · 21/08/2022 14:20

If you are stopping at 1 child I would definitely go with house 1. It can be very isolating for only children to live rurally. If there is more of a community there is a bigger chance of bumping into other kids in the park, bringing other kids home from school etc.

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