Location, location location - the perrenial house buying dilemma

[LIZS]

We're currently looking for a house in one fo a number of villages. It has raised in my mind the dilemma of how far do you rate location over size of house/garden and suitability to your family/lifestyle.

For example, in one village pricewise there is little between an extended semi-detached house with very small 4th bedroom, no ensuite, no garage but planning consent for one etc on a lane overlooking open ground, close to village centre, and one further along the main road, large 4 bed detached with scope for updating and 150' garden. The one in prime location is likely to sell very quickly and as we haven't got an offer on ours will no doubt escape serious consideration anyway, so the issue atm is purely rhetorical !

Where would you compromise ?

Hi, LIZS - I would never ever compromise on location again (when we next buy). As the saying goes....
Are you staying in the area?

Would compromise on other things.

Must meet up soon!

i would not live by a main road for anything. space wise, it depends how many people you have living in your house. i live in a 3 bed, but only have one dd (and no plans for more) so it's fine for us. if we had more children, our house would be too small (not just because of the number of beds) and we would need to move. i'm lucky because i live in a beautiful village and i could easily move not too far away and get more for my money in a slightly less beautiful village. I still wouldn't live by a main road though - spent 9 years living under the main route into Heathrow and now value the silence!

Have to say the location of 2nd house is , for me, a compromise too far ! Speed limit outside is 50mph . btw it is probably practically on your doorstep Dinny !

We're in the same boat. Looking at two houses today, one has only three bedrooms but backs onto the park and beach. Also walking distance to shopping etc.
The other one is a much better size for us with garage etc. but we'd probably need a second car. Both are walking distance to good schools and both are on cul-de-sacs.
It's a tough choice!

SkerriesMum

Where are you ??

Halifax, Canada I know I'm very lucky!

It's harder though when you have "too much" choice...

OMG - is it between B and G, LIZS?

we are on a very bust road atm and we are going to move again in three months.

We (very boringly) prioritised, and made a checklist of Things We Need (inc. garden, location) and Things We Would Like (garage, large kitchen etc). The Would Like list was the things we'd compromise over, the Needs were the dealbreakers.

It was very handy to directly compare houses and helped us be sensible - we fell in love with a pretty cottage but eventually bought an ugly modern house because it ticked more boxes - and it was so the right decision!

yes Dinny ! We may still go and have a look as there are others very similar which are set back from the road, not for sale atm though ! will you stay nearby ?

we are basically on that road and it is too busy for us ( though not very set back). is it near the garden centre?

yes, we will stay nearby. ooooh, move near us - our dds would be at same school...?