would you move from a house to a flat?

[Sparklemagic]

We need to seriously downsize our outgoings, because I want to be a SAHM for the next two or three years at least. We have sold our house and moved into a lovely small town where our son has his school place sorted for Sept. We're currently renting but don't want to be off the property ladder too long.

I just don't want to get trapped into a big mortgage as we are a small family (won't be having any more children, only have the one). So we only need a two bedroom place. We have seen a flat for sale that we could get just on my DH's salary, it's a converted large-ish detached house and the first floor flat is available. It comes with a garage and use of the fron and side gardens which are pretty big, not huge but useable.

Would you think this was a silly backward step? Does anyone live in this kind of house converted into two flats and is it OK or a nightmare?? Would love to know what you think!

lockets, if you're still reading, how many bedrooms and how big is your family? Sorry to be nosey!

i have lived in many flats and one house. didnt like the house. currently live in a bungalow. one floor living is the best. i can hear the kids if they cry, in any room, i can see wher they are most of the time as well. i dont worry so much about dd2 clumsiness, i know she is safe as she doesnt have stairs to worry about. i had a faboulous 2 bed flat a couple of years ago, tbh i wouldnt have left it if i wasnt planning on more kids (i only had 2 dd;s then).

wow! good luck with the third by the way!!

I currently live in a first floor flat and it's huge, its a big converted period property and we never get any noise from downstairs (no upstairs) and we have seperate entrances which is brill.
The only draw back for me is no garden space but we have just had an offer accepted on a beautifull 2 bed basement flat with huge garden.

Just remember that renting is like burning money, if you can afford to get on the property ladder do it and remember times have changed flats now sell just as well as houses so the invesment would be a good one.

I lived in flats for years just moved into our first house TBH it got to the stage I hated living in a flat neighbours were the problem, thumping up and down the stairs, banging doors etc also hated never having any private outdoor space. I think it would really have to be a great flat.

sparklemagic, i already have the 3rd, she is now a year old lol.

We lived in an apartment when we lived abroad ,where it is very much the norm. It actually worked better than expected and there were large communal gardens and play area as it was in a purpose built complex. Somehow it felt bigger than a house as it was more open plan and we got used to having the bedrooms on the same floor. We found living on an upper floor meant we got more light into the apartment than the ground floor and it felt more secure. As the children got older though we moved to a ground floor "apartment" (which in floor space terms was much larger than the average UK house) and then they had freer access to outside which worked better.

Never lived in a conversion myself but as long as the space has been used sensibly and the layout works for you then should be fine. As I understand it owning the freehold is a real plus but worth checking how it works regarding cost of maintenance of exterior and communal areas.

thanks misdee, flutter and sweetk. This is really useful to hear other people's experiences.

I am not too worried about noise as we'd be the upstairs ones probably being the nuisance! But obviously it is just one house converted so I'll need to check it carefully - still might get noise from downstairs I suppose - music, tv etc.

Flutter, this flat does have it's own front door too which is a plus point as well. I am very keen to get back on the property ladd and at the moment this is ticking loads of boxes as it gets us back on the ladder but at a price level where our quality of life will be improved and I won't just be so stressed about money all the time!