House hunting... putting childrens needs first!!! or??

[kiwisbird]

We're off to Lincs tomorrow to view soem houses for our planned summer move.
TORN!
We can have large cottages with grounds and sometimes a paddock and stuff... bit out of town and remote, 2 miles from schools etc
Or we can have executive large new build in upamrket non estate type - small but ok garden, close to schools and shops and life in general... price is not a differential factor...
WE are viewing a converted chapel... its so fabulous I know I will want it if I see it... DH says, we really should be closer to other families for the kids sakes...
What do you wise people reckon?
Kids are ds 10 and dd 18 mths and another planned for early next year (should I ever be stress free for long enough to contemplate a bonk that is....)

noddy we are lucky as it is really desireable area and we have a huge house, very popular area, not got the details out from our agent yet, will know interest levels from potential buyers in 1-2 weeks I guess, agent says should go easily
fingers crossed!

we are in the same v.good area huge totally renovated maisonette in catchment for v.good schools etc.However several keen buyers changed their minds when advised by solicitors that there is a possibility that the shop below could change(at present an estate agents)We now have a buyer who just loved the character and location so we are keeping our fingers crossed.I personally think I feel safer above a shop and it feels v.private

where are you noddy?
WE are ok as types of shp[s that can open here are restricted

I am in Brighton the shops are a v small parade in a v sought after area.We are on the corner with our own front door and small terrace very pretty.All viewers loved it but said it was probably harder to sell and hence harder to mortgage than a conventional property which was hassle as property in this area is expensive.In the end it sold for a bit less than other similar flats not over shops

funny huh!
the gap between 3 bedroom houses with as much space as we have and our flat is about £70k at minimum. Amazing!
We also have own entrance and residents car park, own patio and stuff, very private really.

I'm thinking about moving to London with my two children (10 and 12). I'm really nervous at the thought of uprooting them though, even though if it comes off the area I'll be in will be excellent schools-wise and ultimately I think it will be good for them. Ds is due to start Year 6 in September 2004 and dd will start year 9.

Any advice on timing from anyone? I've always taken great pains to keep them at the same schools even though we've moved within our local area quite a few times.

spacemonkey - in your shoes If you really want to move then would do it as soon as possible. At least then your 12 year old will be settled into a new school by the time GCSE course stuff starts or try to time it for when 10 year old changes schools.

i agree jaybee

if we were to move this summer, ds would have a year at primary school, then move up to sec school with his mates, and dd will have time to settle in before taking her options (she's almost 13)

i couldn't move if she had started her GCSE courses, so it'll have to be sooner rather than later

i guess i'm interested to know if anyone has done this and what the children's emotional reactions were to the change?

particularly moving from a provincial town in hicksville to london!

hi spacemonkey, which area are you moving to? there's a limited choice with excellent state secondary schools...

as you drive, I'd go for the cottages and paddocks and stuff - know the area a bit as my dad is up that way and you can get SO much for your money . The thing is IMO that in the villages, people do exactly the same stuff as we do in town, they just factor in having to drive to do it. I have friends in a very rural part of Aberdeenshire and they were always doing something with their children who are now in their late teens, say they loved their upbringing and would do the same when they had children. All of that has had an influence on our house sale and imminent (huh, if the solicitors ever do what they're paid for) move. Bit rambly sorry, lacking sleep and brain cells...

camden BK

sorry, i didn't mean to hijack - will start another thread!

my ds will be yr 6 sept 2004, hence the timing of move, he will be going into grammar school system...erks

kiwisbird - whereabouts in Lincolnshire are you looking? We have friends out that way.

I think there have been a lot of threads on this basic theme, Kiwisbird, how to trade off different types of family needs.... See threads by me about moving primary school and "Calling all townies, remind me why I don't want to live in the country?", and Nutcracker asking whether schools or a garden is more important. We are trading off house prices (cheaper out in the country), Nutty is trading off a garden, sounds like you are trading off open space in country vs. city services.

Our current plan is to move to a rural market town for 3 years, then reassess whether we stay for another 3 years or move back to the city and "better" schools, more expensive housing, less space over all. We'll come back almost certainly for when my eldest starts secondary, though; I am NOT willing to ever play chaffeur to my teenagers.

Grumpyzebra - where are you thinking of moving to?

jaybee we are flexible, but owing to ds being a "gifted" child we aim for the really good grammar school, near Sleaford as we assume he will ace 11+ and get in, so then village with good primary for dd and future babe(s)
So we have a lot of flexibility, the gramar school is not the be all and end all, he will succeed anywhere, of that I am sure...
Where is good?
LOL

They live not far from Bourne which also has a Grammar school - they are hoping that theirs get into there.