Nice area or bigger house?????

[welovesausagedogs]

Ok we currently live in a flat in north west london. We are trying to make the decision between the two houses.

House 1: £875, 000

• 4 bedroom terrace, 2 small reception rooms - house needs lots of work
• small decked garden
• Walking distant from our current flat, DS nursery and excellent school
• waling distance from small local park, tube station, restaurants (pizza express, strada), library, church, ballet class, hairdressers, nice shops etc.

House 2: £739, 950 (higher than they normally go for, so room for negotiation)

• 5 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms - large garden - house has been done up to our taste - but there is still things we would like to do in the future e.g. loft.
• 10 minute drive from nursery and school that we want DS to go to
• walking distance from lovely, large park, has a nice cafe there
• walking distance from the tube station.

This is the dilema we are facing, do we go for a house in not such a nice area so the kids can have their own rooms, garden to play in and we still have cash to spend on the house. Or do we go for a house in the better location where we can walk to local amenities, but children would share rooms, small garden but nearer local families and friends. What would you go for , space or area???

My children are, DS-4, DD-2, and DD-1 day, of that makes any difference.

Well, given the information, I would opt for the bigger house. Your children will grow into teenagers and space is paramount, imo.

is the area that the bigger house is in actually shite, or is it just not quite as nice as the first house? If school is 10 mins drive from bigger house, will you even get into that school?

Why would the children need to share bedrooms in the smaller house? It still has 4 bedrooms and you have 3 children?

I would go for larger house assuming the area is actually ok and that DS will still get into the school.

Well DS will get his school place this march and the sibling would get in because of the sibling policy, we would not move out from our flat until DS gets his school place. No the area is not shite, just hasn't go the nice shops/restaurants within walking distance. The bigger house is on the doorstep of a very large park, which has a nice cafe in it.

Well the bigger house although has four bedroom, the 4th is in the loft, and it is not a proper loft conversion, e.g not properly insulated etc. dangerous staircase, so we would have to save up to do the loft properly before putting one of the children up there. Also most of the house in that area, are 3 bedroom terraces, so was trying to give a general idea of the two houses on offer.

Bigger house - otherwise in a couple of years time, you'll just be thinking of moving again & that s a lot of money in stamp duty if nothing else.

Also £140k not insignificant difference, and bigger house area still sounds quite nice. My theory is gentrification gradually moves outwards... so you may have the nice cafe/bars in your new area in 5 years time.

Do you know what the difference in square footage is between the two properties?

On that basis, bigger house

The one in the nicer area:
approx gross internal area including restricted heights - 1475 sq ft
Garden 28'0

The one with not as nice amenities
Approx gross internal area - 1,822 sq ft
Garden 48'

Well DS will get his school place this march and the sibling would get in because of the sibling policy, we would not move out from our flat until DS gets his school place.

So basically you will have moved out of the catchment by the time your DS starts school? And you will have been out of catchment for several years by the time your DDs start.

Be careful. Some London councils are looking at changing the sibling policy precisely because of people who do what you are planning.

I suggest you go for the smaller house. Not just because it's in catchment but also because I think living near your friends, established hangouts, etc makes an enormous difference to your life, much more than a bit fo extra space. If the house gets too small when your DCs are older you can move then.

PS am impressed that you are mumsnetting with 2 preschoolers and a day old newborn!

Will definately have to consider the change of policy thing, though the school we are hoping DS will go to, is a church school although we are applying for a local place for DS, we could always apply for church places for both the girls, as you do not need to be local in order to be offered a church place.

Yes life is very busy, the older ones are in bed now, so me and DH now have some time to ourselves and some peace and quiet. My parents also have recently move to a terrace house in the nicer area, so at the moment they are really local and collect/drop off the two older ones, on the two days when i work.

It's a very hard decision and i just what to do whats best for the children. But is having a bigger house better for them, or is it better why they are young to be able to walk to school, have friends who live in the next streets. I would also have to consider the increase in petrol, at the moment we drive so rarely, as we walk to tesco, nursery etc.

Keep coming with the comments. I am interested to hear what other would/have done in similar situations.

i'd go for house 1.

but seeing as how the five of us (dcs 12,10 and 8) are living in a 2 bed, with no garden and two labradors, i'd kinda like the problems you're having. it's a non problem, really, i think. but i can see how someone with a one day old and two pre-schoolers might like to fantasise.

just spend a bit of time in each house and see which one feels like home.

both have plenty of space. but if you want more then go for the bigger one. otherwise, stick with the 'nicer area'.

and congrats, obv.

Just another post to say check the policy for the admissions. Here (not London) you are duty bound to inform the LEA if you move between accepting a school place and starting school. The place can then be withdrawn depending on whether you'll be outside of the catchment area and there are children who now rank above your son on the waiting list. If its a church school, then they can have their own admission criteria - siblings usually come higher, but if its a state primary, its children within the catchment area first, then siblings.

I would go for house 2 for the larger garden. I think plenty of space to run around outside is essential for small children.

Sounds like you live near me! We had the equivalent situation a year or so ago and went for what is effectively your house 2. It was however a wreck and we've just done it up and moved in but already loving the extra space. Still convenient for nursery/school etc but just couldn't have afforded the space we've got in the area where had a flat. Personal choice though and difficult to make the decision. Good luck and congrats on the newborn!

location, location, location!