Which house do we go for?

[WinkyWinkola]

House A is affordable, can move in straightaway, nice village neighbourhood, good schools, large manicured garden. 5 beds but one is tiny. We could extend a bit to make the kitchen and said bedroom bigger.

It's a house that is at its peak, so to speak. Nothing we could do to add value. It's a nice house. I like it. We could be happy there although we would probably grow out of it in 7-10 years as our 4 children reach teens.

House B costs £120k more.

It's 1/2 a mile away from House A and is more rural but on a road that cars zoom down. It's a farmhouse that has had some work done on it but the owners have run out of cash and so haven't finished it off.

It is 800 sq feet bigger, 5 beds too although one bed and one reception room is on the side of the house that hasn't been attended to for 40 years (!), is a bit tatty in general, sits on an acre plot, huge rough garden and we'd be totally strapped for a cash for at least three years to even buy it.

We could just afford it but then couldn't afford professional work done on it, no holidays, tight budget, no new car etc for this minimum time of 3+ years and after that it would be one or the other e.g. holiday or rebuild the dreadfully shabby side of the house, demolish the derelict garage for a new one, get new fences done.

But I think House B has fantastic potential. I don't know if we'd make ££££s on it but it could be the most amazing family home for us over the next few even ten years. We could do the work on planning and developing the garden ourselves.

We wouldn't need to move again but it would be a good few years of hard (and I mean hard!) budgeting.

Is it worth it?

Our children will only be children once (eldest is 8, current youngest is 10 months, would like another baby) and would they notice i). smaller house but holidays abroad more often or ii). serious budgeting and therefore not having great holidays but having a fantastic garden to roam in etc.

I don't know what to do. I really really like both houses for their qualities. Our current house isn't sold yet so in a way, I'm hoping that someone else will come along and buy one to make the decision for us!

What would you do? Or do you have any advice to give, please?

A. Extend the small bedroom.

Kids get more expensive as they get older ime so you don't want years of a tight budget. Plus use road not good.

House A . Main road would rule out B for me.

i would keep looking. you haven't warmed to a and b is too much work for people with small children, imo. i've done a renovation and extension project, on a smaller scale, and it's very stressful and unbelievably time consuming, and if your budget is tight that frankly means it'll take longer; i can't even start to think how you'd do that with four children without it being hideous for everyone.

I might be nervous at night too in house A what with it not being near any other houses.

Sigh. I don't really like house hunting.

I am with NomNom, I dont think either are right for you, keep looking.

If I had to choose I'd choose A, primarily because of the busy road B sits on, price and money pit too, but honestly, I think both are dull, standard and box like.

.....but we're all different and I also really like the kitchen in B too.