House in 'up and coming' area or flat in nice area..

[BeenieBaby]

Help! I can't decide!! We could afford a nice house in an up and coming area (cricklewood in London), or a small flat/ small house in a nicer area (south hampstead). We have 2 dc. The small flats or houses we can afford in west hampstead only have tiny gardens / no gardens and small rooms. (Total house space about 1100sq ft?). The houses we coil afford in cricklewood are large houses (in the 2000sq ft range). Dc would have to take a train (1stop) to get to school in cricklewood. Wwyd?

House.

House

House. We've just spent 4 months agonising over this (do we squeeze into a flat in maida vale or go further out). We spent a while thinking the former but I was so relieved when we gave up on it. We've now had an offer accepted in willesden on a family house and I'm pretty sure we've done the right thing. Good luck with your search.

House.

House. Presume that means no train to school either? So definitely house!

House every time

How old are your DC? And is there similar amenities in both areas?

I would go for a flat in a nice area with older kids, if they would be able to get around easily to wherever they want to go. As my kids get older, this becomes more important.

If they are still young, then go for the Cricklewood house with bigger garden.

Would depend on the local schools for me - particularly secondary options... Also how much I will worry about them being out on their own in an area when they get to that stage. Our neighbour drives all over to collect her 21 year old dd as she worries about her being out alone. She realises that this one of the compromises of having a nice house in a shit area. Yup a house would be lovely but will it be worth it for you/your family's circumstances?

Really 1100 square feet?

Very unusually, I'm pulled towards flat (provided it has a garden). My house isn't much bigger than that. It depends how much stuff you've got and how much more "room to grow" you need, of course, but there is a point above which square footage has diminishing returns IMO.

Also agree the stage your DC are at is important.

House.