perfect location or perfect house?

[kedward1]

hello everyone,

new to this but hoping you can help. my husband and I are moving from Bristol to find a nice countryside family home in Gloucestershire as I work in Cheltenham and he in Gloucester. We're not parents yet but we're hoping to be!

We're unsure whether to go for the perfect location or the perfect(ish) house. we've found a lovely big house with amazing downstairs living space in Highnam that we could stay in for many years once we have a family just west of Gloucester but it's pretty rural and doesn't seem to be much on our door step. Gloucester is nearby but as I don't know it I've been doing some google research but people seem to say it's rundown with lots of rough areas.

Cirencester is lovely with lots of nice pubs, restaurants, shops and coffee places etc but it's so desirable that for our budget we couldn't get the spacious family home we want and would have to settle for a smaller place.

Location or house - what we do?! smile

This is going to sound very premature but look at schools. No use having a gorgeous house if you locall school is in special measures or its a great school but you're 200m out of catchment. Of course things can change but if you're talking £10k + on stamp duty now, you don't necessarily be wanting to pay that again in 3 or 4 years, plus all the other associated costs of moving, when you come to apply for schools.

I also agree that you will appreciate amenities within walking distance when you have little ones. I had to drive everywhere with newborn - toddler twins and it really got me down.

Location it is! I think we'll concentrate on villages around cirencester and go for a place we can possibly extend, thanks mumsnetters x

There's a programme on channel 4 at 8 About finding a house in Gloucester! With Kirstie and everything.

Location definitely. have done both and was not v.happy in the bigger nicer house in worse location because well the location wasn't very nice (and neither were the locals )

Location every time. We live in Cheltenham and rent but are looking into buying a smaller place than we are in now in a great location.

Location, location, location!! You can improve a crap house as people have said but cant change location, surorundings and neighbours.