WWYD, house A or B? Have to decide quickly.

[meadowquark]

Hi, really have to decide on this quickly. I have been looking for almost impossible, a 3 bed house for low-ish budget in my area. I really wanted to be near our current primary catholic school, but after a long period of looking, I settled on:

House A - 2 miles drive from the current school, supposedly better area, but a more suburban, further from train stations for commute (20-25 min walk), catchment of and walkable distance to a outstanding secular secondary but I think a bit too far from catholic secondaries should my DC want to choose them, non-traditional 1970s build, 85 sq.m. of smart compact layout, small but pleasant garden, a garage, downstairs cloakroom. My main hesitation is that we (or our aupair) will have to use the car for many years to come, our DC1 is in Y2 and DC2 is to start Reception next year (we could of course change schools although I would prefer not to). Offer accepted, I made mortgage application 6 days ago and bank valuation 3 days ago.

House B - I was not looking anymore, but received an email from an agency, just came up 2 days ago and I went to view. 0.1m from our primary school (one of those roads, where you pass and think, oh it would be so nice to live here), 10 min walk to the train station for commute. On the edge of diverse London area. The house is advertised as 2/3 bed, in fact it is very small terrace, around 67 sq.m., and the 3rd bedroom is around 1.85cm x 1.80cm. The only bathroom is very small and downstairs. The living room is pass-through. We have an aupair, so I am hopeful that shorty bunk beds for DC in the box room could possibly work? Loft conversion is possible but I'd have no money. The garden is 90ft, not overlooked and had a wow factor for me. Even the front garden is long; long enough for a driveway. I would not need a car if I chose to. No good secular schools around, but there are 3 catholic secondaries where we would stand a chance. In short I loved it, mainly for location, character and not-overlooked factor.

My head says continue with house A. My heart is messed up and dreams about house B, even though it is clearly a bit too "compact" for 5 people. If we did not have aupair, I would have chosen House B. If the house B came up earlier. Now since the process has started.. I feel bad if I have to pull out, but equally that my kids would have to sleep in a "cupboard". Both house are without chain, one is empty, another is rented.

WWYD?

[CrispyFern]

House A.
B might be nice but it's not as practical for you now.
A through living room is annoying, the third bedroom will become useless as soon as the children get too tall, so you are saying they have to share forever. It has only one bathroom, and that's downstairs? The kids having to troop up and down in the night, the queues when they are teens... No no no.

[meadowquark]

Thanks for everyone's input. House A is not in a bad location. In fact it is the cheapest house in a very "posh" suburb. It is just less convenient, and the convenience is something that is also important. In fact my current area (where house B is) can be called "shabby" but I guess I got used to it.

[antimatter]

House B. DC's get the biggest bedroom.

[cerealqueen]

Location, location, location ....is this a forever house?

[Chopchopbusybusy]

I don't think either sound good. The commute to the station from house A would really annoy me, especially in the winter. House B is too small. I'd look for house C.

[AnnOnymity]

A or continue looking

[UsedToBeAPaxmanFan]

With B, the third bedroom isn't a bedroom at all, it's far too small.

If the au pair really is going in a few months time you could have your dc in the box room til then, then move them into the 2nd bedroom to share until you can afford loft conversion.

You coud also then turn the box room into a shower room as there's enough room to do that. Normally you're advised not to lose a bedroom for a bathroom, but I really don't think that would be the case here.

Personally, I would keep on looking. I'm not sure either house works for you by the sound of it.

[LadyKooKoo]

Keep looking! Both options have glaring red flags to me. What is your budget and area preference? People on here will find you somewhere.

[CarmelasFridge]

House A or C. You'll ALL be miserable in a 2 bed if relationship isn't doing well.

[PrimalLass]

B,but only if you are not continuing with the au pair long term and you'll ever have the finance for either the loft or an extension.

The size of the garden would swing it for me, because your boys will be able to be outside more, and you can extend into it. Use a large shed for as much as you can.

[ClaudiaNaughton]

Don't feel bad about pulling out if you want to. Will just be a momentary shrug of the shoulders for others, but may be years of annoyance for you if you don't.

[ChippingInAutumnLover]

Re pulling out, yes it's annoying when it happens, but shit happens. You can't spend that kind of money on a house just so you don't annoy someone. That said, if you are going to pull out, the sooner the better...

[ChippingInAutumnLover]

OK. I've decided for you

House B.

You and the kids have the proper bedrooms, the AP has the box room. At the end of the AP 's contract he can decide whether he wants to stay or not. If not, use clubs. (As you said)

If the AP does move out, out in an upstairs toilet.

Plan for the loft extension in 5 years time.

Sort your shit out with DH. Make the new house a new start, with or without him.

[meadowquark]

Good morning all. Had a chat with my mum. She told me off for even thinking about house B, mainly because it is much more expensive than the one I am selling, and it compares negatively to the one I am selling. OK the one I am selling - large 2 bed Victorian with bay windows, 80 sq.m.in total, upstairs bathroom, downstairs cloakroom, small garden, cul-de-sac, comparable location with House B. The reason I am selling are for 3rd bedroom, wrong parish, rubbish neighbours (literally). House B is a narrow Victorian worker's cottage with no bay window. My mum said it's price should be no more than the one I am selling, the only advantage being big garden, with the right parish and convenient to school being very subjective advantages. I can see her point. My house was marketed for 300k, accepted at 285k (stupidly too low?). House B is marketed at 315k. I feel I would still like house B but at no more 285k. Btw DH is moving out for sure. Extra strain to the decision..

[WhyBeHappyWhenYouCouldBeNormal]

House A. Children grow, space will get harder - not worth the extra

[VivaLeBeaver]

House a.

[ChippingInAutumnLover]

You don't know what price you can get B for yet?

Parish bit I don't really get, how does that actually affect you?

You are not getting a third bedroom in house B you are getting a cupboard, study, space for a toilet/shower.

Neighbours. Only you know how bad they are, it can be worth moving for that alone, just bear in mind you have no control who will move in next door to a new house.

[ChippingInAutumnLover]

Did you have another row with DH last night?

[meadowquark]

Trying not to give myself out...
House A is comparable comparable to this
House B is comparable to this
My current house is comparable to this

[ChippingInAutumnLover]

House A seems quite spacious, but you couldn't pay me to leave your house to live in something that ugly on the outside.

House B one external shot, not much to go on. But unattractive compared to your house.

'Your' house seems nice? Are your neighbours really that bad? Is the commute that bad? Does it just hold too many bad memories?

[meadowquark]

Chipping house A is in a catchment of an outstanding secondary, and being in the very good area surrounded by other expensive roads and housing is not to be overlooked.

"My house" is OK in many aspects but there is something not quite right for me... probably bad feng shui!! (I can't put my finger what is wrong, but have wanted to move since bought 5 years ago).

[Mintyy]

Definitely House A.

[SwedishEdith]

None of them. I was a definite B until I saw the photos. I'd only go for b if knocked a lot of the price. What size is the downstairs bathroom? Can you make that a bedroom for the au pair and make small bedroom into a bathroom?

[TheLeftovermonster]

I like A, but will the commute work? What are the primary schools like there?

A bit confused re house B - you want to move to a smaller, more expensive house with no actual third bedroom? Also likely to need more money spent on it - changing things, maintenance etc.

[mipmop]

Can you take your mum to view house B with you?
From what I've picked up, neither house A nor house B really satisfy your requirements. House B sounds like a choice for you and 2 DC, when a more convenient location and shorter commute would help your day-to-day life. However you say you want a third bedroom and this doesn't have one... Your mum seems to be objective so if she sees house B, and knows that there may be 3 people living there, I'd value her opinion.