Would I be daft to triple mortgage for a garden?

[mugginsalert]

Please help me with my reality check!

Have a mid size 4 bed victorian terrace with a small yard, convenient for shops, library, work, parks etc. Small kitchen and bathroom but otherwise great. Mortgage of 85k which could pay off in seven years.

Currently looking to sell and move to a semi in same area with a garden, for 4yo ds and 7 mo dd to play and for bbqs etc. This would mean smaller indoor space, dropping to 3 beds of which one would be a box room, and a mortgage of 240k over 25 years.

We are 40, in permanent jobs, but no savings and dh has no pension pot. This feels like the last chance to move as prices are rising steeply round here for gardens but not terraces. we also thought we should perhaps be looking to move up in order to downsize and release equity in retirement.

We both always imagined our kids growing up with a garden to play in, but is it worth 160k for a garden? every sunny day i think it is, and every rainy day i think it isn't.

has anyone else negotiated this dilemma? i know its a nice problem to have but it's doing my head in! thanks all

Thanks again everyone. There seems to be complete consensus on how important the indoor space is, so I think it's definitely looking not worthwhile to go to a much smaller house just for the garden (leaving aside the question of mortgage!). Driving not possible for me, but I can definitely investigate bus routes (we're in a city so this is actually an option). I think we're going to look a little further afield - we'd probably still end up with the same size mortgage, but would also be able to get more living space, so should feel like a gain in both inside and out.

Why is driving not possible?

Eyesight a bit dodgy, mostly corrected for normal life with lenses but my depth perception is rubbish.

how big a garden? we have what everyone thinks is a big one - over 100 foot - but it's way too thin to be a 'real' one where the kids can 'really' play. Indoor space is way more important.

We have a huge garden and its a pain to maintain - although DC do play out there now. We also spend loads of time at the parks near us or at friends. We don't use it Oct - April as its cold & wet apart for occasionally and as we are close to city we are out more than home

I also agree that as they get bigger they will want more inside space. They need space to hang out with mates. Mad to loose indoor space yet gain financial burden

Thanks everyone! It's been so helpful to hear all your views. I think I'm convinced re living space. We've actually just withdrawn from a bidding war on a 4bed house with a lovely big garden we found not far away because on reflection the rooms were too small - main living room was 12ft by 10ft for example, with a big chimney breast taking further space out, which I know is not terrible but felt like it would feel cramped over time. It doesn't help that my husband and step daughter are both over six feet tall and the little ones are massive for their age already!

We're going to keep looking for a while for the blend of indoor and outdoor space, and then decide whether just to stay put and enjoy what we already have. And try to stop eyeing up our friends' lovely gardens….