Location or house size??

[Rainsbow]

Our dilemma is:
Found two houses we really like but they're totally different, both £680k.

1. great location, 10mins to school/work/direct bus to my parents house should we ever need it, leafy quiet "upmarket" village. 3 bed, 2 bath semi, double driveway already extended no room for extension.

2. 2 miles further away so about 25mins to school/work, less helpful public transport (not needed for either I might add), the town itself isn't great but nice quiet "brookside" style Close. 4 bed, 2 bath detached, quadruple driveway plus garage.

Should add: house 1 is 2 miles from kids school, house 2 is 5-5.5

I would go with location in these circumstances as house 1 seems to be a decent size as well as ticking all those other boxes.

It depends how much you need or want that fourth bedroom? If it isn't something you really need then House 1 sounds a better option.

How old are the children? Is it the primary or the secondary that they would be further away from?

We moved to a slightly less desirable area to get a much bigger house for less money. We were 1/4 mile from an outstanding primary with an outstanding price tag on the houses surrounding it. We moved 2.5 mile away and I committed to driving the children to that school for 7 years.

But it did move us a mere 1.5 mile away from an outstanding secondary. Our house is amazing, huge playroom for all the children's toys/xbox to be hidden away. But our public transport links are actually better here.

Gulp - 680k for a three bed house! You must live in the home counties.
I would go for number 2 as extra space always trumps it for me, plus the extra private parking is very useful.

I would always go for detached over a semi.

Stephanie girls are 3 and 7 but it's an independent school so they'll be there until 18 and catchment area isn't an issue.

I've bought both - previous house was bigger but in less nice location, new house in better location but smaller.
When we lived in the old house we really wanted to live in a better location. Now I crave space...! I think it's also a time of life question. Now kids a little I want to be closer to friends and amenities.

Will it be a long term home? What town is better for your DC as they get older? (activities etc). Will they be able to travel into town on their own with property 2 if public transport isn't so reliable?

I anticipate about 5-6 years in the house minimum.

Activities for the kids, both towns are the same really. Both good for young families.

House 1 is on a reasonably quiet road but still through traffic. House 2 is end of cul de sac.

House 1 has been on the market six months with no offers and a big price reduction (was 710). House 2 has been on for 3 weeks, sold on first day but fell through so back on.

I anticipate about 5-6 years in the house minimum.

Activities for the kids, both towns are the same really. Both good for young families.

House 1 is on a reasonably quiet road but still through traffic. House 2 is end of cul de sac.

House 1 has been on the market six months with no offers and a big price reduction (was 710). House 2 has been on for 3 weeks, sold on first day but fell through so back on.

It is hard for anyone else to advise I think without seeing the houses or knowing the towns. Also everyone is different in terms of priorities. We recently moved and location was paramount for us as we needed to still be within walking distance to school as dh has to walk the school run once or twice a week when I am in work (cannot bare to buy a 2nd car for this use as it isn't otherwise needed).

However a friend sold her house at the same time and is moving to 4 miles away as the size and style of house was more important to her. We are both equally delighted with our purchases.

I don't think I would move to a town I don't really like just to get a bigger house to be honest.

We have just had this same dilemma. We are now moving further away in order to her a bigger house and the area is a bit less desirable but still ok.

We looked to the future for our DC and decided we needed a house big enough for them to spread if needed (particularly as with housing a problem then they may be with us for the next 20 odd years) and we will be near two good secondary schools and although it's a small town location it's near enough to big towns for them to meet up with friends. Another consideration was parking as realistically in 10-15 years we'll need space for 2 or 3 more cars out the front

We went the big detached house. To afford four double bedrooms, three bathrooms, quadruple driveway and a garage in the first location would be over £1m.

710 to 680 doesn't sound like a big reduction after 6 months without offers. It's only just over 4%.

If you watch some of TV shows they tend to say location is most important but I guess you need to make a decision what is more important to you and what may be your flexibility/options going forward.

I've got recently similar dilemma on one hand nicely done house in location I absolutely loved and on the other hand larger houses but requiring some work and in less desirable location, but not like dodgy or 'up and coming'.

My heart was saying house no1 but my head said house no 2. Reason being that I knew in few years time I would outgrow house no 1 and with everything what is happening right now in politics and Brexit I am not so sure if I would be in a position to move again within next 5 years. It always is gamble so I guess you need to think if you can live with worse case scenario and then go for that house.

It depends how you live your life. If you typically spend your weekends driving to activities or to socialise with people in various geographical areas, then it doesn't matter that much where you live. 15 minutes more in the car for work/school doesn't seem too bad.

However, if you like to be part of your local community, to know people local to you and have nice places to go on a weekend without having to go in the car - location matters more.