How much room is too much room?

[Roastiemctoasty]

We’re in the process of selling our 3 bed semi- been here for 4 years, nothing wrong with it for DH and I (no DC just yet) but feel like we need some more space and while we have a good joint income now is the time to move. We’re looking at 4/5 beds in a similar area and our friends think we our nuts as it’s just us! DH is looking for a forever home whilst I’m looking for a 5 year and move...

I guess two points to this thread.

1. How far should you stretch yourselves
2. when did you get your forever home?

Long term home is probably better.

Moving is very expensive.

As such my position has always been to buy houses that are likely to be able to meet our needs for as long as possible.

So no, you might not need the extra space now, but if you are likely to do so in the future it's more financially sensible to buy a bigger house now (or one you can extend in the future) rather than move again in 5 years and throwing another load of cash at stamp duty, solicitors, removers, redecorating etc etc

So if children are part of the longer term plan, I would be looking at 4/5 bedrooms and catchment areas etc

I'd also say I don't really believe in a forever home. Needs change over time and the best thing you can do is make choices that are as future proof as possible.

We're currently self-building a 5-bed with 3 bathrooms for just the two of us. It will also have an open-plan basement to provide lots of additional space within the house. I don't think you're being unreasonable looking at 4/5 beds if you can comfortably afford it.

Just to add I think the best choices are to either stay where you are and throw as much money at the mortgage as you can (with a view to buying a family home at the appropriate time) or moving to a "family" home now.

Buying a house for just 5 years will cost you a huge amount of money - many tens of thousands that's just lost.

We always had the size that fitted what we had, so we started off in a 2 bed, then a 3, another 3 and had a baby, another 3 bed and had another baby. But then Dh needed to work from home. Not great with me being a SAHM so the house is not quiet. There was no room in our bedroom so Dh used to use Ds1's tiny desk in his bedroom (Dh is 6'3")

We started looking at 4 beds with a view to having a space downstairs for the children to play. We ended up here, our "forever" house. It is the longest we have ever lived anywhere. But it gave us a double garage which we converted for a playroom. It has a huge amount of storage and we still have parking for 4 cars on the drive.

There are 3 toilets which although a pain to clean is a godsend with synchronised poos in this house

If we could have afforded this house before the last one we would have taken it, but we needed location for an outstanding primary school so a 4 bed was out of our price range, hence the 3 bed.

We moved to get more space and moved out of the immediate over-priced catchment area of the primary school to get into a good secondary. No regrets. We absolutely love this house. We will move when the children leave as it will be too big for just 2 of us and cost of running it will be a major factor. We have sunk a lot of money into it, and in 10 years some stuff will need doing again.