Which house?

[Mirrorxx]

I am in need of advice. We have seen 2 houses that are totally different and cannot make a decision.
House 1 is in the city centre, 10 minutes walk to work. It’s modern and only one living area and 3 bedrooms. Small terrace garden.
House 2 is 20 minutes by train from work. It’s a huge Victorian house with 5 bedrooms and is newly renovated. Don’t know the area as well but the part directly around the house is lovely, not sure of rest of area.
Both are same price but obviously house 2 has commuting costs.
Wwyd?

With your update, I’d go for house 1. You get the lifestyle of being walking distance to shops, restaurants etc, plus enough space to stay with have 1 or 2 DC though early promary years. You can move out when DC older, at that point the lifestyle you’ll be looking for will be different to what you want now.

House 1 when and if you do have children it will be nice to be close to amenities. When you get older you can always move again.

Being able to walk to work, to bars, restaurants and other forms of entertainment is great. But 30 minutes door to door is a nice commute. If you go for house 1 and have DC you will wish you had more space. If you don't have DC for years you may have a long time when you are able to frequently use all the nightlife the city centre offers with no worries of how to get home.

This is not helping. I'm just rewording your dilemma. I think I would base the decision on when I planned to start my family. If it is in the next 2 or 3 years I would go for house 2. If you aren't planning on DC for about 5 years I'd go with house 1.

Let’s see the links to the houses OP

Given the stage in life you're at, I'd totally go for House 1. Unless you're very settled and a bit old before your time, I don't see the point in jumping straight to the 5-bed suburban lifestyle yet. Sure it'll cost money to move if you eventually want to, but it sounds like you'd potentially get a good 5-10 years or more out of the central property and if/when you get fed up of city living, then you can make the move to somewhere more sensible for that stage of life. But future proofing with a forever home now sounds a bit mad if there's only the two of you and what really matters is being amongst the buzz. Guarding against another move in future could leave you feeling stuck. After a few years in one place it can be good to have a change anyway.

House 1 - you haven’t got any dC yet and house 1 sounds like it would be find to have one or two kids in for a few years.

House 2 will be expensive to heat etc. My DC are teens I am looking forward to when a few move out and we can downsize and move back to the city centre!

House 1 without a doubt. Live your life now rather than just think of the future. You clearly are not in love with the larger house.

It will be at least 5 years before you need 3 beds. Mine shared a room till they were 7 & 9. Save the commuting money in the form of mortgage overpayments. Enjoy your extra hours leisure each day. Urban children use parks. Don't worry about a big garden.

We stayed in the city centre, in a 3 bed, and it has been perfect. Lots to do. Easy to find local work. Kids able to commute to a good range of schools and see friends without needing a taxi service. DS is now taking a Masters and is able to walk to University.

House 1. Maintenance and running costs of 2 will be very high.

What can you walk to from house 2?

If nothing, then house 1 definitely.

If there are a few shops and cafes, and a playground, within walking distance of house 2 then I'd say house 2.

House 2. I’d sell my soul for a Victorian house, and 20 minutes is not much of a commute.

It depends so much on your lifestyle. Personally, I'd choose the smaller house but I don't have children and go out a lot. I live in a suburban house currently and I find it a bit far from everything. Also, we would be rattling around in a 5 bed place - it would be a ballache to clean, for no real additional benefit.

However, I can completely see the lure of a suburban 5-bed if you have 3 kids and want that kind of lifestyle that revolves more around a local centre and childrens' routines. Yet I would say that I think this is a bit of a classic middle class narrative, and I also have friends who are happily raising kids in city centre flats that are much smaller than the place you descrive. It can work both ways - it depends what you guys want and how you live.

Personally I would have the Victorian house. I love Victorian houses and I am lucky enough to live in an 1850 s cottage. I would love a bit more space.

For yourselves I would say 20-30 minutes is nothing. I do it everyday just have music on and you're there before you know it. Lifestyle you might as others have said like to go out to bars and cafes and we enjoy this when we visit our daughter. Have you checked out the local pub? We love ours. Definitely have a second or even third viewing and go at different times. Have a good walk around the area and if you can go to local bars, pubs, cafes and talk to people. Local knowledge is great.
Write a list of pros and cons if your stuck.
I bought one house out of necessity because we were out bid on my first gorgeous, white washed cottage overlooking the sea😢
The next was a wreck and I knew before I even went upstairs my DH thought I was mad but we are still here 30 years later. I bought another to help my son DS2 and that is Victorian terrace and I bought it because it had big rooms for the price and another son is now living in it. DS 2 just bought a cottage in a lovely village and did the same as me like a Cheshire Cat before he had even gone upstairs. What I am saying is in the end buy with your heart but keep level headed.
Let us know your decision.

The second house was the necessity and a boring bland bungalow but the village was the same as the White cottage.
The third was the wreak 1850's stone cottage in another village, country.

House 2. Assuming you are already over stamp duty thresholds. Why move twice and throw money at the government if you can move once.

But I would never choose to live in a city centre. And love entertaining, so having all those spare bedrooms for guests would be fabulous.