Which property?! Head vs. Heart

[headvsheart]

DP and I have one DS and I'm currently pg. We have totally outgrown our one bed flat which we're putting on the market next week.

The problem is there are two properties that we really like. One makes sense for us as a family (3 bed house with enclosed garden), is cheaper but the location isn't as good. The other is a fantastic 2 bed flat with loads of light in a great area (especially for schools and a 20 min walk to DPs work) but it is £20k more expensive (had to go in way above AP) and has v high maintenance fees.

I know it makes so much sense to go for the house but my heart says the flat, despite all the drawbacks.

I'll link them both below and any opinions would be gratefully received.

The house: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80801591.html

The flat: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60866394.html

I've definitely seen this flat before. Have you posted about this before?

@Cherrypickerpopoff yes I posted about it a few weeks ago but I NCd for this thread.

Totally the house, much nicer.

What did people say about the flat before?

Similar comments to here tbf @Cherrypickerpopoff. Lovely and bright and spacious but downside is the communal garden and privacy issues.

Adding onto what Bluntness100 has said about the neighbours parties. Also remember you'll have a newborn and toddler who will make noise. It could be that the same neighbours aren't too happy about the noise your children are making, they may bang on the floor and come ranting and moaning which will be incredibly stressful.

House every time! Three bedrooms, light and bright, garden for the dc and freehold! And no fees. My dsis used to live in a 2 bed flat on Beulah Hill and she always mourned the lack of a private garden.

For four of you long term the house is a much better move (assuming you like the area).

A million times that house over that flat!

Bit more of a walk to the train but not too bad.

You get there and a set of neighbours are having a bbq outside your living room window. Right there. Six of them. Music. Food. Looking right at you. Drinking, talking loudly.
They pack up about six o clock. You think thank god. Peace and quiet.
And another set of neighbours come down at seven.
They have an evening party. Sitting listening to music, talking loudly, drinking, laying on the grass. Right outside your window.
It's eleven o clock. They are still going strong.
It gets to two in the morning. They are still partying. Right outside your living room window.

OMG this example from @Bluntness100 is bang on the money. This is what it's like where I live (in central London) overlooking the communal garden. Although at least I'm on the first floor rather than ground floor so don't have it quite as bad. When I first bought my flat, it was extremely quiet. Friends referred to it as "an oasis of calm". Now that's only Nov-Feb. The rest of the year, especially weekends, is exactly how Bluntness described. It drives me mad. Being able to get to work in 20 mins does not compensate for the communal garden bedlam.

How is that even a question? Give your kids their own space! The flat might be easier for you and your partner but in a few years time your kids wont be thanking you for having to share a room and not having a garden to get mucky in..

I'm also mega shocked at the prices of living down south.

I know I sound thick when I ask this, but why are houses so expensive the further south you go?

I'm away to buy a very modest 4 bedroom house for £320k in Scotland, I could get a 6 bed fancy pants house for £450k here, it's crazy!!

Ha! I thought how cheap the prices seemed but am not prepared to move south of the river!

I know you're right @Bluntness100 and that scenario is probably very likely. Especially during the summer, trying to get DC to nap in the day with people shouting or being noisy right outside their window. Although it's noisy where we are now and DS has learnt to sleep through it...

@Debenhamshandtowel

You can redecorate the house to look like the flat. You could consider knocking down the wall (or have a half-wall/breakfast bar?) between the kitchen and living room to open it up like the flat.

The communal garden outside the flat would completely rule it out for me - kids or no kids.

Thank you to everyone who has commented and shared their opinions, it's been so so helpful to have my views challenged and to think about things in a realistic way.

We're viewing the house again on Saturday (DPs only seen the photos and is v sensible so I feel he might say 'house') so we can go in again with all this perspective fresh in our minds.

This seems a bit silly but have you noticed the plants in pots at the flat? It looks like they have been blown sideways because they are in a constant force 10 gale. Is the site very windy?

Knowing both locations I'd go with the flat but get planning permission and move wall between study and bedroom two. Bedroom two is huge, make it a little smaller and increase the size of the study into a bedroom. Plus comes with a garage if I read correctly.

Normally I would almost always pick house but def picking flat.

location and quality of life paramount.

Schools, commute and close to family better at flat.
Underwhelmed by house anyway TBH

I had this whole list of criteria when we moved and ended up giving up on my two "must haves" when I realised location mattered more than any of them for the life I wanted to lead!! I have never been happier ;)

Good luck

Not a chance in HELL would I live in that flat.

Half the photos are just of their furniture! You need to strip all that out mentally.

Then you’re left with a shitty council block with communal gardens. I grew up in one. I’d never willingly go back.

Schools are a factor!

Schools and the area, who your child will make friends with, their peers and so on.

There's only one bathroom in the flat - that has become an issue for us as a family of 4 in a 3 bed house with one bathroom!

The flat is not practical on so many levels. But the house has drawbacks (area, inconvenient) and you are not getting the vibe. I would not choose either of these but this is a good exercise on what is important. E.g. own outside space, extra toilet etc.

@Tingface the building is far from a shitty council block. It's run by a private estate and was designed by a industry famous architect in the 60s (I think) and is now revered as an iconic mid-century designed building. Plus all the flats are privately owned so no council/HA run.