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Original poster

Would you live in a small house for a nicer area?

59 replies

Faith50 · 25/09/2019 15:26

Dh and I are desperate to move with very little equity. We would be looking at a tiny three bed (1000 square foot max) but in a much nicer environment. No fly tipping, over stuffed bins, streets full of litter and graffiti. My anxiety is heightened when I return home each day.

OP posts:
Original poster
Faith50 · 25/09/2019 18:40

It will increase by an additional £300 to £400.

OP posts:
Original poster
Faith50 · 25/09/2019 18:43

I feel safe in my area but five minutes away it is grotty.

I would be much happier in a nicer area
In fact I have suffered from depression the majority of time we have lived here.

OP posts:
summerbaby1 · 25/09/2019 18:43

You can change anything about a house except for it's location.

(Okay, not strictly true but someone told it me when I was looking for my house and it definitely gives food for thought)

optimisticpessimist01 · 25/09/2019 20:22

Christ yes, I lived in a 4 bed detached house with a huuuuge garden and downsized to a 3 (more like 2, the third is shoebox size) terraced house in a very affluent area of Sheffield. Haven't regretted it once

We are looking to move when we start a family for somewhere in the middle in terms of size and niceness, but I would always go for the nicer area over a bigger house

Appletreehouse · 26/09/2019 11:53

The house you're describing moving to is almost spot on the average size of a UK house (900-1000 square foot) . Mine is about that size and it's a 4 bed, two bathroom upstairs, with two reception rooms plus a kitchen downstairs. Unless you have 3 or 4+ teens it sounds perfectly normal sized?

If I was moving from an area I hated to a house in a nice area for that size house on a nice estate then I would think that was a fair swap. But if you're used to more space it may feel tight at first. Could you afford to extend/build a garden room etc in the future if space is a concern, or do you need the space straight away?

Also I hope you don't mind me mentioning, but I wonder if how you're feeling in general is influencing wanting to move? You say you've been depressed the whole time you've lived there, which may be the house causing that feeling, but could it be worth talk through a move with a therapist to weigh up all the options before you make a decision? Sorry if I'm totally off route with that!

MarieG10 · 26/09/2019 11:59

What is it they say about property...location...location...location

Living in a nice area is far more important to me than the size of the house. I want to feel safe, happy and have good facilities

hsegfiugseskufh · 26/09/2019 12:02

we have, we moved from a 4 bed Victorian terrace to a 3 bed 1930s semi.

Much nicer area but I hate to admit that the lack of space is depressing.

We have got rid of loads, and I don't have a lot of "stuff" anyway but I do miss having big spacious rooms.

Ilikewinter · 26/09/2019 12:05

Yes I would....and 2 years ago we did, im sooo much happier and never regret the decicison we made.

cheesewitheverything · 26/09/2019 12:29

Totally worth it. It's not even that small actually!

Original poster
Faith50 · 26/09/2019 12:55

Thanks for your advice. We are used to little space so will be fine.

OP posts:
randomusername · 26/09/2019 13:08

Without a doubt.
You may need to declutter, but would be worth it to live in a nicer area.

nearlynermal · 26/09/2019 13:20

OP, I have a friend who is raising SIX kids in a 2-bedroom flat in prime London because she loves the neighbourhood and can't face moving out (2 x treble bunk beds). You might need to adjust your lifestyle a bit, but I'd say go for it!

merrygoround51 · 26/09/2019 13:23

Always go for area. Unless this means living squished into a 1 bed apartment.

1000 square feet is very doable. I lived in an 850 sq feet house until my youngest was 3 and we would still be in it now if what we could afford was in a less nice area

perpetuallybewildered · 30/09/2019 09:46

We moved from an ok street in an ok town to a very small new build in a much nicer town. The original house was bigger but the street was looking tired and the walk to the shops took me through some of the worse streets. I didn’t feel unsafe at all just very depressed by the surroundings.

The move has been life changing, I love where I live now and every day I’m thankful that we made the right decision.

For the price we paid for this house we could have had one double the size in the original town, it wouldn’t have changed my feelings about the location though.

averythinline · 30/09/2019 10:00

I would look at some help for your depression first .... if its not your immediate area but 5minutes away then is it really that?....

moving is expensive and stressful.. so not saying don't move just it may not be the solution to your depression.....do you know the area you are looking to move to well..

do you need 3 bed? could you get a bigger 2 bed and look to extend/loft in the future......

Original poster
Faith50 · 30/09/2019 13:53

perpetually This exactly how I feel. Our road is okay (basic 2 up to 2 down terraces), surrounding roads nicer but the walk to town is grim; flytipping, alcohol bottles smashed by roadside, graffiti, rubbish bags outside shop doors.

I cannot wait to moveSad

OP posts:
BarbedBloom · 30/09/2019 14:56

No. I wouldn't live in an awful area, but at the same time the house is the most important factor for us. We tend to look for areas that will improve long term e.g. new transport links and so on. But friends have moved into tiny homes due to schools etc which isn't an issue for us.

I like clutter free, so might consider a slightly smaller place if there was adequate storage though

Zenithbear · 01/10/2019 10:12

Yes definitely. Me and dp wanted to be mortgage free in our preferred area and space was the compromise. I got rid of a lot of stuff as I was moving from a huge family house. But it's only the two of us and we're very sociable so are out a lot, go away lots too.

NoTheresa · 01/10/2019 15:28

Of course the better area wins. No brainet.

NoTheresa · 01/10/2019 15:29

No brainer.

Bowerbird5 · 01/10/2019 18:38

Yes, it is why we bought this house.It was unfit for human habitation but the village is gorgeous. We overlook farmland and hills at the back. It has a church, a school and a pub. We have been so happy here and the kids didn't want to move when they were teens and out grew it a bit. We rode that storm and live here happily with just the two of us.
I could live in the city with fights and speeding cars and mess. I breathe a sigh of relief every time I drive over the hill and out of the city.

Bowerbird5 · 01/10/2019 18:38

It isn't unfit any more I might add. We slowly did it up.

Chocrock · 01/10/2019 18:45

Absolutely!
The 3 most important considerations when buying a property are location, location,location.
You can improve/extend the property but you can’t change the location.

SlothRunner · 01/10/2019 18:53

Yes totally

wearyofwigan · 01/10/2019 18:55

We live in a small 2 bed cottage. Can't afford a 3 bed unless we move somewhere not very nice. Love it here. Will stay and extend if we can. Also planning to declutter properly! Our village is clean, safe, walking distance to town and a train station with great schools. No brainer.