Moving to big house with teens? should we be downsizing?

[Amaizintacos]

Any advice appreciated.

We have large house, 6 beds, lots of recreational space. We are considering moving to a similar size house in a better area, one where we'd been intending to move to for retirement to smaller space later on. The kids are 12, 13 and 16. We're just concerned that we'll be there and in a flash the kids will be gone and we'll find it way too big. Has anyone done similar, any insights? I'm wondering if we should be looking at something just big enough and good for when they've left and are visiting, or will I be glad we still have big house as they won't leave as quickly as i expect! In a bit of an in between phase with the kids and every few years my perspective on what we need family-wise slightly changes. Lots of unanswerables there, any thoughts on house sizes, family stages etc appreciated

We moved into a six bed just as DS was ready to leave the nest. We just repurposed the rooms! I had a dressing room, craft room and some lovely guest rooms. If you love the property and can afford it then make it your own.

I think you' could get a good few years' use out of the house. The youngest won't move out for a number of years and anyway, you might let them stay with bf/gf while they save up for deposits, for example.

We moved to a smaller house when the DC were around those ages, and bitterly regret it. We are currently looking to extend, so that they can socialise more easily here. Our current house is a 4 bed, but the bedrooms are too small for the them to socialise much in them, and no mass sleep overs. Plus, they will be at uni for a long time (DD1 just starting a 5 year course) and we expect them to return frequently with partners in tow.

You still have many years of your kids being at home ahead of you, perhaps even more years than you anticipate! The reality is many children live at home well into their 20's due to housing prices, job instability, etc. I would definitely stick with a larger home if you can afford it.

You've got at least another decade of them floating in and out. Go big.

My parents have a huge house and it meant we could all have friends to stay in university holidays, and boomerang back home after university to save up for house deposits, and now it means we can all go and stay with all our own children at the same time. So i would say depending whether that sounds like a delightful or horrifying future you have your answer

Thank all!

Thanks all* . Laughing at that NeverTwerkNaked 😄

When my ex and I split in 2015 I moved to a big 4 bed house with our 3 children who were 15, 17 and 19 at the time. I wanted a smaller 4 bed as knew it would just be me on my own within a couple of years but ex said he would fund the bigger house 'for the sake of the children' so we had that one. Now, four years later, I've downsized to a smaller four bed which will be much more sensible but still leave the option of 'coming home' to the kids, of whom one is at uni, one has just finished but wants to stay in uni city and one is home every weekend from work! I don't envisage getting a bigger house, however my parents have a huge house which has been so useful when my siblings and I have needed to lodge there for a few days/weeks/months when in between houses! So like NeverTwerkNaked said, it depends on whether you want your kids there forever or not

Don't downsize. You've probably got 10-15 years of your kids at home and looking to the future you have a base for the big family xmas with lots of grandkids running around. Perfect