Would you go for location or house

[user1477259453]

We have come into some money this year, just in time to move house. We lived in an expensive area of West Sussex and it buys us a significantly bigger house than our current one (if it ever sells 🙄) but if we go just ten minutes away we could get a really spacious house. Basically for comparison in our area we can get a relatively spacious three bedroom terrace with big garden and have enough money to do a medium sized extension. But ten minutes a way there are two very spacious four bedroom houses with several reception rooms downstairs. This area is slightly less desirable than where we live, but by no means undesirable. The thing that puts me off is that it is slightly further from family and friends and the childminder, and also that I had imagined my son would go to one of the local village schools, whereas in this area he would go to a more suburban/town school. All local schools in the other area are Oftsed Good or Outstanding.

So what are your thoughts? Would you always go on the location you know, or branch out for a really appealing house?

Always location. You can improve and change things about your house over the years, but you can not change the location.

How long do you plan to stay? I’d go for which ever meant you wouldn’t need to, or want to, move again until you retire.

Choosing a house for future need of schools is difficult because things change quickly. Also when your son is a teenager, will he be able to get around on his own, or will he have to rely on you?

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/compare-schools

I’d be a bit particular about schools and compare them on the website above.

If you use family for regular childcare, then I’d stick to being closer to them. If it’s just for visiting, then 10 mins extra isn’t much further. As long as it’s a nice area and there’s nothing wrong with it (high crime, awful schools, horrible traffic etc), then I’d much prefer a better house.

Wait until the children are in the schools you want, then move - if its only 10 minutes away the journey should be doable.

@PaulaSmith1 definitely not an option. We live in a small two bed house with a toddler, two indoor cats and a baby on the way, and it'll be 2.5 years til the eldest is at school. We need to move by the end of this year really.

@JojoSM2 yes I'm leaning towards this myself. Unfortunately no family to help with childcare since my Mum died a year ago. And actually having the bigger house would enable family to visit more easily so I think would help on that front. The nearest school to the other area is outstanding and the area isn't rough by any stretch, just kind of boring residential really.

location. don't just think about childminders now. Think about secondaries (it creeps up on you it really does) How are the kids going to get to school. Its there stuff for them to do nearby/public transport available? is this somewhere you plan to stay or would you consider moving again?

I actually think that there is much more potential for issues in small village schools with things like friendships and bullying plus once they are older town gives a lot more opportunity for independence and things to do so I would gor for the big house 10mins out. Nice area with good schools and better long term for your children and really 10mins is nothing.

I've been in this exact position. Had a toddler and another on the way a couple of years ago. Went from a cramped 3 bed to the big dream 4 bed, 2 en suites, massive kitchen living, huge lounge - literally everything we could ever dream of fifteen mins away from our hometown where all our family live. Absolutely hated it.

We're already back in our hometown, downsized back to a slightly larger than original 3 bed.

I would always say location because of previous experience.

It’s worth exploring the potential area. I live somewhere that could be seen as boring but due to the large houses and gardens it’s extremely popular with families so there’s loads to do. Impossible to get bored.

We’re in this situation at the mo. We’re waiting for houses to come in the Vale of Belvoir. There are one or two villages that are very desirable and houses come up once every 2 or 3 years. It’s absolutely got to be Location every time for us.
We would consider a slightly smaller house or one with work to be done, to secure the right village.

The simple answer to the title, is 'location', but I don't really think that is what you are asking in your opening post.

Given that the bigger house is also in a "good" area with "Good" schools, and still only 10 mons from where you are, I'd go for the bigger house, in your circumstances.

See we went for house. After looking for ages, selling our house and moving In to rented, literally 1 or 2 houses in our original posh suburb came up, one we started buying but it fell through, the other we out an offer on but it went for 100k over! We now have a lovely big 4 bed detached on a nice, safe estate with park etc. Walking distance to high Street which isn't as posh but is fine (think Morrisons instead of Waitrose) o ly slight issue is that we kept the kids (primary age) at their old school but it's only a 10min drive and currently secondary nearest house is better... I wasn't sure at first but we've been here a year and I feel the choice was right for us.

Definitely location. Which leads me to a personal bugbear - I find the portals like RM/Zoopla so frustrating to use, because they force you to know which location you want to live in (or to focus your search on just one location), whereas many of us are always on the lookout for a better location as our lives change, and so on. There are a few new tools/portals out there that are more focused on location discovery like SearchSmartly, Rentonomy, and a handful of others, but there is a long way to go IMO.

Location. Done the big house wrong location now in a small house excellent location.

Yep always always always location. I’ve done the fabulous house, totally wrong area thing. Expensive mistake.