How to pick between these two houses -

[NemophilistRebel]

House 1 -
2 bed Victorian end terrace
Driveway
Big garden
Location on a main road 30mph but busy in rush hour and in a town location which is convenient for work but not the prettiest of towns
Only one bathroom upstairs, no WC downstairs

House 2
3 bed (but smaller bedrooms than house 1)
Upstairs bathroom and WC downstairs
Detached
Gorgeous picture postcard frontage
Far reaching views over hills
Dark skies at night
Quiet lane and no noise from roads or youths
Smaller garden
Village location - no shops but outstanding primary school and good links to decent towns 2 miles and 6 miles away
Further from work but under 30 minute commute

Please help!

No contest: House 2

I like the sound of 2.

What appeals about house 1? What are you weighing up?

You seem to have more positive things to say about house 2... Even with the negative "no shops" you then say but "an outstanding school". It sounds to me like your heart prefers house 2?

House 1 is where we currently are.

We can only improve it by extending it or going up into the loft which is upheaval in itself

Especially with 2 young children

However, we’ve been here for 3 years now.
We have parents who help out a lot just down the road.

But then again, house 3 is a lot closer to other parents which have offered to help out lots too.

After showing both parents it’s clear that the ones closest to us now don’t want us to move and the ones who we would be moving closer to do want us to move

100% house 2, infact if you dont buy it please tell me where it is, sounds perfect!

House 2!

House 2 no question!

If you have 2 kids then 3 bedrooms will be a lifesaver as they get older.

I would like either and they seem quite different, each have dealbreakers for me (no downstairs toilet, only two beds; no nearby shops. Keep looking in my case but seems you like number two.

i would say going from your description your heart is already with house number 2. :)

House 2

House 2

Presuming you both drive and have cars? 2, no question.

House 2. It's still a short commute so it can't be that far from whichever set of grandparents you're currently closest to?

2

There are lots of things to weigh up, but think ahead is my view.

I would not live anywhere where there is no option of public transport at all. But I think you said there is in house 2. Check also that you are in the catchment for online grocery delivery.

Isolation and being Taxi Mum and Dad is hard when kids get to teenage years and there are no alternatives, but I suppose people cope if they get the house they like.

Wishing you the best.

House 1, or something else in town.

Disclaimer: speaking from the perspective of someone who moved to the idyllic countryside and grew to dislike it greatly. Now in the centre of a small city - we have great schools and can walk to all amenities. We are all fitter, richer (no oil central heating/ Rayburn, high commute costs), and live in a fab, family orientated community.

2 of course!

The garden would be the only factor in 1's favour for me. But busyness and noise at 1 could be a real problem.

I'd focus a lot on schools.

2

Number 1 has good primary schools in walking distance.
Secondary’s are mixed. We have a lot and some are dreadful and some excellent.
Not too sure how easy it is to get into the good ones as we aren’t the closest within the catchment to them and have others closer.
but secondary is long way off.

House 2 the secondary’s are excellent but both a bus ride away in the nearest larger town.

Don't make your children commute. House 1.

House 2.

I grew up in a small village. It was lonely and grim and I vowed never to inflict it on my kids; but everyone's different and it might work for some people.