WWYD - which house???

[PerditaMacleod]

Don't know what to do! We are under offer and this week we have had an offer accepted on a property to buy, which was the only thing around that was suitable....until yesterday.

There is a house that was on the market a couple of months ago, and we were interested but not under offer at that point. It has just become available again and we're going to see it today. The sale has fallen through for reasons relating to buyers finances according to the EA, nothing house related.

Which one would you pick?

House 1 (the house we've already offered on) is 575k, house 2 is on for OIEO 550k.
Both around the same size
Not much difference in distance to town or nursery/school
House 1 has no chain (seller claims she's not buying anything), house 2's sellers are buying a new build, need to find out when that will be finished
House 1 has a big, quite private, south facing garden that needs work, house 2 has a north facing, well-maintained but smaller garden
In House 1 we'll need to knock through a wall to make a kitchen diner, and an old conservatory will have to be dealt with at some point - not urgent
In house 2 we could knock through a wall to make a kitchen diner but not so necessary as you can get a small table in the kitchen
House 1's garage has already been converted, house 2's garage is still a garage but could be easily converted at some point
House 2's bathrooms I suspect will need redoing sooner
House 2 is maybe a bit less private, garden maybe slightly overlooked, and also is on the end of a cul de sac adjacent to a main road into an estate so would have more people walking right past - not sure if I should be concerned about security.
House 1 has MASSES of storage, house 2 not as good.
Something in me feels like house 1 will be better for the long term and we would probably never need to move again and will be versatile as the children grow up, not sure if it this will be the case for house 2.

In other respects, they're not too dissimilar. Not sure what our chances are of beating the stamp duty deadline for either property. Hoping my heart will decide for me when we see house 2 today but probably also need to be a bit pragmatic!

Based on the info you've given, house 1 sounds like a much better option to me.

1

House 1

1. A south facing garden is essential to me

I would stick house 1, from what you have said. Less hassle with work, south facing garden and lots of storage (lm a sucker for storage!)

I’d say house number 1 based on the south facing garden too!

1 sounds better in almost every way.

Sorry I'm confused....why do you want to go see house 2? What's it that makes.you want to see it because it isn't clear from your post?

Yes, I think it's the garden that is going to decide it! If house 2 had a south facing garden it would be different I think, we'd switch in a flash. I think we will stick with house 1, but need to see house 2 to rule it out. It looks so nice....

House 1. Why would you even consider House 2 when nothing about it sounds much better?

I’m glad too because I think you get bad voodoo from pulling out of an offer unless there are better reasons than “we kind of liked this other one”.

Stick with the “better” house you’ve offered on and keep your good voodoo!

@Mumdiva99 house 2 just looks really lovely! And is 25k cheaper...

House 1, had me at storage. Will you actually do the work to create a bigger kitchen/ diner though?

It's not clear to me from your description why you're interested in house 2, having made an offer on house 1.

House 1 seems better in almost every respect.

@LividLoving yes there is that too, and I will feel awful about pulling out, but offer was only accepted on Monday and nothing has happened yet so hope we wouldn't get too much bad voodoo!

From your post I’m not even sure why you are looking at house 2 ??? (If only one then it may be fine but you have house 1 ‘in the bag’ and it sounds better all round anyway surely ?

@OnlyFools I THINK so...I think it's a stud wall and I don't think it would be a huge job.

It isn't necessarily cheaper as it is offers over.

What does that 25k or 20k it 15k or whatever the difference in price is mean to you as a family? What is the difference in monthly mortgage payments?

Personally I'd think the no chain sale a better offer. If and this is only an if....they decide to extend the stamp duty payment thingy....then a quick purchase might be worth more to you....

Finally look at the inside space.....which suits your family better? Personally the South facing garden would swing it for me.

But you could post links for us if you want real honest opinions.....

House 1 sounds better in every way except price. Is that what’s making you rethink?

Honestly, although we're already buying house 1, I think the garden is putting me off a bit. It's quite big for the area and just has so many little nooks and crannies and little things to deal with, the thought kind of gives me a headache! Will delegate to DH . I suppose if we might potentially stay there until retirement there will be plenty of time to do the garden! It's not a disaster or a total mess or anything, just now we have a lovely, virtually maintenance free garden and I will miss that.

House 1- bigger footprint, south facing garden, more private sounds better.
But if you are still desperately looking around maybe your heart would prefer House 3.
Is there something that’s putting you off House 1?

Oops cross posted with you

@Mum5net I think I need to stop looking on RM! If house 3 came up and it was the dream house we'd really be in trouble! Neither 1 nor 2 are the dream house, but I don't think we'd get that on our budget in the (expensive) town that we want. And house 1 certainly has potential if we want to stay a long time and get it how we want it.

@Mumdiva99 I'd be worried the sellers are on MN!!

550k would be make a difference vs 575k, as we'd go into the lower LTV bracket and get a better rate, and the difference in monthly payments is not insignificant. Not huge though either.

My daughter pulled out of a house sale for exactly the same reason, like you she had only offered in the last few days so no one lost any money on surveys etc.
Her friend told her if you change your mind after placing a brunch order that would be unreasonable but if you change your mind about something you are spending half a million pounds on then that's not so unreasonable.
Go look at the new property op and then decide, but whichever one you pick there will be times you wished you'd purchased the other

Also house 1 is the only house that we've viewed as there hasn't been anything new between accepting our offer the week before Christmas, and this week. So feels a bit like we're settling without seeing all the options!