Extension in good location or big house is worse location?

[BN1mama]

Hi mamas. I need some help making a decision on a house.
We’ve seen two we like, one is a pretty 30s house which is tiny but has a big garden and we could build a kitchen extension to make it the right size, plus the benefit of making it exactly how we want it. We’d have to do the extension ASAP as it’s too small for us as it is. The location is great, right near one of our favourite parks and a quick bus journey into town.
The other house is big, plenty of room already, but the location is far from town. It’s nice and it’s likely we could do an extension on top of the dining room - but at a later date. But it’s a 40 minute journey into town. The garden is a bit crap and sloped but there is a big flat green patch in front of the house for the children to play on.
Which house would you choose? First world problems, obvs 😅

Location, location, location. The smaller house in preferred area.
No point being fed up in an area you don’t like just because the house is bigger, especially as that big flat green patch could be frequented by dog walkers so you might not want your kids to play on it.

I would always pick location, with the added value of extending to your exact requirements

Extension. Location is everything.

The house you love in the right location and can extend immediately. I can't see the dilemma. Unless there's a massive cost implication?

Location definitely

Definitely property one. You’re not even compromising on space to get the location because you can extend it - it’s a no-brainer.

House 1, sounds perfect if there’s potential to extend

Wow, that’s a clear consensus then 😂 I guess I’m just worried about the stress of doing an extension but I think / hope I’d really love the end result. Thanks for your input everyone! My mum is going to think we are mad 🤣

Location always.

Location over size every time.

So you have the funds to do the kitchen extension immediately?

Luckily we do - house is under budget because it’s dinky 😀

@BN1mama unless you are both clinically obese BMI 40+ then the kitchen is not too small you would just prefer it to be bigger.

What about waiting for a bigger house in the nice area?

How sure are you that you’d get planning permission? There’s a risk that you buy the house and then don’t get planning and then you’re stuck in a house that isn’t big enough.

Location

Location.
I’m assuming Brighton due to the BN1.
In my opinion unless you can walk to the town centre or get there very quickly you might as well not live in a town.

(I am going to gloss over the first two words of your post)

Location!

Location for sure but check out how likely it is you’ll get planning permission first.

@MyDcAreMarvel did you really feel it was necessary to correct the OP or did you just feel like being a bit of a dick this evening?

@Porridgeoat

What about waiting for a bigger house in the nice area?

That’s a good point. It’s partly that there isn’t one one the market at the moment and we already have a buyer, plus this particular house is very close to the park, pretty much as close as you can get.

@SecondBabyGirl

How sure are you that you’d get planning permission? There’s a risk that you buy the house and then don’t get planning and then you’re stuck in a house that isn’t big enough.

We’ve researched planning applications on the street so odds are good!

@StanfordPines

Location. I’m assuming Brighton due to the BN1. In my opinion unless you can walk to the town centre or get there very quickly you might as well not live in a town.

(I am going to gloss over the first two words of your post)

Yes Brighton. Expensive but nice place to live. Assumed everyone here was a mum given the title of the website.

Location, without a doubt. There are so many benefits to living close to what you need, both in terms of convenience and environmental impact (not having to drive for everything you do)

@PickAChew

Location, without a doubt. There are so many benefits to living close to what you need, both in terms of convenience and environmental impact (not having to drive for everything you do)

Really good point about the environment.

If you have children, you may want to consider schools in the respective areas before committing. Even if they're little now, it won't be long till you have to navigate that.

@Stokey

If you have children, you may want to consider schools in the respective areas before committing. Even if they're little now, it won't be long till you have to navigate that.

Yes absolutely.