Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Better house or better location

44 replies

ginfuelled · 25/05/2021 14:30

Help me out here please! I've been struggling to find something I like for a while since selling my place but finally have seen two houses.

One is smaller, nice enough house, but the location is way more preferable. Also a lot cheaper.

Other is much bigger (and more expensive), lovely house, but location is much less preferred.

I probably only want to live there for 3 or 4 years, it's not a long term plan but never say never and all that. Saying that, which would you choose.

OP posts:
Pootles34 · 25/05/2021 14:32

It depends - what's your situation? Would you have enough room in the smaller one? If so, and the bigger one would just be nicer, I'd go for smaller house in lovely area, especially as it's cheaper.

Having said that, if your market is anything like ours, it may just be a case of which one can you actually get...

Original poster
ginfuelled · 25/05/2021 14:36

Yes, there would be enough room in the smaller one for just me and my cat, I don't need a huge amount of space.

Both properties been on for a little while and no other viewings booked.

OP posts:
De88 · 25/05/2021 14:40

Location!

Pootles34 · 25/05/2021 14:40

I'd definitely go for the little one if you don't have to worry about shared bathrooms etc. The big one will cost a fortune to heat, furnish, decorate and you'll have higher council tax too. A little house in a nice area sounds like heaven!

BasiliskStare · 25/05/2021 14:44

better location definitely ( for me )

Original poster
ginfuelled · 25/05/2021 14:54

I'm leaning towards the location as well, it's a 10 minute walk to the local station, whereas the other one would be at least 25 minute walk. Both are the same length of time into the city centre. Both have a little high street, so I wouldn't feel like I was missing out on access to shops.

OP posts:
TentTalk · 25/05/2021 14:59

location

allfurcoatnoknickers · 25/05/2021 15:00

Location! You can improve a house, but you can't improve where it is.

Tal45 · 25/05/2021 15:02

Location, especially if it's just you - then size matters much less IMO.

krustykittens · 25/05/2021 15:06

It would be location for me too. Plus, if the smaller house leaves you with more disposable income every month, you can enjoy your location more by being able to afford to leave the house!

Dustyboots · 25/05/2021 15:11

Location. We live in a lovely location - and don't have enough space for a 4 person family. But we manage our space really well - we're trying to move at the moment but I will not accept space over not so nice/inconvenient locations (even though we're bursting at the seams).

It's brilliant living in a good location. For me that's worth far more than the size of a house.

FurierTransform · 25/05/2021 15:25

If the location choice is between two equivalent locations e.g. suburbs, but it's just that as is often the case, one is seen as 'less desirable' , but there's not actually anything tangibly much worse about it (no higher crime, higher pollution or whatever) I'd go for the better house - I spend the majority of my life inside, especially now WFH.

RowanAlong · 25/05/2021 15:27

Go for location and cheapness

FurierTransform · 25/05/2021 15:27

Sorry I didn't see your reply - is there anything else to differentiate them aside from either a 10 or 25minute walk to the station? Because in that case I'd definitely get the better house & a bike/ebike :D

DespairingHomeowner · 25/05/2021 15:27

Location, ESPECIALLY if its a short term house

Unless you are exceptionally lucky, expect to find a million things the previous owners bodged which you will need to fix: that;s going to be cheaper in a smaller house too

once its yours, you can make any house lovely on the inside

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 25/05/2021 15:32

We chose a 3 bed in a nicer location than a 4 bed in not quite as good location. In our case, it was the lot better secondary school for our 9yo DD that swung it.
Only regret is only having one bathroom (and toilet) between the four of us.

Original poster
ginfuelled · 25/05/2021 15:44

@FurierTransform

Sorry I didn't see your reply - is there anything else to differentiate them aside from either a 10 or 25minute walk to the station? Because in that case I'd definitely get the better house & a bike/ebike :D
The location is definitely a big differentiation. Not just because the smaller one is in the more 'desirable' location, but also they are opposite sides of the city. The smaller one is a nearer direction to when I would want to give visit family.
OP posts:
Original poster
ginfuelled · 25/05/2021 15:47

@krustykittens

It would be location for me too. Plus, if the smaller house leaves you with more disposable income every month, you can enjoy your location more by being able to afford to leave the house!
At asking price, the smaller one would be 10k less than the offer I've accepted on my property. The larger property would be at top end of my budget and higher mortgage and bills.

If it was a long term decision I would prefer that house. But it seemes pretty clear the view is go cheaper and smaller if I'm not planning on a long term move.

OP posts:
RolloTomassi · 25/05/2021 16:39

At the cheaper price with just yourself to consider, and with a view to moving in the short-ish term - go for the location.

Standrewsschool · 25/05/2021 16:46

If it’s a short term option, then I would consider what would sell better in 3-4 years. Which area has the highest price rises. Is there anything in either location that will make it more or less attractive in the future?

Also, is it worth moving to an area for only three years? Moving can easily cost £10000, so you could be paying £10000 now, and £10000 in three years time, which is dead money. Wouldt be better to buy a better house and live there longer?

Original poster
ginfuelled · 25/05/2021 17:22

The cheaper property is in the far more desirable area, and likely would remain so.

Definitely take your point about the cost of moving, but it's not just about the money. There are various good personal reasons why I'm likely to want to move after 3 or 4 years. Of course I haven't got a crystal ball to know what will happen, but it's the most likely scenario at the present time.

OP posts:
eatbroccoli · 25/05/2021 17:39

Better location :)

Wonderwalk · 25/05/2021 18:10

Always location!

mobear · 25/05/2021 18:30

Location, particularly if it's closer to family and you don't need the added space.

RoseDelatour · 25/05/2021 18:38

Another vote for location. What can you do to make the smaller house more desirable? Good interior design makes a world of difference