I am a first time buyer and am buying on my own. I'm just about to exchange on a very cute, but small, 1.5 bed house. It has a small but nicely formed garden, a spiral staircase and lots of character. It's also in between an area that I like for its amenities and another area with a fantastic park, and I did lots of due diligence on the neighbourood/street so I am confident as I can be that I'm joining a nice little community, which was important to me.
However, I stupidly went and had a look at Rightmove out of curiosity and saw that there was a very decent sized, 2/3 bedroom house with an extension and a massive garden about 20 minutes walk away. It also has two reception rooms and is semi detached! Way less character, and would need some work, but far more appropriate for a family if I ever have one (which I would ideally like to in the next five years). It was listed for the same price and I'm now kicking myself.
I'm guessing it was cheaper because the area is less popular than where I bought (much closer to the fantastic park, where I do want to go every day for a swim anyway). I also feel I would have been surrounded by families, as opposed to a mix of different types of people, and I think I would find it difficult being surrounded by families if I didn't have one. Also, the garden was really big and required lots of maintenance. I love a spot of gardening but it's time consuming. I am wondering whether actually I have bought the right thing for me at this time, and the kids question is a bit out of my hands, unless I decide to potentially do my own (I'm probably going to run out of time fertility wise in next few years, although I have frozen lots of eggs which may extend that period).
I know I don't know how much it went for, but I am kicking myself for not seeing it to compare, and am now feeling it would have been likely I would have offered something on it as it was such a good buy.
Has anyone else experienced this kind of remorse / kicking themselves? Am I fooling myself that 1.5 beds is enough for someone in my life situation? I'm buying in London (and don't feel up for moving out yet) so it's a lot of money to be putting down and it's stressing me out a bit I think.