Doer upper in best area or bigger house not quite where we want to be?

[PolypGrunterPulpit]

DH and I grew up in an area which is very expensive (not London) and our families are still there. This is the main reason we want to live in this area, as well as knowing it well and loving the location. Also much better schools for the kids. At the moment we're in a cheaper area some distance away but nearer our work. Obviously we'd get much less for our money moving into this more expensive area, and we don't have the biggest budget anyway so we'd have to buy a doer upper. Are we mad? Would we be better off staying where we are, sucking up the rubbish schools, and getting a good sized house that's ready to move into?

Location, location, location. Every single time. You can change anything about a house, except where it is. Go for it!

location every time unless it makes your commute hideous

In your case, location.
The quality of the schools will impact your children for the rest of their lives.
Plus you love the place, it's near family. I would go for it.

Location for me too, unless it detracted from the quality of your life, e.g. you could barely afford the mortgage in the better location or 4 kids had to share 1 bedroom.

Location is the key

Doer-upper - on the grounds you will almost certainly want to make changes to the "done" house anyway. This way you can do it to your own taste and budget. And location wins every time!

We did this, not family but moved to an expensive area for the schools. Could only afford a doer-upper. It was absolutely the best decision for us but other than quick, necessary changes, we could only afford little changes until income increased (about 5yrs after we moved in). It's a bit miserable living in a house that isn't done, that takes up your time for DIY / decorating. Plus, the cost of labour / materials has soared during lockdown.

So with that caveat, location every time.

Location location location. We've just bought a complete doer upper in a lovely village, it's one of the crummiest houses in the nicest area. While it's a bit stressful having taken it on with a newborn and a 3 year old it's definitely the right choice for us as we would never be able to afford this area or size of house/garden without needing to put some work in.

I’d get a doer upper.

Doer upper, I’d always put schools first

I'm feeling so much more confident now, thanks everyone! It's so easy to have a wobble when you're looking on Rightmove seeing properties in a cheaper area that are twice the size of the ones in your chosen expensive area that you can afford. But I guess we're paying for the better location and schools rather than a big garden or extra bedroom! It's an area that's massively popular especially with Londoners fleeing the city post covid, so whatever we buy should retain its value even if it takes us 10 years to do up!

So it’s:

A) Nicer location, closer to family and better schools but smaller doer upper house
Vs
B) worse location further from family and worse schools but Bigger fully done house

I would choose option A) unless you really have no money to do the work to the doer upper and will have to live in a wreck with small children for years. That’s pretty horrible and would put me off option A

We went for the doer-upper. The building work is a major pain in the arse but we definitely made the right decision. Superb location!

Definitely prioritise good schools and nice area.

@minipie

So it’s:

A) Nicer location, closer to family and better schools but smaller doer upper house
Vs
B) worse location further from family and worse schools but Bigger fully done house

I would choose option A) unless you really have no money to do the work to the doer upper and will have to live in a wreck with small children for years. That’s pretty horrible and would put me off option A

Yes, this is what I keep reminding DH every time he suggests upping our budget. We need to keep something back to do the work! We can't take on a bigger mortgage until DD is getting her free hours at nursery, so that gives us 18 months to gear ourselves up to do this. I feel like it's such a game of strategy trying to make your money go the furthest it can.

Doer upper in nice location. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

I lived in a gorgeous house that was in a location I hated (EXDP was extremely risk averse and refused to increase our budget at the time to move to a nicer area, even though we easily could without stretching).

Now I'm free of EXDP, I'm buying a slight doer upper in a very popular and lovely location, which I can't wait to move to. The house I'm buying was purchased by my vendor for 5 times less than my agreed price 20 years ago

Do-er upper if you can afford the work.

Similar to @Africa2go - definitely go for the doer upper but be under no illusions about the money and time that you will have to put towards renovating. Of course there's a difference between redecoration and extensions, building work etc.

I'd prioritise the good school above all else. In fact, we are moving into a smaller property with the view to extending rather than a dream home in a different school catchment. I'd go doer upper too but only if you think you can cope with it.

Location, definitely. As long as the house is fairly solid and the changes are largely cosmetic it shouldn't be too much of an ordeal. Especially if you plan to live there for many years to come. That way you get to put your stamp on it

We have gone for the doer upper in the location we want. I never in a million years wanted to take on a renovation project and always said that I would want a turnkey property. However, after years of looking this is the first one that has really come up which is in the location we want. The location is a fab village location close to our son’s school and near to where I grew up. The plot and potential of it are also fab. BUT, it is a complete renovation. Thankfully no extension needed and it is essentially a remodel and redecoration job with new bathrooms and kitchen.

Despite not wanting to do a renovation originally I am now rather excited to be taking on something that we can completely make to our taste.

I think location wins every time too.

Location! We bought the worst house, best street, and in someways it still is :) but man oh man I LOVE IT SO MUCH… it will never be “done” but I’m ok with that. We’ve made it very beautiful, cosy and us. Painted out all the garish colours, changed light fittings, made an immediate difference. Ten years on we finally did the floors! AMAZING! And this year we are doing the bathrooms, 12 years of putting up with 40 plus year old ones.

It really depends on your personalities. Can you do up a doer upper?

If so, go ahead. But if you struggle with DIY, work long hours, no spare cash it may never get done.