Which house?

[moveblues]

Morning all,
So apart from the area mentioned above, we have a choice between two houses and I need help deciding!
Money isn't too much of a factor but we were looking for:

• good garden
• potential to extend/adequate space
• potential to do up
• existing space for downstairs bathroom
• reduced mortgage
• period property

-4 beds or economic to do double story ext -not on main road House 1 £380k 1950's build (compromising on Victorian /Edwardian and 30's build) but nice features 4 beds, good downstairs space, extensions Potential to do up Most expensive house on the road by quite a stretch, suspect due to market currently, additional space/extensions and two good size garden areas Next door (no extensions no garden) valued at £100k less and about to go on market Wouldn't reduce mortgage by more than £150 a month Ready to move into and improve as we go Main ish road

House 2
£285k ish
1930's but lacking some good period features
3 beds; decent but not perfect space
Potential to do up
Most expensive house on road but by £15k ish
Would reduce mortgage significantly
Needs more significant work to live in
Not on main road but still fairly busy and hard to gauge traffic as currently one way
Good garden but overlooked unlike house 1

We would either live for 4 years in house 2, or extend it (80k ish?) if staying longer whereas we feel we could live in house 1 for longer as the space meets requirements.

Next few years subject to us having kids (I'm 36)!! If we can't house 1 slightly more than need. If we do house 2 definitely too small.

Any pearls of wisdom very much welcomed :)

House 1

Next door (no extensions no garden) valued at £100k less and about to go on market

Might this one be a goer?

Sorry, just saw no garden. Ignore me

@BIoodyStupidJohnson

Sorry, just saw no garden. Ignore me

That was the biggie. House 1 has a lovely sun trap terrace and a sizeable south facing garden. Next door has used half of the terrace to extend the kitchen and no garden at all!

@Raxer26A

House 1

Thanks Raxer-why do you reckon so?

Because it's not Victorian , lots of bodges when built and going forward that are often overlooked because Victorian. It has more space inside. Garden not overlooked south facing, main road wouldn't bother me . You said money wasn't really any issue at that price. Unless I'm missing something with the area then it seems an obvious choice.

House 1 sounds better by a distance. The only advantage I can see with house 2 is a cheaper mortgage. But if you need to move again in 4 years then you have all the extra hassle of moving and more stamp duty to pay out, may not end up being cheaper in the long run.
House 1 has more space, period property and still with potential to improve a garden that's not overlooked.
Sounds to me that your quality of life will be better in house 1.

House 1 for all the reasons pp have stated.

Where in the country are you?
I've recently extended a 3 bed 1930 semi cottage, we build a large garage and a room in the garden and overhauled the whole house (rewire, replumb new window, plastered and rendered , and it cost way more than £80K. This was before building materials hiked up in price and before brexit so I'd be very surprised if you could do much for £80k these days.

So on that basis House 1.

Argh, house 1 went to best and finals today, offers of approx £20-25k over asking :( we went 15k over in the end but there's a higher offer still
Soooo frustrating!