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Original poster

Having a wobble on new house - am I expecting too much?

38 replies

Loulouskiptomylou · 04/10/2021 07:14

Please could I get some opinions?

DH and I are relocating to a new city for his job (I’m currently SAHM to our two DC but hope to go back to work in a year or so). We have absolutely fallen in love with an area - great schools, beautiful countryside, excellent transport links etc.

However there is very little property available for sale there and absolutely nothing suitable available for rent. We did look at a couple of two beds to rent to see if we could make it work with the kids sharing a room but they were too small. All the letting agents say they are mystified at lack of rentals as usually they have more but just massive demand.

We viewed pretty much every house 3 bed+ available in our budget - nothing interesting except one four-bed we weren’t expecting much from. We actually walked out really excited about it and decided to go for it. We offered asking price and they accepted.

The house isn’t huge (1,250sq ft) but could see ourselves living there as a family and still feel quite excited when I picture that.

However now the weeks tick on I’m getting majorly cold feet. It’s definitely not our dream home but am I being unrealistic expecting that?

Pros:
Really close to station for DH commute
Walking distance to excellent school
Beautiful beautiful village
Lovely community feel
Nice estate
Beautifully decorated house to our taste
Was a new build seven years ago so hoping for no major issues/work needed

Cons:
Garden is small
Rooms are all quite small
So far away from my dream of a gorgeous period property
It’s mid-terrace so no room to extend

My fear is if we pull out now we won’t get in anywhere in the area before schools deadline and end up pissing money away on a rental elsewhere. Desperate to get into this area and get settled.

Am I expecting too much? Do I need to calm down and focus on the big list of pros?

I’m just telling myself we can move again in a few years into our dream country cottage…

OP posts:
Flamingoose · 04/10/2021 07:16

It sounds as though you don't have much choice. It's a compromise, but it's not a terrible one. Move in, get a feel for the area and buy your 'dream home' (lucky you!) a few years down the line.

Bluntness100 · 04/10/2021 07:16

I suspect it’s your budget that’s the issue, a gorgeous period property with larger rooms and a large garden is going to cost way way more than a nearly new build.

Unless your spending substantially under what you can afford?

xksismybestletter · 04/10/2021 07:18

I think if you have looked and looked then this is your house. It is always nerve wracking buying a new property, but remember why you wanted to move.

Ps I am in a similar position, but haven't yet found the right house

Keladrythesaviour · 04/10/2021 07:25

The housing market is difficult right now. We have friends looking to move and they have been told their house will sell in a day at a really good price when they put it on the market....but they're putting it off because there is so little on the market that they're worried they won't find anything to move too, and like you very little available to rent. It's a vicious circle!
If I were you I'd buy the house youre in the process for. It gets you a foothold in the area, sorts out school and jobs etc. Let's you know if the area is actually all you've hoped for. Best case scenario you absolutely love it and don't need to move. Worst case scenario you stay there a couple of years and see what the market does before selling up and buying the cottage you are after.

Quartz2208 · 04/10/2021 07:29

Very few people get the house they want in the location they want for the budget that they want. For all 3 to happen is rare

I agree with Bluntness it’s probably the budget that means you simply aren’t going to get what you want - there is nothing out there for what you want

It sounds as if this is a good for now rather than forever home which is fine and works because it is what you need

alwayswrighty · 04/10/2021 07:31

I bought a 10 year old property for the same reason a number of years ago and thought I was going to hate it but grew to love it very quickly. I think you'll be ok once you're in and settled.

TrampolineForMrKite · 04/10/2021 07:31

Be pragmatic. We live in a nearly new build, and it isn’t perfect by a long stretch. But it’s modern, has good sized and shaped bedrooms, bathrooms for days, all new boiler etc and it got us on the property ladder. We could do with another room downstairs and a bigger garden, but in years to come we will move and get those. For now it’s a house and a nice house where we wanted to live. No one is telling you that you have to live there for the rest of your life. Good luck!

SeasonFinale · 04/10/2021 07:33

The reality is you do need to move forward the job . I would buy the one you have found as it seems to be the best of the bunch and see how it goes. Not every house needs to be a forever house - it can be a for now house.

The forever one will happen one day.

cherrypiepie · 04/10/2021 07:35

It sound good to me. I'm sure there would be a similar list of pros and cons on your dream Property. I do love by the mantra that location is everything too.

Does it feel like a step down from your current property? If so that would be hard to swallow.

You can plan to move in 7 (or whatever) years to your dream home which will cost more. So enjoy the smaller cheaper property while the children a little and you are a sahm. We have a tiny garden which is momentarily annoying about 10 times a year.

Hungry675tf · 04/10/2021 07:36

It sounds like a great house that will offer many benefits whilst you build up your finances to make the next jump to a bigger home.

picklemewalnuts · 04/10/2021 07:38

The pros sound great! The cons sound a bit like luxuries rather than essentials.

The perfect house in the wrong place is a nightmare.

Megan2018 · 04/10/2021 07:39

Not every house you live in has to be your dream-we’ve moved a lot and some houses we loved and some were just good enough.
Our last house was a good enough-ugly 1970’s semi but in the right area. It was a stepping stone.

Thurlow · 04/10/2021 07:41

We’re in the process of buying a 15 year old
house in a gated development. It’s a million miles from what we like - period, alcoves, fireplaces etc - but the market is weird around here. And actually we got a good feeling from it too.

It’s easy to get cold feet but it sounds great!

Artdecolover · 04/10/2021 07:43

You do need to be more pragmatic op.

I feel for you as I would love to live on an edwardian or Victorian villa too but it aint gonna happen without a lottery win!

Our current home is a lovely detached 3 double bed house with a decent sized garden.

We have just spent £££ on a new bathroom and downstairs wc renovation.

It was a pragmatic decision (10 years ago in the market slump) at a time when there was very little on the market and mortgages were hard to come by.

The house sounds lovely. I think you just have new buyer jitters

Original poster
Loulouskiptomylou · 04/10/2021 07:47

Oh I love mumsnet Grin wasn’t expecting any responses so early! You’ve all made me feel so much better- thank you.

@cherrypiepie no definitely better than our current property! Much more family friendly Smile

For those of you who mentioned budget - honestly even with no filters on rightmove there are about three properties for sale in the whole area! This one did come in under budget which is helpful. I’m not expecting to ever be able to afford a detached rolling country manor but I wish we could have a lovely garden etc and views and just something a bit more period to fit in the area. I’m asking too much I think Grin feeling very lucky with what I have now. Thanks so so much everyone

OP posts:
Original poster
Loulouskiptomylou · 04/10/2021 07:48

Oh yes @Thurlow I love an alcove Grin good luck with your purchade

OP posts:
Artdecolover · 04/10/2021 07:53

Good luck in your new home x

marymay62 · 04/10/2021 08:22

Just get it if it ticks the practical
boxes now. You need to relocate and sort out schools etc. Dream homes often remain just that for very good reasons but you will
make a very happy family home there and you will make the move you need to . Who knows how long you will be there - there may be another relocation in the future . We did the same and had a very happy time, moved again to a dream home but now moving again for reason beyond our control to a less than perfect place - wheels turn .

CherryFenton · 04/10/2021 08:23

Grab it with both hands and don’t let go! The house (which sounds great) is your ticket into the community and location you want. That’s worth millions compared to a few period features. We did the same - mid terrace 70s house, one of only two available in the whole area! We just really wanted to live there so went for it and have never looked back.

Also, you will LOVE a recent new build. Warm, well insulated, low maintenance. More to spend on fun things. Trust me! Grin

Thurlow · 04/10/2021 09:26

@Loulouskiptomylou

Oh yes *@Thurlow* I love an alcove Grin good luck with your purchade
Thanks! I actually came on here before we made our offer and asked for advice if the very long, plain, boring new-build living room would drive me mad when I liked old houses, and got loads of good advice how to style it to make it better, so feeling much better about the purchase now.

As PP say, it's really unlikely you'll get everything in one purchase. So in this house DH has given up on having a decent garden (it just has an outside space, not lots of grass) and we have both given up on lovely old period features. But the location is amazing and it has loads more room than anything else we have seen on our budget.

Your house sounds fab and the pros are such big pros. A bit of clever decorating and furniture and the smaller rooms will be absolutely fine.

Original poster
Loulouskiptomylou · 04/10/2021 11:05

Honestly you’re all so wise. Was having a real wobble but now you’ve made me realise how bloody lucky we are finding somewhere great in an area we love Smile

Found your thread @Thurlow and that’s made me feel excited about decorating too Smile

OP posts:
Cruiser11 · 04/10/2021 11:17

It sounds good to me and a decent size.

Orangecrisp · 04/10/2021 11:17

We just sold our Victorian terrace to buy a newer build as although I love decorating and it looked great, it was freezing, expensive to run and maintain and had no parking. Our new house is warm, has a driveway and only needs a lick of paint to make it ours. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate with a relocation, new jobs, DCs… I would be thankful you don’t have to spend every weekend and all spare cash maintaining an old home and enjoy the practicalities of the one you are buying!

JasonMomoasgirlfriend · 04/10/2021 11:22

I'd go into this thinking you will be there 5 years max.

RobinPenguins · 04/10/2021 11:39

I think you should go for it. You probably won’t be a SAHM forever so you could be in a completely different financial situation in 5 or 10 years and the dream period property with a big garden might be a reality then. Sounds like the location is perfect and the house is good enough for now.

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