Would you rather live in a bigger house in a less-than-desirable area or a smaller house in a desirable area?

[NotCure172]

Just that really. I faced this situation a few months ago with DH and we ended up choosing the desirable area. Just wondering what would others choose?

Yeah I went medium medium too. The area kind of went up iluckilt for me so now I'm medium house, desirable area. I thinks that's a reasonably likely gamble..More so than bad area becoming desirable.

Location. You can change a house - you can't change an area!

People have different ideas about “desirable” areas. Most of my friends live in a small city. It’s fine but a city, houses are small, on top of each other and mostly new builds. I live out in a big house rurally so have to travel. Most of my friends would probably classify it as less desirable because it doesn’t have the amenities they take for granted.

I am also an incomer to the area so I take the villages/towns on face value. People who have lived in the area their whole lives have very set historical ideas about the good/bad areas which quite often don’t reflect the current reality.

We did smaller in better area and don't regret it at all. Now that kids are getting older, they may not have massive space in the house, but can walk out to nice shops and restaurants and a lovely little cinema etc and I don't have to worry too much.

@Fl0w3ry

We chose bigger house in a less desirable area and we have paid a huge price for that in many ways! Next time it would be smaller house in a more desirable area.

Can I ask what you mean by paid a huge price in many ways?

I've also chosen smaller house in better area.

For me personally, I feel safer, happier and prouder to live in a nice area. Life is hard enough without dealing with anti-social behaviour, litter and overgrown gardens.

I realise that not everyone has a choice but I have come to realise that quality trumps quantity.

I’ve lived in both and I’d rather choose the better area, especially with dc.

We chose the smaller house in a desirable area. Have now been in the same house for 19 years! Love where we live.

Smaller house in a better area every time for me. It's exactly what we've done, we have one of the smallest/cheapest houses (only 2 of them) on a very desirable small estate.

We currently live in a big house in a not so nice area (although we love it!) But are moving to a smaller house in a nicer area (need to be closer to family who need support). The not so nice area we are in now is semi- rural so a bit run down but not dangerous and the schools are ok. We are moving to a city where the not so nice areas and schools are much less nice...so we are downsizing to live in a nicer area with better schools. Nice to see others have done it and not regretted it!

We bought a smaller house but in a great location. It's a period semi with a huge garden a few minutes walk to the village and the sea. We could've bought a big detached house in a new built estate but it would be 20 minute walk to the village and school and the gardens were tiny. We only have one dc so we had more choice I suppose. We do plan to do a loft conversion at some point.

@getsanta yes. mental health effected as we have terrible neighbours in this area, crime rates are much higher often police turning up on the street which makes me constantly check doors are locked etc, we have had to invest in better security than i think we would have elsewhere and our DCs school is not very good. So high prices to be paid are financial, education, mental health and peace of mind.

I’ve bought 4 homes....3 times I have bought for location ..... once for size..... haven’t been happier in one than the other though.... But if I move again it would definately be location over size

Depends what you mean by desirability. I’m not phased by local crime rates or immigration or whatever but I would want to be in an area with decent schools if planning to be there for the longer term.

I'd choose a smaller house regardless.
Don't understand the preoccupation with size and a million bathrooms.
Especially with hikes in bills heating an oversized house is luxury a lot of people will no longer be able to afford.

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

And also, in the north east we got shot at through our living room window one Sunday afternoon, whereas I wasn't ever a crime victim in the decade I lived in London.

Omg

I wouldn't move my children to a dangerous area but when I was young and single I bought a flat in an undesirable area rather than rent a room in a houseshare in a desirable area because I wanted my own place, and although the area was dodgy I actually enjoyed living there and never had any trouble nor regret - sold the flat for a good profit. I think the crime and violence in the area was mostly gang related - I never saw or heard anything but that'd be terrifying as a parent.

As parents we've stuck with space over location in that now the children are teens and pre teens it'd be great to live more centrally - we live in a very safe but impractically located area. We have a reasonably large house and the kids have their own space - any tentative thoughts of moving stall because none of us want to live in a smaller space as a family of 5.

So I don't think it's as clearcut as location, location, location...

I would choose house over location with a few caveats.

I wouldn't do it just for the craic of a bigger house, it would need to be because we needed a house that size. I don't like cleaning so don't want more of it than I need.

I also wouldn't go for it if the street is truly terrible and you're likely to have a huge neighbour problem.

Other than that though I'd go for house over location. I'm fairly scummy myself so would fit in well and most of the shit heads out robbing aren't shitting where they eat so on balance perhaps less likely to get robbed.

I’ve moved to a smaller house but with a bigger garden and the key reason being that it is not on a main road. It’s on a quiet cul de sac with lovely scenic walks literally minutes from the door.

For me, I was so fed up of traffic noise and endless streams of people walking past house and letting dogs poo on pavements, and struggling to park everyday. It was a very good area in terms of being near to shops and train station etc but I wanted to live somewhere that didn’t feel like a thoroughfare. I wanted to be able to open my windows on a summer night and not be woken up by traffic noise. So for me, getting away from traffic, gaining designated parking and having more outside space has been a good trade off despite a smaller house.

A bit of a mix. We chose a good area - schools, amenities, parks etc. however we bought a larger house in a less desirable road in the area. So we could have had a three bedroom house on a leafy street, or our 4 bed period house on a busy ish road and a smaller garden. We don’t have off street parking but there is plenty of street parking and because the majority of the housing stock is Victorian that is the case for most houses.

The other option was a mile or two away in surburbia - thirties semis with driveways etc but no amenities and it felt a bit curtain twitchingly!

You would need to drive for a pint of milk there whereas we are near a mini high street with coffee shops/ bars/ restaurants and basic food shopping.

@3dogsnorth

Always choose the worst house in the best street! You can always improve it!

You might be able to improve it but often you can't make it bigger, which is what the OP asked.

I went for size and potential, over location. There are too many variables in each circumstance for there to be a clear cut answer here. My area is not the nicest, but certainly not dangerous, and my street is lovely and quiet. I needed 4 beds and wanted a playroom. I knew my eldest wouldn't be with us for much longer, 5 years on he's about to move out... but I still feel I made the right decision for us and am looking forward to turning his room into an office/craft room or whatever else I fancy The extra bedroom means I have more house downstairs and I also wanted a bigger garden so I can extend a bit more too.

I live on a cottage, so small house, in a very desirable area. Wouldn't consider a not so nice area full stop