Which house?

[Nstarr]

Hi all,

We are currently looking to buy a house this year. We have 2 babies. Do we go with an ok house within walking distance of a 'good' school? Or a great house (spacious with huge garden) within driving distance of a 'good' school? I feel strongly about being able to walk the school run for 8 years. School run traffic and parking is awful. Driving also means we may need a second car. But driving gives us more housing options in terms of location.

Would you be guaranteed to get into the 'good school' which is driving distance?

Are there any parks near one with small garden?

If kids are babies, do you think you will be in a position to move to the more expensive area when they are older?

Personally I've always liked walking to school and the benefits (friends living close by, seeing people walk and the associated feeling of that, kids walking on own in Y6).

If you feel strongly about walking to school then go with the house where you can walk to school. I would do everything I possibly could to avoid having to drive to school, it just seems a monumental pita for all concerned.

You prob won't get in the school in driving distance. If you can now, you might not do when the time comes...get as close to the school,as possible

@MarieG10

You prob won't get in the school in driving distance. If you can now, you might not do when the time comes...get as close to the school,as possible

Why not if it’s in catchment?

Op, what’s more important to you? The walk or the house?

Personally for me it would be the house, I need to live in it. But we all prioritise different things.

To be honest, getting into school can be a PITA and very unpredictable. For example, a village school I know is taking 28/ 30 kids on the sibling rule this year, leaving 2 spaces for the village kids/ catchment (it's quite large village, I'm sure there are more than 2 in the area). So basically, nothing is guaranteed. I would check this stuff out now rather than sacrificing for the smaller house and then b finding you need to drive anyway etc etc. Obviously each year is different but the pattern over 2-3 years will be revealing.

Check the school entry but it's usually sibling, catchment then distance (so distance is also important even within 'catchment' ie. Catchment is not a guarantee).

Sorry garbled post. I mean siblings followed by who lives closest not just everyone who is in catchment.

Stick within walking distance. Or can you cycle? Cargo bike / scooters/ buggy board can increase your travel range and kids will soon grow big enough to walk further.

I'd go for the nice house. Aren't there any buses?

I'd want to be within walking distance of the school, and am currently trying to move closer to my DC school. With driving, you always need to factor in time for traffic, and finding somewhere to park, which can be unpredictable. My local authority is also starting to impose "no drive zones" except residents around schools, so that's something that may be introduced nationwide in future.

Walking distance.

Hi, we went for the ‘ok’ but perfectly pleasant convenient house in walking distance (7 mins) to good schools for when kids were young and definitely right call, don’t under estimate the value of being able to quickly get to and from school, feels like you are there constantly when they are young and those years chatting walking and scootering (although can be painful at the time !) are so precious and pass very quickly, also nice to chat to other parents en -route too though appreciate not everyone’s cup of tea ! We’ve since moved a bit further away now they are older and walk themselves.

I moved to a really "posh" area so my daughter could go to the good school here, because it's such a nice area what I could afford wasn't as big or fancy as it would have been had I gone further out, but like you walking to school was a big factor for me...

What I'm learning is that even the 15 minute walk when it's cold or raining is miserable, and taking the car is an absolute pain because of the traffic and parking. There's really no perfect solution but overall I think I made the right call. At least when the weather is lovely and during summer it's wonderful and the walk is lovely, I'd be a bit loathed to HAVE to take the car when it's a nice day like that.

I'd go for walking distance to the school. Those school years are interminable and there are so many reasons you have to keep bobbing up and down there eg sickness, assemblies, fairs etc... Plus just parking at schools can get very contentious.

We actually chose our first choice school as the drive one as the walking school just didn’t cut it for us. It was actually a 17 min walk vs 5 min drive and then a 5 min walk which works a lot better time wise as we both work, even WFH (it’s 28 min walk up a very steep hill).

We choose to park in a quiet road away from the other parents and it’s a dream.

We actually went with a house with a huge garden and I’d still choose this rather than living near our school just for the sake of being about to walk it.

The house for sure. No way would I make such a huge decision based on the school run.
Will you always be doing the school run? Always doing it on foot? Returning to work where you drop and continue your journey?
Those several years go so quickly.
Does your DH currently use the one car for work leaving the SAHP without?! As your DC grow, having a car for the primary caregiver will be absolutely invaluable.
Mine are late teens now. Think long term.

The house for sure. No way would I make such a huge decision based on the school run.
Will you always be doing the school run? Always doing it on foot? Returning to work where you drop and continue your journey?
Those several years go so quickly.
Does your DH currently use the one car for work leaving the SAHP without?! As your DC grow, having a car for the primary caregiver will be absolutely invaluable.
Mine are late teens now. Think long term.

The house for sure. No way would I make such a huge decision based on the school run.
Will you always be doing the school run? Always doing it on foot? Returning to work where you drop and continue your journey?
Those several years go so quickly.
Does your DH currently use the one car for work leaving the SAHP without?! As your DC grow, having a car for the primary caregiver will be absolutely invaluable.
Mine are late teens now. Think long term.

The house for sure. No way would I make such a huge decision based on the school run.
Will you always be doing the school run? Always doing it on foot? Returning to work where you drop and continue your journey?
Those several years go so quickly.
Does your DH currently use the one car for work leaving the SAHP without?! As your DC grow, having a car for the primary caregiver will be absolutely invaluable.
Mine are late teens now. Think long term.

Whoops!

@cptartapp we know your opinions now 😂

@Nstarr I would go for the house as parking near my kids school is manic and I think of the pollution twice daily, 5 times a week.
We live about a 7 min drive (30/35 min walk) from school without traffic. During rush hour it can take 20 mins on a bad morning (roadwork, accident) so beware.I park a street away and walk the kids for about 5 mins. We didn't have a choice due to house move so I may well have changed my mind. Although I do love being able to walk 10 mins to school.

I’d go for the ok house within walking distance of the good school.

@cptartapp

Its not clear which house you are referring to though.

Thank you for your responses so far. I should have been clear, there is no specific house as yet. I really meant, which AREA should we go for. Prioritise being able to walk in, or ignore that factor and choose whichever house we love and deal with driving every day for the next 8-9 years minimum.