House 1 or House 2 - help me decide

[J417]

House 1 -
Situation
Our offer accepted
Vendor moving 200miles north to be closer to family and had already offered on a house. Vendor said they have somewhere to move into temporarily if needed and not in a chain
House 1 is perfect except 1) 25 mins walk to son primary school 2) on street parking that's quite full in the evening, there's a road 3 mins walk that seem quite empty and could park there, we only drive on weekend though

House 2 -
Situation
This house come up recently, vendor is upsizing in the local area (I don't think there's much stock

Why I like house 2

• House 2 has off street parking, is closer to son's primary school, 15 mins walk , but in a few years time he will move into secondary school.
• House 2 has an open plan layout
• House 1 needs some work, bathroom update, some single glazed windows, so their prices are nearly the same accounting for that
• both house in some good secondary schools catchment so we are not particularly concerned

I am afraid I will be stuck in a chain

I have been stuck in a chain last summer, so house 1 is more appealing, though not sure how true that is

Advice please?

What’s the price of each?

On paper it sounds like there is no reason to go for house 1

House 1 situation sounds better ....but ..... no parking would be a deal breaker for me, so id go for house 2 and keep fingers crossed!

House 2 I think!

Off street parking absolute priority for us.

The parking issues and distance to sons school seems to make House 1 a non-starter in your situation.

There must be other differences too, though. Room sizes? Are both the same in terms of detached/semi/terraced? Is one in a nicer area? How do the gardens compare?

Size is similar
House 1 is an 1900 Edwardian End terrace with loft extension, 50ft garden
House 2 is a 1930 semi with ground floor rear kitchen extension and loft extension, 70ft garden

Distance
House 1 is 5 mins walk from town center and 18mins from tube station
House 2 is 22 mins walk from town center and 25-30 mins from tube station, but 5 mins from park

While house 1 is further away from primary school (3 years left), in the long run, it is more convenient for kids to go out ???

House 1 is 880 vs House 2 950 (asking)

House 2 seem perfect for us at this moment but I am terrified of being stuck in an uncompleted chain
Last year we were in a similar situation, I pick the 'perfect' house and wait and passed other chain free/short chain houses. And those completed while I am still in limbo.

With your update I’d go house 1 if you plan to stay there long term. The distance to town and the tube are important. If you only drive on the weekend then I’d be less concerned about parking.

Which way do the gardens face??

House 1.

In a few short years primary school and the park will be behind you, and quick access to the town centre and the Tube a massive bonus for teens - (and you. They’ll want picking up/lifts otherwise).

You only drive on weekends, so it’s not like parking is an everyday issue.

House 1 vendor said they have offered on a house 200 miles north and plan to move in it but could move to a temp place ( assume with family)

What questions should I ask to ensure this is really the case but not sound too nosey?

What should I ask during the process?

I am a FTB , so this is all freaking me out

I don't want to be stuck in a chain limbo again as I am in a rental and rent kept increasing

I'd stick with house 1. None of the things you mention are dealbreakers and it sounds like a good house. I hate hellish chains too so would hang in there and stop looking around at other properties, keep your nerve.

I would go for house 1 as well. Only the parking would put me off but I use my car daily.

@CircleofWillis

I would go for house 1 as well. Only the parking would put me off but I use my car daily.

yes I could imagine that would be to some buyer At first driveway is my must have

But unfortunately it is some compromise I might have to make or wait forever

House 1 - proximity to tube & town center will be much more important in the long term than distance to primary school. you'll get used to the parking very quickly, especially if you don't use your car much.

House 1 you make sound better on paper .but your dithering for a reason,and optioning to house 2 so that tells me something.

The minute you mentioned the distance to town and tube, my thought was House 1. If you only drive weekends, it doesn’t matter how crowded things are in the evening since I assume your car will be parked and unmoving. Also, if this is a long term house, knowing you won’t have to be a taxi all the time when the kids get older will be a massive bonus.

Too, as kids get older, are you going to want open plan? Imagine shouty teenage boys playing computer games - wouldn’t you rather have doors?

Also, I know someone who lived in a 1930s semi. It was single brick (so no cavity walls) and leaked heat. I’d much rather go for a well built Edwardian or Victorian (I know they aren’t all well built but I assume you’ve had a survey if you’ve offered). To me, House 2 wouldn’t even be in consideration.

Having said that, I’m not the one buying. It’s what works best for you and your family. It may be the short distance to the primary and the park are essentials to you.

House 1, moving is so stressful I certainly wouldn't want to do it again with pre-teens and it sounds much better positioned. We have on street parking and it's a nightmare on a night, but given you only drive on a weekend you could easily get a close by space on a Monday and leave it there for the week. I thought on street parking was a deal breaker for me but there's only been one night I couldn't park, I drive every day, and my neighbour let me block him in so it was fine in the end. I've been here years too, and it's a very busy street. Primary years will pass quickly, I would definitely prioritise proximity to town and tube over park and school.

House 1, is there an opportunity to put off-road parking on the front garden in the future?

@mrsmacmc

House 1, is there an opportunity to put off-road parking on the front garden in the future?

No it is a resident permit parking street and the front garden is too small I think

I suddenly felt I am so unethical, having made an offer and asking this question. But I felt I have to ask, I have to evaluate and need inputs.

If only I had asked the same question last summer I wouldn't be here.
(chain free vacant property vs vendor haven't found an onward purchase after 8 weeks)
Now I am a bad person that I don't want to be.
Luckily we settle on house 1. Thank you all. You don't know how much help you gave me. It is invaluable.

House 2 sounds much better. Don’t underestimate off street parking. Could you ride to school so that 25 minute walk becomes more like 10 minutes?

Ha, forget that I got the school distances mixed up 🤪

House 1 for all the reasons other posters have stated. You can put your own mark on it and it's a long-term proposition. Edwardian EOT is perfect imo.

I think house 1 is the right decision. Much safer in terms of chain and more practical to grow into with distance from town, tube and the fact it's not open plan. Open plan is a huge pain in the arse now my children are tween/teens.