Which house - DH & I different opinions!!

[Cinnabomb]

Firstly I realise this is very privileged and a lucky position to be in. Discretion if you recognise my situation please! 🙈

DH and I like completely different houses, both in the same village which is 100% where we both want to be.

1. we offered on what we thought was our ‘dream project home over a year ago. Vendor accepted but since then very much messing us around, hasn’t seriously started looking where he wants to move to. Very demanding and rude.

House itself on edge of village down unlit country road (60mph) but no footpath. However plot set well back so no road noise. INCREDIBLE garden ‘woodlandy’ of about 1 acre but tiny 2 bed cottage which needs massive extension and loads of work. Unliveable in current condition . Can’t walk into village easily (2km+, dangerous road). Plus is no neighbours.

1. New house just come on market in “posh” quiet street in centre of village. Could walk everywhere but quiet so wouldnt get anything more than usual neighbour noise. Edwardian large house with medium size garden, not overlooked but do have immediate neighbours. I’m concerned about usual neighbour noise/ inconvenience as wanted somewhere bit more private. Needs redocorating and kitchen diner knocking thru in long term but otherwise suits us well. Very “prestigious” property. A lot less work but nearly twice the price, altho probably nearly equal once you factor int be work number 1 needs. Kids could walk everywhere

My heart is with number 1 as I love the beautiful setting and dont know how I feel living on a street. Also more me as I don’t love paying for the ‘grandness’ of property 2. However I see the benefits of being able to walk out the door and go everywhere, and the kids therefore being able to be a bit more independent. DH likes number 2 and doesn’t think a huge project with 2 small children is a good idea.

Thoughts?

If you have young children I would go for property 2 .

Treat it as fate , as the seller on 1is mucking you about and I bet the renovation will cost you twice as much as you think .

@Drywhitefruitycidergin

2 for sure - but I would hate to be isolated.

Ditto

Yeap 100% agree house 2 !

Absolutely number 2. You could be waiting another 5 years for house 1!

Number 2
Or keep looking for another house.

1 or similar.
May need to focus less on arsey owned house but keep looking for an equivalent. I wouldn't bother with 2 if your heart isn't in it.

Number 2. We moved from rural to a village, our street is surprisingly quiet and i love being able to walk to school/the shop: the pub/play dates etc. makes life so much easier and more enjoyable for us all. We're detached, have nearby neighbours and no issues at all, they are all lovely

2 all day long.
We're currently looking for something like no. 2 having spent over 20 years in a similar set up to 1. I wish we had never bought it.
If you post a link we may go have a look see....

House 2. The owner of 1 is never going g to get their act together

Much as I think my heart would say the same as you with number 1, it really has to be number 2 doesn't it?

So no easy walk to the shop with the kids, no walk to school, no walking to meet their friends when they're older, unliveable atm even if you ever get into it soon and needs tons of work. No.

I appreciate it will be hard for you having to adjust to living in a street but millions of people do it, you'll cope.

Number 2. You still have the pram years to do. A nice walk round the village and take baby back still sleeping while you have a cup of tea.

I walked miles with a pram. Getting a baby and toddler in a car is a right faff

Number 2 for me. Don't underestimate the faff of having to drive kids everywhere once they are older, or the benefits they would get from being closer to friends.

2 - but isolation isn't for me

I appreciate it will be hard for you having to adjust to living in a street but millions of people do it, you'll cope.

😆

Number 2 for me too.

Even if the vendor for number 1 actually sells to you which he hasn't really seemed inclined to do so far, material costs have soared and finding trades has gotten really difficult so I think it's wiser to avoid such a large project until prices stabilise. I also don't think it's very practical with 2 small kids.

Being within walking distance of stuff is a priority for me, it can make life a lot easier.

We had a detached old farmhouse.. Rented. Main road. Unreachable to town without a car. Unsafe walk.
Loved the place. Moved not by choice.
But... Unsustainable there with dc on reflection
.
Sorry but your dh is right.... Maybe let him be just this once op!!

Just to defend myself 😬 my concerns re number 2 are-
Didn’t want to live on a street with neighbours both sides
Much smaller garden with immediate neighbours (concerned re having to keep kids quiet etc)
Not normally keen on period properties/ not my normal “style” (prefer a bit more rustic)
Would have liked more space around house

Number 2, 1 sounds like a nightmare with kids!

House 2

It's hard to appreciate that it's not long from toddler (3 yr old?) to a10 year old who could walk a short distance from one house to another. By 11 they go to high school and meet up in town etc. Honestly op, they grow up in a flash!

Number 2, without a doubt, however many times you come back and try and persuade us

You won't have to 'keep them quiet' if your house is detached - unless you are generally really anti-social

1. every time. I've done both, 2 is far far better especially as the kids get older. I moved from 1 to 2 and will never move back again.

Probably number 2, if it had more bedrooms, since you have 2 kids. Jmho.

doesn’t think a huge project with 2 small children is a good idea.

Above all, this. He is not wrong, is he?