The ultimate Compromise: which house would you choose?

[Greenlife1]

We live in a village which is quite pricey and very few properties come on the market (in our price range!!)

I really want to stay detached and I really want a good size garden. I also want 4 bedrooms, a pretty street near the school and fairly up to date fittings! Having realised I need to compromise I am willing to sacrifice some of those things and go for a 3 bed (if I have to!), not be on the prettiest street in the village and be open to the place needing work.....it is the garden that I don’t really want to compromise on and also being detached.

But I keep thinking maybe I’m being unrealistic, maybe I need to compromise more?! We are running out of time afterall!

So with this in mind would you go for a good size semi with a large garden that needs updating/ layout rejig or a smaller property with a smaller garden but detached and potential to extend into the garage?!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122247017#/?channel=RES_BUY

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123954737#/?channel=RES_BUY

Bungalow. It looks nice from the outside and could be gorgeous inside with some easy cosmetic updates. I don’t really think 1 could be improved much and you don’t want to spend loads on a house which you wouldn’t get returned.
like you say a master bedroom loft conversion would give future potential or a garage conversion (or half garage) into a snug or extra bedroom for when the kids are bigger.
im familiar with the general area and often bungalows like that are easily £100k more.

Bungalow here too, it looks a much nicer house from the outside, the garden looks lovely and it’s detached. It’s needs a bit of cosmetic work but most houses do.

Detached. The other one isn't attractive at all imo

If you are wanting a detached and 4 bedrooms - a 3 bedroom bungalow will not make you happy - trust me!!
im in a lovely 3 bedroom bungalow with my husband and 3 boys- gorgeous garden too- but it’s just too small :(
I love it near but sharing a room and all being on the same level can be hard!
I would totally go for the 4 bed semi -

however have you looked at any more 3 bedroom detached at all?
I wanted 4 bed detached house and we looked at this 3 bedroom one (I was so close to cancelling the viewing) but my gosh it was amazing and worked well as 3 bed as has a separate dining room which actually we are going to make in a dining room/gaming room for my middle boy :)

don’t rule out the 3 bed detached xx

Is this one not a contender?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/115260692?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Bungalow, if anything I think it looks like it has a bigger garden than the semi, just the opposite orientation.

@Greenlife1

how did you get on today??

I can understand your DH's reluctance to buy a bungalow as they're for old people. I used to feel the same, but SO many have been renovated and modernised around here that it's a changing market. Especially at your age (but less so at mine)

The one linked to at 17:24, you're not interested in that? I wish I could buy that, at that price here!!

It was lovely. OH can not get his head round the fact its a bungalow though! Frustrating! @JuneJubilee Its lovely but no, would not work with our schools and schedules!

If you were talking tiny house and garden I'd say go for the semi, but in the choice between those two, I wouldn't give up being detached.

Did you see the one I linked? I think it's only a street or so away from the bungalow www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84764169#/?channel=RES_BUY

The bungalow is the nicest of the houses, including the one a pp has suggested. Just has a lovely feel to it from the photos.

Is a loft conversion possible on the bungalow? I have friends that have expanded their bungalow and effectively put on another level, with dormers. It's given them so much space.

@longtompot hello sorry yes I did! The reason I’m not keen is the fields on the cul de sac are in the clutches of developers and I think it could be
quite busy and noisy for years to come.....

Oh that's a shame

The detached bungalow. No brainer!

I'd go for 2. As for it being a bungalow- if it could be your forever house, then a bungalow is a good idea. Ours is sort-of-part-bungalow, as in, a ungalow with a couple of upstairs rooms added on - the idea is that when we get older and more infirm we can live mostly or totally downstairs. OH's grandparents and one of my own friends did this- just left the upstairs for kid's visits.

Looks like a smaller plot. I don't care for it. No nearly the potential the bungalow has, IMO.

No. 2 - the bungalow. It looks really nice.

The first house is a higildy pigildy mess! It looks like it would need a lot of help to make it sensible

@Greenlife1 I'm serious when I say get your DH to watch a Kirstie and Phil or George Clarke where they transform a bungalow. I think you'd mad to choose the first over the second just because it's a bungalow.