Which house?

[RainCloud]

One all done up but on a main road and a plus one mile walk to public transport.

One needs a bit of work (c20k) but much better location. 5 min walk from public transport and on a cul de sac.

Both in same suburb of a big city. Same asking price.

The second one without hesitation.

Second one.
Location Location Location.

Do you have the money to do the work? If so, uts a no brainer.
If not, you'll either have to get a great deal, or keep looking - first one doesn't sound great.

NEVER buy a house on a busy road. Never.

I agree but my mother disagrees. She said she would gift me 10k towards the house purchase but it now seems to come with strings attached as it looks like I can only have the 10k if I buy a house that she chooses.

Might just borrow an extra 10k on the mortgage and decline her offer of 10k.

I'd have to do it over a period of years.

@Ratched

But it would hopefully be a "forever home" so I'd be ok living in a house with a bit of a late 90s yuppie theme for a few years 😂

I thought this. I'm thinking pollution, lack of parking, possibly problems with EV charging in the future.

Definitely the second - we took 10 years to do ours up room by room but our location is amazing. Always buy the worst house on the best street.

Thank you. You are all seconding my thoughts.

Definitely the second house if you can afford it without her money!

never accept a gift or loan with strings....not just houses but anything.

I think houses are always a work in progress.

I can afford to do it up without the "gift" but it will take me a couple of years to save it.

The 10k is about 3% of the property value.

It didn't seem to have strings when she first offered but now I'm at the stage where I'm viewing houses, the strings seem to have appeared 😂

Second house for sure!! Quiet road and closer to the station definitely worth spending £20k extra on!!

The second one also has a south facing back garden (well big yard).

Definitely the 2nd house. If it's your forever home then you can afford the time to do it gradually as funds allow. Sometimes it works out better to do the work after you have lived in a house for a while so you learn what works best for you and how you use the space. Good luck with getting it.

That's a really good point.

(And I have a lovely retro Roberts Radio).

Go for the second house.

Decline mum's offer of money.

Do up the house over a number of years.

Live there forever.

What’s a late 90’s yuppie theme sounds quite funny ? 😅can you describe a little bit please

Black red and grey. Lots of pale "sauna coloured" wood.

2nd house for sure. Could 90's yuppie be rebanded vintage?

Although it has a lovely modern, neutral, kitchen.

Possibly, if I leave it for 10 years 😄

@RainCloud
aaah okay so me thinking about Daryl Hannah and Charlie sheen in Wall Street was correct ! 😅

I say avoid busy road too