Detached house or semi detached we are 3 weeks away from completing on

[permanentgiraffe]

We are 3 weeks away from completion on a semi detached which wasn't perfect as 2 bedrooms had restricted headspace and the living/dining/kitchen areas were in the same room - still a very nice house nonetheless. South east facing garden.

A detached house on the same estate came up a week ago, and partner and I went to view it. It is £50k more. We can afford it, although it is at the top of our budget. Same number of bedrooms as semi, but none have restricted headspace. Separate living room and separate kitchen/diner. However, the pictures made it look light but in reality it was a bit gloomy (North facing garden). Also, the dining and living areas are in full view of the street outside.

Obviously we are very close to purchasing the semi detached - I think if both had come on at the same time I would have gone for the detached. Wise mumsnetters, what would you do in this situation?

My friend is Belway too & you can hear the neighbours think!!

That's mad with the costs associated with house buying.

@permanentgiraffe you're FTB what's the hurry? Neither seem like brilliant options.

Why can't you wait to find a house you love or offer on the detached if you like it enough to stay there a good while. Does it really matter if you lose the semi!

@permanentgiraffe but personally I wouldn't buy somewhere gloomy, unless there was an obvious solution to it.

@WinterMusings she has a huge commute she wants to cut right down - that said the position of the train station for both would put me off

Yes the train station is nearly half an hour walk away on both detached and semi.
We are doing a huge commute at the moment and living in rented. The risk is ending up in a chain for nearly a year. We would just be exhausted. May as well buy the semi so we are on the housing ladder. Hopefully it will sell when the time comes

The restricted head height rooms are both big enough to fit double beds - would that make the restricted head height less of an issue?

I guess it really is how do properties sell on the development @permanentgiraffe if they go fairly quickly and move without issue then you should go for it. If it is a harder market then neither are probably right

Detached!

I live in a 3 bed semi, new build. I hardly hear our neighbours to be fair however, they do sometimes like to play loud thumping music which we do hear sadly :( if we move again, it would be to a detached.

I'd do this.

Yes run!! Very cheaply made!

Can I ask, have you lived in one? What were the main issues?

Did you only visit it on one day? We have a North facing garden and due to the sun tracking we have sun in the garden all day at some area. Clothes can get dried, can sit out in the sun, shade if you want . It really isn't an issue.

We had a Barretts which we rented out. There was an issue with condensation which was resolved with extra air bricks. This was several years ago though. They are not considered a high spec build though so eg basic doors on rooms as opposed to better panelled ones. Resale value on it wasn't good - in fact the worst performing one we have had.

We didn’t buy another house in the perfect area because of the two bedrooms being in the loft and the head space that was lost they used them as spare rooms so probably wasn’t a problem for them but completely put me off having them for the childrens bedrooms as they got older there would of been less and less space and I just find it really awkward.

I just remembered another consideration- mortgage rates! We have a locked in rate for the semi.

@permanentgiraffe when does the offer run out? Because yes it could be different rate

Have yu decided what to do. Personally with your circumstances plus the fact that not stretching to the max makes sense and then see where you are in 3 yer

We are going to buy the semi and consider moving in a year or two.

Makes sense. Glad you've decided.