Help me choose a house! Urgent!

[Chesthairlikekingkong]

We are downsizing for financial reasons, two young children, pets who need an outdoor space (so not most flats). We cannot borrow anymore due to financial commitments, and the bank won't let us.
We have to live in an expensive area for work and school.
A three bed semi with garden in a nice area is just not gunna pop up, even in a shit part of this area, they just don't come up.
I have to get a move on as we are at risk of losing our buyers. We have been waiting for something perfect but have come to the realisation that perfect doesn't exist on our budget.
Option 1:
Bungalow with two beds and a loft space. It's basically a half completed renovation. In our dream area. Very Small bedrooms and weird layout, which could be changed if we could bash down a room. Quiet road and nice residential street. Back garden is small but workable and pretty outlook. Unlikely to be able to extend.
We would be able to save a lot on mortgage payments but would have to spend on ongoing building work. I am not practical so this will have to be outsourced.

Option 2: sprawling three bed in crap area. Not rough but soulless. Not near anything except a run down corner shop. 20 minutes drive to school and work (we can walk from option 1 to both) crap buses for DP. HOWEVER! Huge rooms and garden. Nice decor. Good street, very quiet and pro social neighbours. Lovely outbuildings and annex thing which will be useful for guests.

Help, which one? Or neither?

1. looks like a money pit , it always costs more than you think and then some , but you could probably knock the garage down and extend sideways at some point .

20k is nowhere near enough to fix option 1, unofficial loft conversion by cowboy builders! I'd want triple that of budget to rectify. I'd go option 2.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/128208635#/?channel=RES_BUY

New one, link below.
I turned down the other two today

That one looks much better, and chain free.

Option 1. The nice area would be worth it.

Yes, I like that. It looks lovely from the outside and the inside. I’d like to come home to that.

It may not have as much garden as 2, and it’s not detached, but it’s a lovely family home. Extra points for having the living room separate from the kitchen.

The loft is a room so you won’t have much room for storage but that means you’ll clear all the clutter. Keep Christmas decorations in the suitcase on top of the wardrobe…

How close is this new place to your work, DH, DC schools etc? A walk or bus ride away?

Does the attic room have its door that separates it from stairs that lead up to it? For privacy?

Do you mind the kitchen not being that big and the views being very 'urban'?

If it's walking distance to everything you need, there's a door that could be put to attic entrance for privacy, and you don't mind small kitchen, then go for it.

It's much, much better than the other two properties before.

With this one it would be easy to convert the front bedroom into two single rooms by putting a stuff wall down the middle. It looks really nice.

New one looks ok - is it a good area for you? Not as much privacy being in a terrace and the garden isn't great but probably still better than the first two.

The third one looks like the best space but what about location?

@bellac11 walking 1.5 miles into town from fishponds is do-able. Walking 3 miles less so with young kids. And driving in Bristol is absolutely hideous.

Option 1

The third one is much much better

I'd go for 1.

A nice outlook is important. Good to keep warm, as small.You don't want expense of doing stuff to annexe.

Buses bad....a no no. Go for nearness to places you use.

If the area round Option 2 was any good, more people would have moved there, making it hip.

Is Option 2 Victorian or 1970s?

Option 1 is much better. Has a real glow of sunlight too. Catches the sun.

Don't like look of roof on Option 2. Is the Option 2 house steel-framed?

I think if you love Fishponds then hold out.
It is v different to mangotsfield and downend.

I think you were right to pull out of the bungalow as it’s too small, but location is the one thing you can’t improve on.

I’m in east Bristol too, bought a place in Redfield in 2018 - prices have gone a bit bit mad around here!

this one needs updating but the rooms and garden are a decent size?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129477956?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

The light in Option 1 is lovely! It's quite rural, Fishponds, and looking over the flats to estuary. Very nice rooms with French doors to garden. Much nicer.

Option 3 looks far more suitable than option 1 in terms of space and being ready to move into and has nicer decor than option 2 (presumably you like the area better too which is obviously v important).

IMO option 3 is the best of the 3 so far.

I don't think Option 2 will rise in value much either.

The third definitely looks better. I've also lived in a property like that as a student where they'd split the front bedroom into two, with a window in each, so it also gives you more flexibility if you'd want additional living/office space in the longer term, and could live with two single sized bedrooms rather than the one massive one.

Option 3 looks the best if the location and garden size will work for you.
Book a viewing.

Option 3 is fabulous. Definitely go for it.

Folk can be funny about a terrace, but we live in a 1930s end terrace and it's fabulous- big rooms, high ceilings and a bit of a tardis.

You could convert the garden back to grass eventually. Go for it!

Wow house prices are really going up in Bristol. I was a definite no to both. The first one didn't look sound and way too small to convert. The third one is better. But the one @JudyGemstone linked too is loads better again. People will be put off as it looks neglected and miserable but if you have some vision it is a sound decent house. Don't panic and buy something unsuitable in a rush I reckon.

Option 3 looks good. But what is the neighbours giant slag looking pile in photo 15???