2 bed house or 3 bed flat?

[ReamsOfCheese]

Hi we are in the position of buying in SE. Within our budget I've seen (a few) 2 bed houses or (lots of choice) 3 bed flats/maisonettes. We have 2 very young children (3 and under). I don't like the idea of being leasehold or lack of garden but I also don't like the idea of not having enough space. We're currently renting a two bed top floor flat with no lift so getting a bit fed up of all the disadvantages of being both 2 bed and in a flat and I'm struggling to see the wood for the trees as to which aspects of our current setup are most annoying so I can't work out which would be the better compromise.

Our third option is a 3 bed shared ownership but again has the leasehold issue plus sounds bloody expensive on a month-by-month basis to pay rent and mortgage and service charge and all repairs, and not being allowed to make any big changes.

Our fourth option is to move to another town further from DHs work and buy (one of many) a 3 bed probate doer upper which we have the skills to do up.

Wise MNers can you offer any insights please? I'd like this to be our last move for a long while.

I’d buy the house further away. Neither of the other options is giving you what you want, especially as you don’t want to move again for a while.

I’d pick a 2 bed house with the potential to extend/convert loft, or the 3 bed house further away. Wouldn’t touch leasehold.

If the commute becomes too much - presumably it is easier to move job then move house?

The 3 bed probate sale option could allow you to add the most value. Gives you more choice if you want to move again for secondary school catchment. You can spend the money on it as and when you have it.

If a semi gives you 1 chance for bad neighbours, a terrace 2 chances, a flat…4…5…more?

You can’t extend a flat, I’d get the house and grow over time, or move elsewhere. Nothing works get me into a flat with young kids.

Thanks all. Very good point about buying a 2 bed and extending. I guess I'm being put off the three beds a bit by the idea of doing renovation work with two tinies in the house.
Unfortunately DH's job is an unusual/rare one and no chance of moving it to the cheaper town.

2 bedroom freehold in the right location.

Avoid leasehold if you can. Avoid shared ownership at all costs.

Be where you need to be and extend or move when you can afford to, to a larger property in the right location too.

I'd go option 4