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Original poster

What was your criteria for buying first home? And what compromises did you make?

63 replies

decisionschoices · 12/04/2023 22:49

As the title of the thread says, what was your criteria for buying your first home and what compromises did you make?
In the areas we are looking to buy in, we are struggling with narrowing down our criteria. There are no houses that stand out that are affordable and we are struggling to work out what would make a house a good buy. We are FTBs planning to start a family soon. Thanks.

OP posts:
berksandbeyond · 13/04/2023 07:37

The compromise on the first house was that it was a flat! We lived there for 5 years and the value went up 30k in that time so we were able to use that to help the step up to our current house.
We could have got a bit bigger a house / garden in a different location but it’s big enough and we prioritised the location - which I do not regret at all because I love our house and the village we chose. We’ve been in it 2 years and it’s increase in value by 40k, but I think we’ll be here for the long term

berksandbeyond · 13/04/2023 07:39

Our must haves :

3 bedrooms
more than 1 toilet
off road parking
good school

We got all of those!

Needmoresleep · 13/04/2023 07:40

First and foremost that it had no obvious faults and would remain saleable, even in a difficult market.

Then wait for that market, sell the property and buy someat a discount that suits you, but not everyone.

This also gives you the freedom to let it out, should a job opportunity come up elsewhere. When deciding on a London flat I actually went into a letting agent and asked which of three properties she would most like to have on her books. Her answer was clear. I bought the flat and indeed still own it and let it out. 25 years later I will sell to fund our retirement plans.

Oh, and if single, that it has a second bedroom so if necessary you can get a lodger.

JacobsCrackersCheeseFogg · 13/04/2023 07:41

Oh, everything.

We bought a two-bed characterless box of a flat, but in a very nice area zone 2/3. We're still here 20 years later, because in London we can't find anything equivalent that gives us access to the same amenities. The costs for us to stay are astronomical but once DD has finished school and has been packed off to uni we're off to the fringes of the Home Counties. The area has provided free culture, loads of green space, two buses running outside to central London, an overground station, very good schools and lots on independent shops. Houses are now in excess of £1.2m round here so there was NO WAY we could get a house on our wages.

Spendonsend · 13/04/2023 07:44

Our first home was a one bed flat which we moved from when we had our child. I actually would push yourself for a 2 bed place as its very quick to outgrow a one bed place.

My priorities would be structure, parking, location, any potential to grow like a garden room, loft extension or big bedroom room that could be split down the line

DiscoBeat · 13/04/2023 07:56

Good area was a must. I was on my own so space wasn't as important. Other musts were:
Semi rural location with nice views
Period property
Log burner
Not needing major work

DiscoBeat · 13/04/2023 07:57

(I did compromise on own parking and a spare bedroom) but

Whatthediddlyfeck · 13/04/2023 08:02

We compromised on location and we really shouldn’t have. There was nothing wrong with the town we went to and it was only 6 miles from where we really wanted to be, but we were starry eyed over being able to buy 3 beds in that location rather than a 2 bed in the preferred. We’d have been better with the 2 bed!
However 4 years later we moved back to the desired location and stayed in that house over 20 years! We moved within the area 2 years ago and it’s the dream

CatOnTheChair · 13/04/2023 08:05

2 bed
Upstairs bathroom
Not knocked through downstairs.
Ideally not opening straight onto the street, but must have inner hall if no front garden.
I got the above, but it was rough floorboards and plaster walls.

WashAsDelicates · 13/04/2023 08:42

Good public transport. Off-road parking. 2 double bedrooms, so that I could have a lodger at first and then later room for a child or two.

The compromise I made was to buy a doer-upper that was just about habitable.

Was very happy there and had two dc. We only moved for reasons unconnected to the property.

Hedjwitch · 13/04/2023 08:46

Anything we could afford. Still in it 20 years later as have never been able to afford to upgrade.

PaulRuddDoesntAge · 13/04/2023 08:49

First house we went for a new build because we didn’t want any major surprise costs eg new boiler, new roof, etc. We didn’t have enough cash to spare to risk needing to spend a lot after purchase and whilst people slate new builds for having snags, I’d rather take that risk knowing that snags can be fixed, the building itself has a 10 year guarantee and everything from the boiler to the heating etc is brand new. No regrets there, our house has been very well built with no issues. I appreciate however that not all new builds are equal and one should avoid leaseholds like the plague (ours is freehold).

7 years later we are currently looking for our second home. We have more money available so not looking for a new build. This time our priorities are the things you can’t change: basically location, size of garden and potential to extend/improve.

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 13/04/2023 08:50

I wanted a house with a front door that locked, that had carpets, where the rooms didn’t make me feel claustrophobic, that had a shower. I would have loved a lawn, even a tiny patch of grass.

I got a lockable front door and carpets, and I didn’t feel claustrophobic but I didn’t get a shower or a lawn.

I made far more compromises on our second house which had nothing we wanted and was in a location we hated but was the only thing on the market to buy.

Meandfour · 13/04/2023 08:52

We were 21 and just wanted a house with a drive as we both needed our cars for work. We knew we wouldn’t stay long so didn’t worry about catchment areas, parks etc.
Ended up with a wreck (with a drive) which we completely renovated and ended up staying in for 8 years!

Geneticsbunny · 13/04/2023 08:52

My main thing was wanting to buy somewhere that we could add value to incase the property price fell, so we could always guarantee we could afford to sell I'd we needed to . We ended up with an house which had been bodged about a bit but was livable in.

userxx · 13/04/2023 09:01

I bought on my own so it wasn't the biggest house in the world. I managed to stay in my local area which has always been silly expensive so I was happy to compromise on space.

Aphrathestorm · 13/04/2023 09:03

I bought a one bed when I already had dc. Was more important just to get away from private renting. Saw potential, did it up a bit and sold for profit 2 years later to bigger place in better area.

First purchase isn't a home imo. Just a means to a long term goal.

riotlady · 13/04/2023 09:24

Our priorities were

  • Garden (any size, just wanted a patch of grass!)
  • Close to good schools
  • Not a galley kitchen
  • Second bedroom big enough for two kids (knew we couldn’t afford a 3 bed and already had 1 dc)

We got a decent size 2 bed semi ex-council house, 5 mins walk from an excellent school. The major compromise is the decor- its structurally sound but everything is artexed and wood chipped to hell, peeling lino in the kitchen etc. We are very slowly working on it but won’t have enough spare cash to be done for a long time I think! We do love it though

Chickenwing2 · 13/04/2023 09:28

A house with a garden was top priority for us after going through lockdown in a high flat.

We also wanted:

  • a safe/nice area
  • train station close by
  • enough bedrooms for office each
  • big enough kitchen for 2 people to be in at the same time
  • space for dishwasher/ tumble dryer
  • driveway that fits 2 cars

We wanted a house with a garage but had to compromise on this. Also got a semi detached when a detached would have been preferable.

PurBal · 13/04/2023 09:30

My first home was a one bed flat. I wanted a separate kitchen (not open plan), window in the bathroom and parking. I got 2 of 3, no designated parking.

Second, family, house. Minimum 3 double bedrooms, garden, parking, not overlooked, not on a housing estate. The big compromise was no garage but we have views from all windows.

CMOTDibbler · 13/04/2023 09:37

My first place my only criteria was two bedrooms so I could have a lodger if I needed it financially. The house I bought was in a not great area, teeny concrete yard, terrible parking, and as it turned out lots of very dubious building work.

Minisculefool · 13/04/2023 10:59

We didn’t really have many,just off street parking

Original poster
decisionschoices · 16/04/2023 09:53

Thanks all. Helpful to read.

OP posts:
WickedSerious · 16/04/2023 10:26

We just wanted something we could afford and the only thing we could afford was an absolute wreck that cost twice what the vendor had paid for it twelve months earlier.

RM2013 · 16/04/2023 10:52

We wanted something affordable with at least 2 bedrooms (needed spare room for when step son stayed over) , Drive or parking spaces for 2 cars and something low maintenance that we hadn’t got to do a lot of DIY as we were pretty clueless!!
we could’ve afforded a 3 bed older terraced but no parking so we went for a 2 bed new build (3 years old) it had 2 allocated parking spaces plus visitor parking and a small garden. I loved our first house but we moved 3 years later as had decided we wanted a 3 bed to start a family
i still think about our first house now