Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

2 bed house for a family of 3 as a forever home?

41 replies

BettyBoopBetty · 18/05/2023 10:33

We live in an expensive area of the SE, just outside London (need to stay in this area because of work, proximity to London so not planning to move further out). We have 1 DD but not planning to have more DC.
Our budget would most likely get us a spacious 2 bed house - our ideal would be a 3 bed but there aren't many available on the market within our range and those that are available are often in need of a lot of work.

It seems that a "proper" family home for most is a 3 bed house at least, often 4 bedroom +. I don't understand how people can afford that these days, unless they are already on the ladder and can make a big profit by reselling or are very rich. We have a good income but also lots of outgoings as we have been paying a high rent + full time childcare and we would never be able to stretch to a very big house like that.

Is it weird to consider buying a 2 bedroom house as our forever home? We are not from the UK so I am still getting familiar with the housing market here etc. When I see these advertised they are almost never targeted to families, but having 1 DD means we'd be fine with just 2 bed.

Anyone in a similar situation as their forever home?

OP posts:
stackhead · 18/05/2023 10:35

Buy the house that suits your needs.

We have a 3 bed for a 3 person family. The spare room was an office and is now the bed I throw DH into when he snores.

Is downstairs big enough? Personally the only time I spend in my bedroom is when I'm sleeping, so I prioritise downstairs over bedrooms.

delilabell · 18/05/2023 10:37

Not weird at all. We had one child and a two bedroom house was perfect for us. We then ended up with a "suprise " second child and moved to a 3 bed house but only because we needed it. Our forever home has three bedrooms which isbwjat we need. So in a roundabout way I'm saying 2 bedroomed house is perfect if they're all the bedrooms you need 🙂

Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight · 18/05/2023 10:39

Seems fine to me. I grew up with four people in a three bedroom house. Not a problem.

Zeonlywayisup · 18/05/2023 10:42

Buy a two bed you can just afford. When childcare costs dip, convert the attic and either sell as a three bed or live with a spare room.

TokyoSushi · 18/05/2023 10:43

Not weird at all!

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 18/05/2023 10:46

A family home is whatever you make of it, and comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Ours is a 3 bed flat for 2 adults, one child here full time and one part time.

GoneTillNovember · 18/05/2023 10:46

No, buy the house you like! Psychologically I think I would prefer a spare room/study but it's not necessary.

I have 3 DC and as much as I love them it means I'm always on the look out for a 4 bed + house... Massively limits things.

Lcb123 · 18/05/2023 10:52

Definitely fine. Lots of bigger families live in much smaller properties. I do find the concept of a ‘forever home’ so bizarre. Just a buy a house that suits you now.

notteallyme · 18/05/2023 10:57

I'm from SE London / Kent border. My street growing up was mostly 2 up 2 downs. I think the 2 bed flats in the area actually have more floor space but having a house with a garden is nice. One of our neighbours went straight from 1 DC to three when they had twins. When they were able to they went up into the loft for more space. Cheaper than moving and the street was nice and convenient for everything.

ReallyShouldBeDoingSomethingElse · 18/05/2023 11:15

For me, a lot would come down to what the space is like. Is the second bedroom a decent size rather than a box room?

Can you fit a proper dining table in downstairs?

If the house is a yes for both of these things, I reckon it's absolutely fine especially if you don't have lots of visitors who'll stay for days/weeks.

Coronationstation · 18/05/2023 11:20

I think that's fine. My only concerns would be if you needed a regular space to work from home (I can't abide having my "office" in my living room) or would need space for family / friends to visit and stay.....although depending on how frequent that would be you might be cheaper to fund them staying in a hotel than buy a property with an extra bedroom.

Wishing4sunshine · 18/05/2023 11:26

We're in a 2 bed with 1 DD aged nearly 4. Both bedrooms equal size doubles. We have a good space downstairs too and have debated whether we want to have a bit more space but pay more on a mortgage, council tax, bills etc (as well as move costs) or just be happy with what we have and spend the little spare money on fun things...we decided the latter 😀

Calmdown14 · 18/05/2023 11:27

There's often not a huge difference in square footage between a two and a three bed.
If you only need two bedrooms then probably better these are two decent sized bedrooms than having one sat empty most of the time.

If you ever need to put up guests get a decent sofa bed or I have a good idea bed for my child that turns into a double. He gets a camp bed in our room if people are staying

loislovesstewie · 18/05/2023 11:32

I would be more concerned about the size of the second bedroom, some of them are very small, adequate for a toddler, but not ideal when a teen. Otherwise as long as it suits your family, I think just go for it.

SunThroughTheCloudsAt6am · 18/05/2023 11:53

The 3 beds often have a tiny 3rd bedroom.

I've got a 2 bed house, 1 big bedroom, one 3mx3m, so perfectly fine sized - I think my house would be fine for a 3 person family (although I might extend out the back when they were older to get a bit more downstairs living space)

Persipan · 18/05/2023 12:26

Honestly I find the whole 'forever home' thing to be a bit of an unhelpful distraction anyway. Like, fair enough, I think most people will have an idea in mind when looking for a home about whether it's likely to be a relatively short-term home for them, or something longer term - and for some people, they may be in the nice position where they can afford to buy a home that's exactly what they want and what they expect to continue wanting in future (although life may turn out to get in the way of 'forever' in all kinds of ways).

For you, you're in the position where you can afford to buy a home that will meet your needs, and that's a good position to be in. Don't be put off just because, based on your current and foreseeable circumstances, there's no obvious next step on the property ladder. It's pretty normal to have some level of compromise and this doesn't sound like anything extreme on that front. I hope you find a lovely home!

Whitebeamtreelover · 18/05/2023 12:27

Not weird at all but what is weird is thinking folks need to be very rich to afford a 3 bed.

mrsbitaly · 18/05/2023 12:30

I bought a 3 bed home as we have 2 children but definitely would have bought 2 bed if we had 1 child. I think some people like the extra room to make into an office ect but it's definitely not needed.

I wish you all the best!

Original poster
BettyBoopBetty · 18/05/2023 14:50

@Whitebeamtreelover not a 3 bed maybe but definitely need to be rich to afford a beautiful, big house (i.e. 4 bed) where I live, they are close to 1 million!

OP posts:
Original poster
BettyBoopBetty · 18/05/2023 14:52

Thanks everyone. Most people I know seem to live in huge houses and I am not quite sure how anyone manages (actually I do know: bought first property a while back, family money, rich partners, very high paying finance jobs etc. We are neither of these but we do have a good income overall. Despite that, a 3 bed where we want to be is looking unlikely!

OP posts:
user1471538283 · 18/05/2023 14:55

My favourite house was a small 2 bedroomed. Originally the bathroom was a bedroom so as a 3 bedroomed it would have been tiny. The 2 bedrooms were both doubles and the downstairs was open plan and very spacious.

For just 2 of us (or even if it were 3) it was plenty.

All things being equal it would have been my forever home. I absolutely loved it.

Gorlad · 18/05/2023 15:13

Do you have family who will come to stay? You mention you aren't from the U.K. do either of you work from home? Is it likely you will in the future? A 2 bed isn't as good an investment as the market for them is much smaller especially with so many people now WFH full time. But if you want this area more than anything else then really there is no choice.

PurpleBananaSmoothie · 18/05/2023 15:24

There isn’t a forever home. There are just homes that suit your needs at the time. I’m hoping to get what other people are calling our forever home soon but it’s not, it’s our home that will likely be suitable for the next 20 years.

We are moving from a 2 bed to a 4 bed but we want that extra space because we both wfh a few days a week and we don’t have family nearby so we would like a spare room for them to stay. If it wasn’t for those factors we probably wouldn’t consider moving.

UnfortunateTypo · 18/05/2023 15:37

We are a family of 3, in a 1930’s semi 3 bed house. The 3rd bedroom is an entirely unusable box room - it’s basically a large cupboard which is now my husbands office. I’d far rather have a decent sized 2 bed and him in a garden office. Get what’s right for you guys and don’t get too hung up on the 3rd bedroom thing.

mydogisthebest · 18/05/2023 15:37

My family (parents and 3 children) grew up in a 2 bed house. I am the oldest and moved out at 22