House 1 or House 2 what would you go for?

[NewKidOnTheBlock99]

Help me and DH decide, he is very firmly in house 1 camp where as I am ever so slightly leaning towards house 2…

House 1 has always been what we said we wanted but for me the reality of it would be what we wanted if we had an extra £100k to renovate which we don’t. We could make an extra bedroom and office space but I don’t see us ever having the money to do it.

We agree that house 1 would be long term end goal House whereas house 2 would fit our needs now

Which one would you go for…

House 1
End terrace so feels big, spacious and airy
Two doubles and a box room
Utility room
Two bathrooms
Huge front and back garden
Loft space (could be converted)
Five mins from station
Five mins from supermarket
If we get it for the offer we have put in then just by modernising it and waiting out the market would make a profit
Garage in back garden
If we somehow have the cash would be the dream family home and could be forever

Cons
No designated parking - permit parking right outside but only Monday to Friday 6am - 6pm- because it’s close to the station we would probably end up having to park quite far from the house on weekends.

Kitchen and dining room are seperate - we like more open plan living and would like to do this but won’t be able to for years because of money.

2 yr old DC would have to go in the box room as we would need the large double as office space/guest room - not all her furniture will fit

Probate property, has been looked after but wouldn’t say it’s instantly liveable - carpets need ripping up and weird cupboards/wardrobes need pulling out

Neither of us are green fingered so worry about the maintenance of front and back garden

Taking us to our absolute max budget.

We plan on having another child so within the next two years would lose office/spare room

House 2
4 bedrooms - 2 small doubles, box room and loft conversion with en-suite
(Hate to put this but) desperate sellers would probably get it cheaper
All changes are cosmetic - would just be removing wallpaper and repainting
Bathroom already half ripped out and just needs tiling
Office space for me plus double bedroom for DC
Instantly liveable - kitchen isn’t too my taste but could definitely live with it
Small drive we probably wouldn’t use as our car wouldn’t fit but could just park in front of it as it’s a drop kerb

Cons
20 minute walk from a station - in my head I think this is fine but I think I’m reality this could be a problem, would probably have to change my work hours to accommodate nursery drop offs etc
10 minute drive to supermarket
Not much downstairs living space - would need a very small extension but kitchen diner is already open planned but this would take up garden space.
No loft space for storage
Garden is a small/medium size
Feels cramped and a bit dark BUT the current owners have ALOT of furniture
Mid terrace
I wouldn’t see us being here forever

What would you do?!

I'd always go for the bigger garden or an end-terrace and have bought a doer-upper before so I'd go for house 1.

I'd rule out both for having no parking.

DD and I stayed in some Halls of Residence a couple of summers ago and they had nifty Studybeds for the students:

www.studybed.co.uk/products/large-double-studybed/

Would one of these fit in the box room?

With house 1 could you convert the garage into a study, or as the garden is big, you could maybe get a man cave/office/ garden room built in the garden?

House 1. But can the idea of putting your child into the box room. Kids have epic amounts of toys, so much easier to house them in one room even if many migrate downstairs during the day.

Parking - fine Monday to Friday. Will you actually use it a lot on the weekend? Ours hardly ever moved because we walked or used public transport in London. Also it's not unusual for councils to make weekend permit only too if local residents complain so it may be that the situation will change.

Use the box room as a spare room or an office if you need to be in the house. Otherwise convert the garage into a home office or guest accommodation.

House 1

Guests may need to to air bnb or premier inn when child 2 comes

In5 years, you can probably remortgage for the
Loft extension

If it were me parking issues would be a massive problem especially with young dc so I wouldn't consider house 1 although if it's end terrace can you create a side entrance and create parking, you say the garden is too big so that may help there too. I think though if saving for rooms to be knocked through (relatively small job) will take you forever I would say you haven't got the funds for this house. To me 20 min walk to station doesn't seem too bad but I have never done that everyday. I would go for house 2 and cycle/drive.

But down stairs space limited in house 2 so actually neither house seems right for you. The guest bedroom is a lovely to have but downstairs space wins every time for me.

House 1. Something that stands out though is that you need one of the larger rooms for study and spare room. I disagree. Larger room becomes a shared bedroom for DC and box room is study. I appreciate this doesn’t leave you with a spare room, but I’d be thinking about daily use rather than monthly (depending on how often you have overnight visitors)