Which house, if any?

[Anxioussearcher]

DP and I are moving to a new area with our pre-school age child and another on the way. We are looking to buy our first family home, but Rightmove has melted my brain and I have house search fatigue. Which, if any, of these would you buy? Obviously, I appreciate that we are very lucky and that this is a nice “problem” to have.

House 1.
Victorian terrace
Nice area, quite nice road
Grand, big windows, high ceilings
4 decent sized bedrooms over 2 floors
Small-ish kitchen, potential to extend
Average, narrow garden
Paved area at front - just about room for car
10-15 mins walk to schools
10 mins to shops
25 mins to work and family

House 2.
1920’s semi-detached
Nicer part of area, very nice road
Cosy rather than grand
3 smaller bedrooms plus loft conversion
Better lateral living space with potential to extend and reconfigure
Large, lovely garden
Driveway and garage
2 mins walk to schools
5 mins to shops
10-15 mins to work and family

Or neither!

We could rent and keep waiting - but unsure if the perfect property would ever come up within our budget?

We could move to a nice, but less “naice” and less convenient area and afford the big house with the big garden?

House 2 sounds waaaaay better

House 2

House 2 -easily.

House 1 gets my vote.

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House 2! House 1 sounds cold!

If you. An affordable 2 without over stretching yourself, then 2. I'm in a house 1, because I'd rather have financial flexibility. But I'd have 2 if I could afford it comfortably.

Personally I could never live in a terraced house.

House two sounds nicer.

What's the glazing like in each? And when was the loft done in house 2 - will make a big difference to warmth if it was properly insulated.

Having had the choice, I'm in 2. Convenience is such a plus and having the extra space of garage, downstairs space without having to spend on it and a big garden makes up for smaller bedrooms. And it's less likely to be a money pit.

House 2 for garden, drive, garage and location.

House 2 without a doubt!

My heart would be wowed by 1.
My head would go with 2.

So, head or heart? Your choice.

We went for 2 (ish) when we bought last year. Dont regret it.

House 1 definitely

Thanks all! So they are the same price - I should definitely have included that in the OP. Unsure when the loft was done but I will find out. All the bedrooms in House 2 could fit a double bed and wardrobe/drawers but that would leave very little floor space.

I’m not sure if small bedrooms are a dealbreaker but it sounds like it wouldn’t be for many! It’s nice to see so many votes for House 2, as it’s otherwise so lovely. I prefer to walk everywhere so am very swayed by the great location but don’t want to end up regretting not going for more space.

House 2 - even though I do love a Victorian house!

House 2. Sounds like the it's the obvious choice.

House 2. You can change a house but not the location or the size of the plot it is on.

Also a semi trumps a terrace every single time,and your post makes you sound like you like it more!

No house is ever going to be perfect, but, for me, cosy beats grand every time.

House 2.

2 seems to be closer to everything , have a driveway ( parking is so important especially when your children are old enough to have cars!) and a big garden. I’d definitely go for 2

House 2

🙄🙄🙄

Without actually seeing them it's hard to say.

bit from what you've written,

House 2

House 1. No brainer - each of your kids will want their own room sooner than you think, plus a spare room for guests/family. And I'd always choose a house with not much to do over a house with vague potential, which is dependent on you having the energy to do it and manage it all.

House 2 for layout, garden and location

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