Help with house buying?

[Thedreamer28]

I am conflicted about what to do with my options for looking at different houses. We are first time buyers with a young family of 3 DC. We are looking at a 4 bedroom house in Sheffield.

I have seen properties further out but still classed as Sheffield. You get a lot more for your money whereas if I was to get a house closer to the city centre in a better area then I will probably get a terraced house, with on street parking, no garage and a tiny garden.

The house further out comes with 4 good sized bedrooms, garage, drive for parking and utility room and garden. But schools aren't that great.

whereas the house in the better area has the best schools. But I wouldn't get a utility room and probably would need to spend money on improving the house with new kitchen, bathroom and utility room.

I would never be able to afford a house in the better area which is to the same standard as the house further out.

My kids are all of school age 1 DD in Y7 at secondary, 1 DS in last year of primary and 1DD starting school next year.

If people can give me an idea how they decided about what options they had when you are on a budget and whether they regretted their decision or not.

Better house - not great area
Not so great house - better area

Many thanks

You can't change the location of a house but you can makes changes to the house.

This is very true! You also can't make a school improve in 5 minutes, so it's worth bearing in mind.

I'd think about access to stuff for your kids too. Further out -are there buses/trains if they want to meet up with friends? Cinemas/shops and so on? Or do your kids love having more space to roam?

With the house further out, how easy is it to get into town for work or on a Saturday morning if you need to get new school shoes urgently? How easy is it to get home on a Saturday night if you’ve gone out for the evening? How easy can your kids get around, will they be able to take public transport or will you be driving them everywhere?

However, with the further out house if you are able to buy your kids cars when they pass their test, is there parking space? Are you a family that will use a garden a lot and so need a nice, big garden?

It’s about looking at your priorities as a family and what you think you’ll need/want in the next 5-10 years (longer if you can). For schools, take the ofsted report but ask on the local FB page too. Other things to consider are how handy you both are? Do you actually want a project house? How many visitors will you have and will you need visitor permits or visitors to park a few streets away? How easy is it to get your current job but also how is it easy to get to other places if you want to change your job?

Thanks for your responses. It's a lot to think about and we have to stick to our budget. I think we will deffo have to make some compromises.

Location 100%! I'd buy smaller house better location every time

Location especially schools are my top priority especially as the kids get to secondary age

We thought we were very flexible when it came to house hunting, in terms of different areas and what the house should have.

But once we started looked we realised we weren't really and what was important to us, being detached, a great garden and not built up won.

As soon as we found our house we knew it, despite the fact it was a compromise on house size. As previously said. You cannot change lots of things like area, school or even garden but you can change the house.

So we have a much smaller but beautiful home in the perfect area with a lovely garden and there is lots of potential to extend the house in the future should we wish to.

Start looking at it might all fall into place.

We chose schools and location over house. In fact we live in a 3 bed flat because of schools, whereas we could easily afford a 4 bed detached somewhere worse or further out. We're happy with our choice.
But I think these decisions are very individual and depend also a bit on how adaptable your kids are. Most kids from sensible households will do well even in a slightly worse school.