Head or heart

[Whattodo121]

So. We live in an expensive part of the south east, in a very boring and outdated 1970s box. It is detached and has a garage and a reasonable garden. We paid £512k for it 3 years ago. Whilst we were looking four years ago there was a house which was my absolute dream, detached, stunning garden thatched in a gorgeous village with quite an unusual layout which would be not to everyone’s taste but would suit us perfectly.

This house has come back on the market. And is cheaper than before.

our house has been valued at £650k

our house probably needs about 50k spending on it to make it look how I’d like it to.

the dream house is on at £725k.

it would involve probably borrowing another 100k on the mortgage

current house is walking distance to DS secondary school and the station for DH to get to work. Dream house is a couple of miles away so would have to cycle/get the bus, but still near friends for DS and he’s nearly 13 so would be driving by the time he’s 17.

since we moved we earn probably about 25k a year more between us and that is likely to increase.

The head decision is to stay here. The heart decision is saying ‘IMAGINE CHRISTMAS IN THE THATCHED COTTAGE’

Are we mad to consider it??

How big a mortgage are we talking ? I would stay put - easier commute , better for teen and you couldn’t pay me to live anywhere thatched .

I feel like it's heart every time.

Boring 70s houses can actually be pretty funky. Really practical for families too. We lived in one, now live in a victorian. We moved for the area, but if I could afford a boring 70s house I this area I'd have it in no time. They're generally good sized rooms, good lay out, good light, parking and decent gardens. Boring, bit practical, and can easily be updated. Our vitorian is pretty, we've updated it, but it's still not massively ideal for family life. No parking, small garden, dark rooms that are hard to heat.

I'd stuck with your house now, the proximity to school.etc shouldn't be underrated. Do your heart move once the sproglet had left home.

Wouldn't touch a thatched property with a barge pole personally

I would go with your head on this. Location is so important.

We moved from a rural location a few years ago to a large village with lots of amenities and I bitterly regret not doing it sooner. It has been SO much better socially for our son that he can see his friends without needing to be driven everywhere. He started driving lessons when he was 17 but it took a full year to book and pass his test (one retake).

I have a few friends in thatched cottages and they are so cold and they spend so much on heating just to stay warmer than freezing. Plus all the other stuff that people have mentioned about thatches. Is the cottage listed? That brings a whole world of hassle along with it.