Which house would you choose?

[OverwhelmedAndUnderprepared]

Help! I have been house hunting for months and there was very little of interest on the market, now I am in a position of potentially having 3 to choose from, and struggling a bit. Which would you choose?

All houses are in the same village, which we have chosen for the schools and general location (proximity/transport links to nearby city for work). We have 2 primary age children.

A. Beautiful large detached 1930s house, with a beautiful large garden. Located on outskirts of village so further from the school (1.5 miles) and garden backs onto field but also distant view of busy A-road from end of garden.
Owner is a retired lady who has furnished and decorated it beautifully but some things wouldn't be hugely practical for us so we would want to make a few changes. However it's the absolute top of our budget so large mortgage payments and we wouldn't necessarily be able to spend lots of money on changes and redecoration, we'd have to do it gradually. It is more than liveable though and has a "forever home" feel about it.

B. Large detached house with large garden, not sure when it was originally built, has been extended/renovated and wouldn't need much doing to it. Very well located in centre of village, 0.6 miles to the school. Only downside is road is slightly busier than the others (it's on a bus route and there is some through traffic). Within budget.

C. Semi-detached house with medium size garden, built around 1930s-1940s, we would want to do a lot of work to it. Well under budget so could afford extensive renovations and renting elsewhere while we do them. Main advantage of this house is that it's on my favourite street in the village, quiet and friendly with lots of families with children. As we are new to the village it would be nice to make friends with some neighbours. Reasonably central in the village, 0.8 miles to the school.

C is my favourite location but I'm torn about the renovations, part of me would love a project and would love to make the house exactly how I want it, but I am also aware of the stress and disruption, and probably shouldn't be embarking on it given that moving house will be challenging enough.

DH really wants a detached house so he is leaning towards B.

We actually already made an offer on A, before B and C came on the market, so we need to decide whether to withdraw our offer. Argh!

Still trying to arrange a second viewing 🙄
The bidding war has started, too. Two other bidders, one of which has no chain (we have a house to sell, although our buyers are FTB in rented, so they're chain-free at least). I've said we'll increase our offer but I want to see it again first!

I would have gone for house A if I had read the thread earlier on.

I would always go for a second and maybe third viewing before deciding on any property. It's amazing how much you miss on a single viewing.
Looking forward to hearing what you decide.

For me being able to walk to school (or anywhere else in the village) would be key. I'd hate to be reliant on a car.

Other must for me is a quiet road. Is B house quiet enough?

B or C for me.

A all day long.

B

I love a busy road myself; more bustling and interesting.

Detached all the way.

Any chance of seeing links to the listings?

@Lakrads
Not sure about the road, it doesn't seem too bad but we will listen carefully for road noise at the second viewing. The house is set back from the road (decent size driveway and garage at the front) and then the house itself is big with a big garden so I don't think you can hear much from the garden but I'll have to deploy my "listening ears" again next time...

@BettyBardMacDonald
Sorry, I'd prefer not to share links on the thread, but have PM'd you.

the busier road will probably only get busier… you can’t change the location and all that. I’d go A.

A, especially if it could be a forever home. Kids are not going to be primary age forever.

A

Following your update I am thinking A - its sounds like a house you could fall in love with and stay for a very long time. House B sounds like a head rather than a heart choice.

It is head (B) v heart (A), for me at least. DH didn't feel the same about A and he prefers B.

The kids won't be primary age forever, no, but DC2 hasn't started school yet so has 7 years to go, and regardless of school, being in the centre of the village will benefit all of us due to proximity to shops, cafes, pubs, PO, library etc.

House A wasn't so perfect that I'd be heartbroken not to get it, and I think the 1.5 mile distance from school would be a pain, so I am starting to think we should rule it out (even if we don't get B), but then part of me thinks I'd be crazy to pass up on the opportunity to buy such a beautiful house. Gah!

Yes B sounds such an easy pick to me on paper, but I have teens. Easy walking distance to bus stops, shops etc makes such a difference at their stage, much more so (it feels to me) than proximity to primary school.

But then I don't subscribe to the whole "forever home" concept. I believe it was invented by Phil and Kirstie, it's just a more socially acceptable way to say "highly aspirational". I'm more a location location location thinker! But it is hard to choose head win over heart when there is something very aspirational on the table.

Update. House B is off the market - the owners have decided not to move. I'm not too surprised tbh. DH is gutted, I'm not... now we need to decide about house A, I want to go ahead but DH doesn't.

It's a frustrating situation as houses come up so rarely in this village. We risk losing our buyers if we don't find a house soon.

Definitely A

Oh, no. That location sounded perfect.

I'd pick the nice walkable neighbourhood over an isolated house 1.5 miles away.

`C Location Location Location
just do 1 room at a time

It's not a 1 room at a time kind of project - it would be a top to toe renovation. Ground floor side/rear extension, and a loft conversion.

I say B, but they all probably sold now by the time you wrote that post 😂😂😂

Wee jokes x

Are you saying my OP was too long?
Hilarious 🙄
We are gutted that B is no longer an option, not really in the mood for "wee jokes", sorry.

B sounded like the best option, have you considered going to Bs house and asking if they’d consider to sell to you?

No they've decided not to move at all, house is now off the market.

Detached every time and between the two, I’d go for B.

With A, I’d be concerned about development of the fields longer term.

Sorry, should have RTFT! Do a deep dive into the local area plan and see what the plans are (if any) for the fields behind A.

I'd personally go for B. But I have to say you sound much more excited about A so maybe A is best for you.

Was an idiot and didn’t rtft! Best of luck op!