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House or location

13 replies

Kkaayy · 21/02/2025 09:08

We are in the process of selling our house as now our children are older we need more room. Originally when we thought about moving we just wanted an extra bedroom, a downstairs loo and an entrance hall. We viewed a house a couple of weeks ago which was such a nice size and had the added bonus of a downstairs study and an en-suite. However it was in the town next to us which doesn’t have a good reputation and has some issues with anti-social behaviour. Not loads but definitely more than the market town we live in. I also goggled and found out they were building 25 affordable homes right in front of the house, one of the reasons I liked it so much was because it was so secluded.

We have now found a house we like in our town which is very sought after, because of this, houses are expensive. The house ticks all of our original boxes and is in such a nice location on a corner plot. It is the same price as the house above but doesn’t have a separate study and en-suite. It does however have a double detached garage with pitched roof which we have spoken about converting into somewhere for the kids to hang out and potentially a study although the 4th bedroom could also be used as a study.

For context our 3 bed semi, no downstairs toilet and only an entrance square is being sold for 415k. The above two houses are 525k.

I really do like the house we’ve found in our town and ideally I want to stay here however I keep thinking about the bigger house in the town next down. I don’t think we’ll get the perfect house for our budget in our town so we’re going to have to compromise somewhere.

So location or house?

OP posts:
fairislecable · 21/02/2025 09:12

Location is definitely the key. It sounds like if you hadn’t seen the other house the second one would have been perfect.

The lovely first house will not be the best either when building starts.

WartOrNot · 21/02/2025 09:21

Location every time.

The house in the location you like may not be perfect now, but clearly has potential to develop with you, whereas you will never be able to pick up the house you like and take it away from the town you dislike or the estate that will eventually be built in front of it.

SpringingInto · 21/02/2025 09:23

Location you can’t change it once you have bought the house but you can make changes to a house.

JimHalpertsWife · 21/02/2025 09:24

Given you can find what you initially wanted, in a nice location, there's no real reason to move into the troublesome location. I could understand you considering it if there was no suitable houses in nicer spots.

But there is!

BooomShakeTheRoom · 21/02/2025 09:28

Can you afford to do the work on the house in the nice location? It’s very expensive to extend/renovate now so I would personally look for a house that offers you what you need space wise now.

In terms of location, it depends how bad the bad area is. Is it unsafe? Or just less fancy?

I wouldn’t compromise on space, as you may as well just stay where you are.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 21/02/2025 09:32

Location every time

senua · 21/02/2025 09:32

the town next to us which doesn’t have a good reputation and has some issues with anti-social behaviour.
You haven't mentioned schools ...

MiddleAgedDread · 21/02/2025 09:34

location location location

Kkaayy · 21/02/2025 09:43

Schools aren’t an issue. Both houses are within walking distance (my children walk themselves) and the upper school is the catchment schools for both towns. I wouldn’t say the town next door is that bad, it just has a bit of a bad reputation because our current town is fancier.

Someone above hit the nail on the head I think, had we not viewed the first house, the second house would have been perfect for us and we would have been happier with the extra space. We could afford to convert the garage but of course I need to get quotes for this.

OP posts:
Worsthousebeststreet · 21/02/2025 09:47

Location!!

canyon2000 · 21/02/2025 11:09

If you can afford to convert the garage, which I imagine will cost a lot, could you not put that money towards finding a house with the room you need already there?

Twiglets1 · 21/02/2025 11:23

Location.

100PercentFaithful · 21/02/2025 13:57

Location, location, location.

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