Would you rather a flat in nice area or house in rough area?

[Weaselgoespop]

First time buyers, limited budget. Can get 2 bed flat in "nice" area however means no garden...

Alternatively, can get a 2 bed terrace with garden in less affluent area...

Interested to hear which others would choose? We have a 2 year old DC who I would prefer to have a garden but not sure if that's reasonable enough to risk the less nice area!?

Is there a good park near the flat?

Will you be wanting to sell either in a few years?

Depends what the areas are!

Always go for the better area

I'd normally say location everytime. But a garden and a small child is brilliant. I'd go garden this time.

Honestly it depends on how different the areas are. Are they totally opposite ends of the scale, or one is just slightly less ‘naice’ than the other?

It really depends what the less affluent area is actually like! I prefer my less affluent suburb to some of its more chichi neighbours.

I voted house as in general house is better and flats can have a really bad resale value.
How rough is rough area? In some areas there are better and worse patches. Also what about primary schools in each area, how are they rated?

Hard to say! I’d personally be happy in a 2 bed flat providing there was a little balcony to sit out on with a glass wine on summer evenings when DC was in bed, there was a nearby park/playground and I definitely wasn’t going to have any more kids. But flats generally don’t hold their value as well so if you plan on moving on in a few years the house might be the better investment especially if the area is on the up. The house would also give potential scope to extend e.g. loft conversion or extension if go to have more children. Also how different are the actual areas and what do you mean by rough? Is it actually dangerous or just lacking swish restaurants? What about schools?

How rough is the rough area?

Does the flat have a service charge?

I personally wouldn’t go for a flat, you risk losing value or taking ages to sell, which are common, no control over service charge etc. I’d wait until a cheaper house comes up in your preferred area, even if it needs a bit of work doing.

I’d normally say location is most important. But I used to own a leasehold flat and I’ll never do that again. The service charge made it overall just as expensive as a house, and I had no control over the exponential rate of its increase, which also made it very difficult to sell.

Affluent area is not the same as nice area
less affluent might still be very nice

if it’s the kind of area where you don’t want your ( imaginary?) kids to go to school and would be scared to go out at night or just an area with less money and bling?

I love our massive house in our rough area. Lots of other people have done similar and it’s a fab community. Kids have so much space to run around

Rough and less affluent can be two very different things. Which is it?

We went for the flat in a nicer area and have no regrets. However we do have a small patio of outside space as we are ground floor which helps massively!

Always go for a house. Don't buy a lease, hold flat.You want freehold.

If the less affluent area is OK id go for house, however if it's rough id opt for the flat. Location is important

That was my thinking

What are the areas? no specifics required but a general idea may help in figuring out how rough the less desirable area is. I wouldn't buy a flat - they are so hard to sell at the moment and I don't see that changing in the foreseeable.

House and garden

Area every time.

Yes, enclosed park right round the corner aswell as a large green space.

We would be looking to sell at some point as it's definitely not gonna be our forever home but more the first step on the ladder.

Go for the better area then as it’ll sell better

100% if we didn't have a child I'd pick the flat as I don't need a garden for myself but this is what sways my decision just now