House choice dilemma

[Housequandary]

We've sold our house, but we're struggling to pick between two properties we've seen. Both offer lots in some areas, and have compromises in others. Pricing is the same and both offer good school choices so neither of those are a deciding factor.

House 1 is a good location for day to day living. Walking distance to a small high street, doctors surgery, park, and a very short walk to a primary school. Near to a big field with lots of clear footpaths.
The garden is great, but while the house is a good size, the layout and rooms are a compromise. A narrow living room, a loft conversion (we'd actually love a bungalow but it's out of our budget, so adding an extra floor isn't ideal), the flow of the house isn't quite perfect. Parking is also an issue (not a major one but would involve some juggling).
The biggest compromise is moving away from grandparents (who are currently 10 mins away), but we will be closer to cousins for playing (though they're a few years difference in age so that is a factor too). But we wouldn't know anyone in the immediate area, and while we've done research, we don't 100% know what the area is like.

House 2 is an OK location. Nothing walkable, but only 5-10 minutes drive to places. No fields or parks nearby, but a country park a 10-15 minute drive.
House itself is amazing. Lovely large rooms, layout that would work very well for us, and aesthetically, right up our alley. Enough downstairs space to have 2 downstairs bedrooms if needed. Plenty of parking.
10 minutes from where we are now (so fairly familiar with the area) but still only 10 mins from grandparents, maybe slightly further from cousins but only 5-10 mins (so not significant on the hour-ish drive currently).

House 2 would be the house OH and I would choose for ourselves, but we're torn on missing the lifestyle bits of House 1. We currently live somewhere where we can walk to shops, parks etc so it would be nice to continue that (but neither of us mind driving - and there are buses if we are unable to drive). But House 2 comes with being near grandparents, which is a hard benefit to quantify!

Would love some views (maybe some points we haven't through of), and especially any feedback from parents who've had to make a similar decision and how it worked out for you!

You know what they always say, you can change the house but you can't change the location... I'd go for 1. But I'd do some more research on the area, spend a bit more time there. How far away from the GPs is it? Are GPs definitely not moving in the future?

And how old are your kids? Are they already at the primary or high school? If not, will they definitely go there?

We moved somewhere in part for a decent secondary with an ethos I liked. Turned out DC1 was ND and the school didn't suit them anyway...

Thanks. GP is a 10 minute walk but not sure on how long it would stay. Seems to be the only one in the village so imagine it would stay - hopefully!

LO is about to start school next year, the nearest school is a combined school so she'd be in it a good while. We would fall very close in the catchment area so hoping we'd get a space, but that is one of the gambles. There's several alternatives that are are a longer walk or a short drive if not. The school of our choice looks great and has some great provisions for ND kids (LO too young to diagnose but several people have suspicions of ADHD), we haven't toured any schools near house 2 but have heard the schools are very good. Need to do a bit more research there. Both have secondary schools a 10 min drive/20 min bus away.

The problem is that picking location comes at a cost of family proximity, but also house 2 is very unique. It couldn't be replicated. And the layout of house 1 is somewhat limiting - we bought our current house thinking we'd change the layout to suit but it then became too much of an expense to only improve it (and not get quite what we'd love) so we do feel the temptation of buying based on loving the house.

Our last house meant driving everywhere, there wasn't a safe walking route to anything so we had to get in the car even to walk the dog. It was a lovely house but the driving was an utter pain in the arse. Our current home is walkable to almost everything including footpaths across open countryside. I loved our old place, it was my favourite house by far but the location made life very difficult especially when our life was turned upside down by DH's unexpected cancer diagnosis.

Definitely house 1.

I would go with 2 as it’s nearer to grandparents and you will probably use the car more anyway when your DD is young. It sounds like you really love the house. Perhaps when your child/children are older you could consider moving closer to shops etc.

I would wait for a better house in a walkable location. Is there any urgency to move?

Both sound like realistic options.

You need a spreadsheet.

List your criteria and give them % weighting totalling 100% - think carefully about the categories and the weighting - what is important and how important is it?

Then score houses against each on a 3 point score
0= bad 1= ok 2= good

Criteria I use is categories like
location in terms of local amenities
Distance to family
Does it need work
Parking
Room layout
Kitchens and bathrooms
School catchments

Location and surrounding "stuff" is important so I'd likely take house 1

Good luck - let us know what you pick!

I would go for house 1 or neither of them. I've always lived close to a lovely park and can't imagine not being able to walk to one. For me, things have to be nearby and not require driving - park, corner shop, not far from centre. Location is at least as important as the house itself.

Are there health reasons why you'd prefer bungalow/downstairs bedrooms? If so then I would really prioritise finding a suitable property. But otherwise, I'd go for property 1 - I wouldn't want to live somewhere with no amenities as I like living near things - both because I like walking and not relying on a car, but also because it brings life to an area - completely residential areas are often very dull.

I would go for House 2. Who needs a walking distance GP unless you suffer poor health.

House 3? Are you in a rush to move because neither suit you completely and maybe you just need to keep looking? House AND location are important.

When I said GPs in my post, I meant grandparents! I don't think beign close to a GP (doctor) is a consideration at all. Unless you have a chronic health condition that requires frequent in-person appointments?

But I agree, neither of them sound ideal and given that you haven't done all your research yet on schools, etc, I'd hold off. Things that feel like priorities now may very well not be at all once your kids get a bit older or the grandparents decide to move anyway, etc.