Which house would you keep: Victorian terrace or modern townhouse?

[HouseXorHouseY]

Please help, I'm driving myself crazy! If you were me, which of these two houses would you choose?

House X: in a great area of a vibrant city. It only has on street parking, which is very busy. It's close to cafes, shops, and friends. It's a terraced victorian, five bedrooms but two of them small, only one main bathroom and a downstairs loo under the stairs going off the kitchen. It has lots of niggly little problems and is a high maintenance house but also has lots of lovely features, eg log burner.

House Y: quiet area in a market town about fifteen minutes away from the city where the other house is. This house is terraced as well but with a slightly staggered design so it feels more private, and the road is much more spacious with a little green area in front of the house. It has a garage at the back. It's a modern house and has no niggly problems, but no great features either. It's a blank canvas and is easy maintenance. It has four double bedrooms, a downstairs toilet plus a main bathroom and an ensuite. It is a similar square footage, just a little smaller but better layout. It is closer to youngest DC's school (7 mins versus 20).

For context, I am 50, single, with two young adult DC and one teen aged 14. Both the adult DC will probably be bouncing back and forth from uni for a few years. I currently live in House X. House Y is from an inheritance. I need to sell one of these houses and I can't decide which. I am tired and going through menopause so the modern house appeals for the low maintenance, but I would also have the upheaval of a move. Of course, in this climate I might not be able to sell, but apparently in the area where House A is the market is still ok/resilient. What do you think? Thank you!

The DC are all fine with either. I think the older two prefer X and the youngest prefers the idea of Y. She is the one who will be living at home the longest (I hope!).

House Y. I live in a Victorian terrace and I love it but I’d kill for an upstairs loo. 😂

Stay where you are in X, invest the proceeds from house Y, then in a few years when youngest flies the nest and the other two have their own homes, buy somewhere that’s perfect for you to live in for the rest of your life.

Yes, if I stay in X I will definitely spend a bit to improve it, but the parking issue can't be solved.

I don't think either of them would be great for growing older as they are both split over three levels. I'd probably move in ten years either way.

House X. I like characterful homes/buildings, I love city life, and being near friends is a joy. I also hate moving so that would be the clincher!

You could spend a bit of money on fixing things after selling house Y, save the rest for deposits for your kids, and then downsize in 10-15 years.

House X,despite the great location, does not sound suitable for growing old in and having your adult children visiting, possibly with their own families in the future.

Y

If you were looking for a house to buy, which one would you choose ?

House X

I'm honestly not sure. Neither, probably! I did choose X but that was years ago when city life appealed more than it does now.

If neither are suitable for growing old in I'd stick with house x especially as your friends are there.

Y, I’ve lived in both. Never had a modern house until now. Always owned period homes, mostly listed. I’ve been in a well built modern house in a nice location for a decade. The lack of issues, insulation, double glazed windows, heating system that doesn’t need wood or oil. Doors that shut, floors without cold breezes round the edges, etc, etc. Low running costs.

Also fifty odd with kids at uni.

Looks like a slight preference for X so far - I should have got a vote going! It's interesting - you're all saying the exact things that are going round my head at 5am!

Definitely Y

Yep, if that's the one you're living in, stay put, do essential repairs with the money you release and then start casually, with no immediate pressure, looking out for your next move, keeping your social contacts but improving the family with lots of cars visiting situation.

Lol at the idea that a house in a town 15 minutes from a city is 'out in the sticks'

House X for sure. I'd love a Victorian terrace and would absolutely hate a modern house. Plus, a city is far preferable to a town.

This is what I thought when I was younger and bought house X. I wanted all the lovely features. But old houses are much harder work. My floorboards need redoing, my lovely old wooden door needs repairing and repainting... the list is endless and I have no help unless I buy it in.

@HouseXorHouseY you sound fed up with house x! Do you fancy a change?

Stay in X whilst Y sells then find perfect home Z in the city.

Definitely X for me - but I love cities and Victorian houses! Use the money from the sale of Y to fix the niggles (aside from parking)

I think I do, but I don't want to regret it. I used to be much more decisive but in this stage of life feels hard to know what's best.

Hqve you had them both appraised? I would get both valued and a view on how quickly they would sell and maybe put both on the market and let someone else decide for me. I might also sell both and buy something entirely different as you don’t seem wedded to either or this decision would be easier.

House X, I’d use money from house Y sale to make the layout as I wanted it. DC are coming to end of school years, when they are uni and you are more free to socialise, having a house with a layout you love near a vibrant city will be gold. I’m not a new build market town kinda gal though, I’d find it too boring.

The location of house X sounds much more fun. I'd remove the log burner though as I like my lungs!

I'd be bored in the location of house Y.