Location or house?

[applesandbanoonoos]

Would you rather have a large detached house further out of town but would need to drive to everything (including convenience store), or a smaller semi detached house that is walkable (less than 10 mins) to everything including child’s school?

Second one

Now usually I roll my eyes at MN’s obsession with supposed “location, location, location” which usually prioritises a wanky post code with cafe culture, but a GENUINELY useful location that actually brings convenience like a walking school commute is definitely worth prioritising. Especially if it’s a good high school in walking distance.

Closer to town is better.

Although it would depend on the semi detached. The only thing that would annoy me more than a ball ache school run is noisy neighbours. So definitely investigate the house well.

Larger house for me. Small houses are cramped and stressful and you are too close to the neighbours, and there is no room to park the car.

Large houses are a wonderful spacious delight, much easier to keep tidy and lots of room for guests. Sweeping onto your drive and not having to think about positioning the car is an absolute luxury that I still enjoy every day, five years after we moved into this house.

Even more important than big or small is warm. Living in a warm house (ie not Victorian) is the biggest luxury there is.

driving for everything is so annoying so would always chose location over house

I’d rather the space, views and privacy, so 1 for me.

Lots of points to consider. How long term will the move be? Should you wish to sell at any point this issue may possibly limit potential buyers. Having to drive everywhere may become a pain, when cars in for service or repair, unable to drive for any reason. Personally I prefer detached, we have lived in a detached home for too many years to go back. But we like the convenience of having shops close by etc. personally with a young family, I would go with the semi, near to school, always going to be a popular choice with families should you want to sell in future. Good luck with the move, whatever you decide.

Definitely detached for me, not so bothered about it being larger though. I dont like to feel too close to other people and I find it better for my mind to have that feeling of separation whenever I go home from the shops or anywhere busy.

How long is the drive to shops and school
from the detached house? If 10 minutes or so then that’s the house I’d choose. If it’s more like half an hour then I would consider the other one.

Larger detached, not because it is larger, because it has its own space and it is out of town.

Your question was 'location or house?'. for me the location and house you mention are the same and I wouldn't even be considering the semi in town. For clarity, the detached, slightly or fully out of town, is the better location. The question is can you afford the running costs and maintenance of a bigger house?

Doesn’t it depend on what constitutes a good location? That will differ from person to person.

Having to drive everywhere - including the nearest convenience store - would drive me mad. A smaller house means it’s cheaper to run than the detached house and a more convenient location means it’s easier to sell in the future.

I’d choose the walk to school, will make life so much easier as the dc grow up, and can get themselves around and hang out with friends

Thank you for all your inputs. @Doris86drive can be 15 mins on a clear day / time but 45mins on school runs

How long are you planning to live there? How many years of driving to school? How often do you go to the convenience store?

If it is a primary school situation how easy will it be in future for them to get to secondary school? Would you need to move for a secondary or are there good ones nearby?

Imagine if you get stuck in the house, ie you cannot move from it for whatever reason, how much space is there in each house for adult sized children? I would always choose a detached over a semi detached but if I had only lived in semi detached I wouldn't know how great being detached is. Ds has a drum kit.

The semi near a convenience store and child’s school.

@fundamentallyauthenticthx good point about the running costs
it would be a drive to everything, dentists, doctors etc. Also, I don’t drive so it would be my husband…

Previously had a detached which was so peaceful but as DC gets older I’m thinking we need more of a community so for her to be closer to friends etc

@FieldsOfFieldsyes it’s close to all the schools. DD is primary age but secondary school and sixth form are on the same site as it’s a through school (that we are very happy with).

It will be a long term house as I can’t afford to keep moving, plus house buying is such a pain in the bum.

Always nice to be near a shop in case you need milk etc.

I'm just used to much more space - at least an extra 2 rooms (1 extra bedroom as a spare and maybe an office) but wouldn’t be able to afford that in the close-to-town location. I don’t think there are many large detached houses there so even if I could afford it we might not find one.

45mins school runs would soon get on your nerves OP, if you are anything like me when mine were at school if they were ill, had an accident I just wanted to get to them quickly, not have a 45mins drive. Also you need to consider bad weather, snow ice etc.

I see DH does the school runs, if you don’t drive, could you learn? You might feel abit isolated otherwise also what happens if your DH is unavailable and kids need collecting, is there a bus?

What's your current home and location OP? What's prompting the change. If you can't drive is there good public transport from the detached house because if not won't you feel isolated? Also will be difficult for your DC as they become more independent if they are reliant on their Dad to get to clubs and friends houses.

Absolutely location. Not fair to a growing child to have to get a lift everywhere. You are stifling their independence if you do that. Sounds like you only have 1 child so can't see why you'd need more space. We have a 1950s semi and I forget we are attached 99% of the time, the walls are so solid.

Normally I’d go for the larger house, but I think in this case I’d go for the location. Being able to walk to school / shops and having other children nearby for my kids to play with would be higher priority. Especially as you don’t drive. As your daughter gets older it’ll be handy for her to be able to walk herself to school, be near bus stops etc.

I'd choose the detached house out of town every time. There's no way in hell id choose the semi, but then I actively dislike people!