In a dilemma

[Flowersandthorns]

We are selling the family home due to divorce. I am in my fifties so keen to not overstretch with a mortgage at this point. I have a mid twenties child travelling and 2 away at uni. Would you choose:

1. 3 bed house in a tricky area
2. 2 bed house in a safe area but not a nice house
3. A lovely 2 bed flat in a safe area

Thanks!

The 2 bed flat

I would go for the 2 bed flat, but only if it’s not leasehold. I’ve been very badly burnt with a leasehold! Otherwise the 2 bed house as you’ll potentially be able to improve it in the future.

Probably the flat, but really you haven't given enough information for anyone to make a real choice, eg how much space do you really need, does the flat have any outside space (I'd buy a flat with a garden or big balcony or terrace, but not one with nothing).

I downsized to a two-bed flat with a garden after thinking I would buy a three-bed house.

Will all three DC (one travelling DC and the two who are away at uni) need to use your new place as a base during holidays at the same time, or will they still have bedrooms at your xH's place? Could you all fit into the flat for Christmas, for example?

Do your three children live with you normally? Then you need a least a three bed property. If only the two uni students then you could get by with two bed. Leasehold goats are fine if you are aware of service charges and how they may increase and length of lease .

I think I would definitely go for a safe area and whether the house or the flat would depend on how grim the house was. I've lived in an unsafe area and I think I would rather live in a shoebox than do it again, especially as a single woman.

@SeaBee7 There is 2 bed coach house which is freehold alongside the leasehold flats. Do you mind telling me why you were burned?

@exexpat none of the flats have a garden but some have a balcony for coffee/wine.

@exexpat the 2 uni children would visit in the holidays but no necessarily for the whole holidays. The older one is away. My dilemma is have 3 bedrooms just in case...

@mondaytosunday only the 2 uni students would live with me. The third will plan to live with her boyfriend when she returns and so the bedroom for her is more nice to have in case.

@dicentra365 that is the thing I would live in a not great area in case they all come back.

Definitely the nice area. House no2 if there is scope to improve of otherwise the flat.

You can't really justify buying a 3 bedroom ' just incase '

What is their father buying - is he planning on being able to put them all up ?

Does the coach house not have a garden, several of the new build ones down here do.

2

What sexes are your children and how big are the bedrooms. In a pinch could they all squeeze in the flat?

Thank you everyone this is really helpful. @OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon he is going to buy a 2 bed too but within the same area as me so overall there will be 2 spare rooms across the 2 properties.

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon The coach house doesn't have a garden as it is surrounded by parking..

@andweallsingalong A possibility for a week or so would be using the communal space as a bedroom or the 2 of the children share a room...it's tricky. When they are all away my gut is telling me a flat with a balcony but would I miss a garden? There are parks really close by...

I wouldn’t want to live in a flat - I know that sounds snobby but I just can’t stand the noise that comes with being so close to other people. We live in a semi and I really miss the old detached house we had. So I would always go for a house over a flat.

2
always go for area
I wouldn’t go for the flat freehold or leasehold both have there separate problems

and yes I would miss outside space

Not the flat due to service charges and all those costs you can’t control. I’d go 2 bed house as you don’t say what’s not nice about it and as long as it’s structurally sound then any aesthetics can be improved or overlooked. I wouldn’t live in a dodgy area given the choice. The kids will have to live between yours and your ex’s and wherever they house themselves. It’s not ideal but such is divorce. They’re old enough that you can prioritise your needs now.

Define "not nice house" and "lovely flat"..is it structural or cosmetic? Same safe area?
Always the feel of the area first. I would say house is better bet.

Don't over extend yourself at this stage in life just on the off chance they come back permanently. After all there's also room at their father's. It also depends so much on the gender of the uni students and the family dynamics. How would they feel about having to stay at their dad's in the holidays? How do you decide who stays with you and who with him?
On the outside space issue, is an allotment an option?
I can see why it's a dilemma...

@Sparrowsandbudgies I agree about worry about the noise. I currently live in a house where there is no neighbour noise at all. For this reason the coach house would work as it is detached and it is also freehold.

The flat as long as the second bedroom is big enough for two beds for the uni kids.