Which house do we go for?

[puffylovett]

Option 1 - beautiful victorian bay fronted house with lovely conservatory extension, gorgeous long garden with room for chickens and veg overlooking a lovely park. On a busy not very nice main road :( in a not fantastic area. Walking distance to said lovely park and a very good school. I would have to drive across small town to get DS1 to the school I originally wanted for him & where he currently goes to pre school.

or

Option 2 - a characterless small box in a more desirable area, again very good schools and walking distance to park and town... catchment area for current pre school.

Now that we finally have an offer on our house (after only 18 months on the market !!!!!)

My heart says option 1, my head says don't be stupid. DP not keen due to the road.... but likes the house. DS1 wants to live in the house with the chickens and the rabbits. I can see us living there, I can picture us in the house, but not walking along the road....

We are so limited in our current price bracket, I just don't know which way to go.....

[scurryfunge]

There must be other houses that fit the bill if you are not too keen on either?

[traceybath]

Would DS1 still get into the school if you move to house 1?

[LadyBiscuit]

If you're planning on staying longterm, my rule has always been nicer place in less desirable location. In London, this has paid off as the places I've bought in have always come 'up' but obviously not everywhere is London. Is that likely to happen in your town?

Also think about the space - are you going to have more DC and so outgrow the box?

I always think go with your heart tbh - if you dislike the characterless small box now, you're not going to like living there later.

[LeonardNimoy]

If it really has to be one of those two, then bear on mind that the only thing you can't vhange about a house is its location. If you really hate the road and the area then it will drive you potty.

[puffylovett]

tracey - yes probably, it's just within the 2 mile door to door catchment. The nearby school was originally my first choice school for him so I wouldn't be too disappointed if he had to go there, but I'd prefer him to stay where he is - I just had my heart set on walking him to school rather than driving.

Scurry - there's not anything else within our budget really, the only other house we like has a train line running next to it - can't win !

Lady - no I don't think so, it's a small town and it's 'desirable' areas have been the same for years.

I actually am thinking maybe we move to dream house and give it two years and if we hate it, sell on - the houses on that row usually sell quite quickly from what I've seen.... hmmmmm

[jonicomelately]

Are they on rightmove?

[Fiddledee]

How busy is the main road? How much road noise can you hear in the house/garden, is it set back from the road or right on it? You don't seem to like option 2 except its location. Can your buyer wait? Are you prepared to go into rental given its taken so long to sell yours and wait until a better house turns up.

[lalalonglegs]

What about other amenities such as shops/railway/libraries - which is the better house for those?

[said]

How not fantastic is the area?
Can you extend/change the box? Need more details on the box - a nice garden? same number of rooms as nice house?

Having lived in a nicer house in not so nice area v boring house in much more pleasant area, I'd go for area.