House Buying

[vernonk]

Better to buy a nice house in a not so nice area or o not so nice house in a nice area?

[woofgang]

location location location.

[Boto]

Good area, not so nice house. You can always improve the house.

[woofgang]

actually just to be clear, what do you mean by not so nice area?

[chrissa1]

The latter.

[johnny37]

As Wolfgang says, the Estate Agents mantra is (1) location (2) location (3) location, in that order.

[Baldric]

Location, Location, Location, no doubt about it, houses can be improved!

[sandyRoe]

The worst house in the best street. You can always improve the house.

[rockyracoon]

Agree with the others. Location is king.

[Maydup]

There is no point in having a beautiful house in a rotten area. Life could be miserable. Go for the best location and then make the most of the house in the happier setting.

[Old_Geezer]

Depends on your aims and priorities. Is one area up & coming and likely to show a property price increase in the next few years ? Or on its way down maybe ? How much nicer ? Is the price the same ? Which can you put up with better ? Can you find an ok house in an ok area ?

When I look for somewhere to live I decide on a minimum acceptable standard for the area first and then see what I can afford there. I have to walk to and from my home and I want to feel ok about that.

[Sycamore3House]

8 years ago I decided to buy somewhere to live that I could call home. I first looked at 1 bedroom flats in a good location in a city. I actually bought a 2 bed house with separate lounge & dining room with a garden for the same price which is 10 min max walking distance from the said good location. The street I live in is a dead end with only 10 houses. There have been some sales in the last 8 years and the properties have been on the market for weeks before being sold.
I would say I bought a house in a not so nice area but you have to weigh up the proc's & cons. I am happy I bought in the location that I did, I feel safe if I am out & about at night. I know all my neighbours in the street by first name, I do not really need a car anymore and supermarkets, doctors, dentist, local shops, schools all within easy reach & this was not my first time buy.

[boxtops]

Location, every time. I think of my friends who didn't know an area, and found a house they really liked, and bought it - only to find that it was on the edge of a sink estate.

[jomifl]

location always, it worked for me.

[dancecaller]

It might depend if you want to move soon. Then location is all important to finding a buyer.
If you are going to stay it's what you are happy living with.

[woofgang]

mmm. I know someone who bought a house close to an army barracks in the expectation that the barracks would be closed and the land redeveloped into private housing. So far it hasn't been and the house value is sinking hand over fist!
Don't get me wrong, I have great respect for our armed forces but it seems that the housing market has its own opinion!

[sandyRoe]

In shows like, 'Homes under the hammer', you hear mention of up and coming areas. But, as Wolfgang has said, if the up and coming doesn't happen you're stuck