Real estate choices

[chum1]

Say you’re looking for a house and know of two that meet all of your minimum criteria.  You like each of these houses a lot.  They’re each very nice.  They’re priced comparably.  One of the houses is in a rough ridin' fantastic neighborhood.  Your neighbors would very likely be people that you get along with.  There are lots of things to do in the area.  The other house is a rough ridin' fantastic house.  It’s much larger and high-end than you anticipated that you’d be looking at.  Its neighborhood, however, isn’t as appealing.  Really nice houses, but a location that’s little more isolated.  And you’d likely just keep to yourself in this neighborhood.

Which house do you choose and why?  Any related experiences?

[WildcatNkilt]

Which one fits your needs more?

1) Big house for current/future big family?

2) Smaller house in friendly neighborhood?

IMO, you can always make a non-friendly/social neighborhood more friendly.

Most importantly, which house has room for a man-den?

[steve dave]

Hmmm, white people house sounds like it would retain it's value nicely.  However, minority filled neighborhood house sounds really nice too.  Tough call.

[Pete]

Is the bigger house one of the bigger ones in the neighborhood?  Stay away from those.  Better to be on the low end than the high end.

As far as neighbors go, I really can't provide much guidance.  I don't talk to my neighbors.

[Saulbadguy]

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION

[Daddy Claxton]

Say you’re looking for a house and know of two that meet all of your minimum criteria.  You like each of these houses a lot.  They’re each very nice.  They’re priced comparably.  One of the houses is in a fracking fantastic neighborhood.  Your neighbors would very likely be people that you get along with.  There are lots of things to do in the area.  The other house is a fracking fantastic house.  It’s much larger and high-end than you anticipated that you’d be looking at.  Its neighborhood, however, isn’t as appealing.  Really nice houses, but a location that’s little more isolated.  And you’d likely just keep to yourself in this neighborhood.

Which house do you choose and why?  Any related experiences?

Who wants to be friends with their neighbors?  As long as their house and lawn are well maintained, I have no intention of speaking to them, anyway.

[steve dave]

Yeah, go with the smaller house for sure.  Location is always the most important factor.  

[LinuxHuskerSometimesBasketballCat]

I would go with the larger house in the quieter neighborhood. I like to keep to myself, but will enjoy the company of neighbors from time to time. Plus a larger houes would allow for better watch parties.

[slimz]

My parents' house versus my house provides nearly this exact scenario, with my parents' being bigger but more remote and mine being in a neighborhood I really like.  Having experienced both, I would absolutely stay where I am if I had the choice.  Being close to my neighbors, friends, and activities is more important to me than extra size/niceness.

[ltrain]

Being close to stuff is very underrated...go with the location...

[ew2x4]

You always want the lowest valued house in the nicest neighborhood. ALWAYS.

[Johnny Wichita]

Smaller house.  Less area to maintain.  Actually you should probably go out and find a smaller house than the smaller house.  I feel like the smaller house in this scenario is still too big. 

[yoga-like_abana]

I'd say just hurry up and close so you can get your tax credit 

[Ira Hayes]

Choose the neighborhood over the house.  Especially if you have or are going to have kids. 

You don't want to live in a big secluded mansion where you have to entertain those little fuckers by yourself.

[CNS]

Here I go sounding old:

If you plan to have kids, let the quality of the school district be a deciding factor.  If equal districts, then I say the quieter neighborhood, but that is just how I roll.

Hate having people around me.

Now that I think of it, I kinda just hate people.

[dmartin]

Pick the house on the cul-de-sac over the house on a street, if one is on a cul-de-sac and one is on a street.  Never underestimate the importance of living on a cul-de-sac.

[Maccat]

We want with the big house in the "hood". Before we had kids, didn't look at the schools in the area. Kind of wish we did now. One bonus is no one comes door-to-door selling anything. The drug bust down the street are always a source of good drama. Wife hates our location now, so I say go for the good neighborhood.

[chum1]

Yeah, I’ve never hung out with neighbors before, but I think I might like to now.  This area has a good community vibe and they have block parties and cookouts and stuff. 

At the same time, I’m finding out how strong the pull of materialism can be.  I certainly don’t need a bunch of the crap that the bigger house offers, but I know it would feel pretty good to have it.   

All serious issues have already been addressed.  This is mostly about what kind of gravy I want.

[Pete]

Yeah, I’ve never hung out with neighbors before, but I think I might like to now.  This area has a good community vibe and they have block parties and cookouts and stuff. 

At the same time, I’m finding out how strong the pull of materialism can be.  I certainly don’t need a bunch of the crap that the bigger house offers, but I know it would feel pretty good to have it.   

All serious issues have already been addressed.  This is mostly about what kind of gravy I want.

You mind disclosing the "good" community?

[EllToPay]

please post pics of both houses. preferably with your wife in front of both. 

[Daddy Claxton]

they have block parties and cookouts and stuff. 

Seriously, YOU DO NOT WANT TO LIVE HERE.  Block parties and cookouts with neighbors suck beyond belief.  And send the kids to private schools; don't worry about what school district your house is in.

[steve dave]

This is mostly about what kind of gravy I want.

God I nailed this in my initial response 

[Dugout DickStone]

The one that has a pool or has the most potential to put a pool in.  

Limestone is living with a pool and that's the rule.

:jumpingoffhighdivingboard:

[Johnny Wichita]

Yeah, I’ve never hung out with neighbors before, but I think I might like to now.  This area has a good community vibe and they have block parties and cookouts and stuff.  

At the same time, I’m finding out how strong the pull of materialism can be.  I certainly don’t need a bunch of the crap that the bigger house offers, but I know it would feel pretty good to have it.  

All serious issues have already been addressed.  This is mostly about what kind of gravy I want.

You want the smaller house in the friendlier neighborhood.  Bigger house equals more furniture, more expensive maid (angrier wife), bigger utility bills, larger taxes, more expensive repairs, etc.  

* subject to pool criteria

[CNS]

The one that has a pool or has the most potential to put a pool in.  

Limestone is living with a pool and that's the rule.

:jumpingoffhighdivingboard:

Pools are a pain in the ass unless you can afford to pay someone else to take care of it.

Hot tubs are the way to go.