Sorry, this is going to be long. My head's spinning. Despite how I might come across on here I am normally a very decisive person, especially when it comes to things as important as choosing the right house.
I've been researching houses and areas to live in for months. I'd got it down to three possible areas. We knew what kind of house we wanted/needed. Last month we accepted an offer on our house from someone who wants to move yesterday (he's the end of the chain) so we said we'd look for a week and then if there wasn't anything we'd go into rented so that we didn't lose our buyer.
We found a house in one of the three areas that met all our requirements that we both really liked so we put an offer in on it and now all the paperwork is underway.
But now I'm having serious doubts and I'm arguing with myself as to whether they are real/unsolvable problems or whether I'm just being a scaredy cat for some reason. Doubts include: garden isn't as big as we've got now, bathroom is tiny (I injured myself by walking into the sink when we went for the viewing), third bedroom is minute, the downstairs is open plan which I originally thought was fantastic but now I'm worried about noise/smells/privacy, everything has been recently refurbished which seems great but we're both big fans of DIY/interior design and it means we won't be able to put our own stamp on the place and the bits that need altering will involve undoing brand new work which seems a waste of money, the nursery we've chosen was fine but 'just' fine (it didn't make me feel as certain as the one where he is now) and I'm beginning to think that it might be a little too far away from my parents (my son goes twice a week while I'm at work) and from my work (50 minute drive - which is too long for me to be in a car really due to my back problem). But it is in a lovely old market town, downstairs loo (which we need), plenty of room (except for 3rd bedroom and bathroom) and the possibility to extend the first floor and convert the second garage.
And on top of that OH has just mentioned the stamp duty thing and that prices are still falling.
Because I was umming and ahhing I've been keeping an eye on rightmove and now I've found another house that I like. It's in an area that we hadn't considered (although I can't work out why) - a big village with all the facilities we'd need and closer to work for all of us. The house has got a lot of the things that the first one hasn't - a utility room (which OH desperately wants), a conservatory, a bigger garden, a better location within the village (walking distance to shops/schools/pub/leisure centre/playground). It's a bit dated, which would mean spending more money, but we'd both really enjoy doing it up (although we'd struggle for time). Obviously when we see it it could be a definite no-go but the fact that I'm even going to look is ringing alarm bells about the first property.
I'm really confused. Am I just being greedy wanting these extra things? It's quite possible that we'll never get everything we want and that the first property is the best we'll get for our money. I don't know whether to carry on with the purchase or pull out and go into rented (or buy this other house if it's any good). The big problem with renting is that we desperately want to get our son settled into a new nursery so that he won't have to move again before he goes to school.
Argh!
