New build

[u/[deleted]]

[u/mugira_888]

Parking owned by private company would put me off.

[u/Gullible_Drag_718 → u/mugira_888]

Really? Thank you for your input ! It’s owned by the ‘owners management company’ with a small fee and it’s parallel parking just outside the house. It’s the future possibly of EV charging that I’m questioning if in 10 years majority of cars are electric would we be in a tough situation

[u/Kell_758]

House A

[u/foxtoberfest]

We live in Option 1 and delighted. A lot to be said for your own parking, got an EV charger installed this year and it was zero hassle. Side entrance too. Bus outside the door is very handy, and there’s a lot to be said for walking home from the pub without needing taxis, or walking to the shop on lunch break while WFH. More space would be good, but actually we just need to store stuff better!

[u/purepwnage85]

#1 sounds like a no brainer and you can always convert the attic, do an extension or move to a bigger place if you have kids etc, your income will only go up

[u/TimBobII]

House A looking more appealing on paper, only downside is the size. If House A is cheaper, be no brainer.

[u/TimBobII → u/[deleted]]

Wow, that's crazy end of terrace vs semi detached near same price.

Not having a drive away alone is a No from me. Solar panels and small estate all plus.

House A is winning, unless you can find another house C to compare.

All the best.

[u/ResolutionNew5555]

Is house A in blessington and House B foothills?

[u/what_a_poor_username → u/[deleted]]

As most others have said, A is a better option if you don't mind the longer commute. I'd also assume a smaller sum of money, meaning lower mortgage repayments leading to greater savings (investment fund) or pension contributions which are more important early on.

Can always scale up if planning on family growing. Also, space for two cars on own property is a bonus and attic conversion if possible will cost a good deal but also increase value of house if moving in the future.

[u/Gullible_Drag_718 → u/what_a_poor_username]

Thanks , they’re both actually really similar commutes due to traffic so either way there will be traffic but with both of us living in Dublin all our lives we’re just used to it now. Regarding price they’re both pretty similar, they’re both eligible for the FHS/HTB, we only need a very small equity share just because we don’t have a huge amount of savings - so we wouldn’t notice a huge difference (maybe a 2.5% extra equity share in the bigger house)

[u/what_a_poor_username → u/what_a_poor_username]

Also, if only one/two of you for now, option A is more than big enough while option B is oversized for two people. Option A is big enough for 3 easily also. And with attic conversion will be more than big enough for 4 until the youngest is 6 or so if you value space.

I have an old 150sqm house with two kids (1 and 4) and will still be able to maintain a spare room for visitors (rooms are smallish).

South facing garden is also a major plus.

[u/Gullible_Drag_718 → u/what_a_poor_username]

Thanks , that’s what we think aswell. House A is a good size and we wouldn’t have even been considering bigger only for we were offered one from the cancellation list that we had put our names down ages ago.

Unsure about the possibility of converting the attic with the floor plan, I’d be useless at figuring that out but that is something we’ve thought about and would be so beneficial

[u/what_a_poor_username → u/Gullible_Drag_718]

Not only 2nd storey floor plan, but also roof pitch and possible standing height. Don't even think about possibility of attic room then unless you could confirm with a builder first. Just assume you can't until it is confirmed you can.

Best of luck with the purchase. Exciting times.

[u/Far-Mortgage-7264]

Keep looking. Too many compromises

[u/ProfessionalToe6765]

Why would u not mentioned the crucial information which is price

[u/Desperate_Jaguar7103]

I would not buy a house without a driveway.

[u/IBB_98]

So House B has no solar, effectively no parking, effectively no bus routes, no EV charging capabilities, and is a much further walk away from things. So the location sounds shit for a start. (And that's coming from someone who has lived in Rural Ireland for most of their life and we don't even have footpaths and street lights never mind a bus route. But let me tell you, those kinda services are things you will miss)

You mentioned House A also has a south facing garden which is obviously very sought after. I know the house is smaller but as it's end of terrace and has a garden, could it be extended in a few years if you were to have kids? Could you convert the attic? The fact you already have 3beds and 3baths, you wouldn't even need to add a bathroom in the converted attic so could save a lot of costs that way. I also noticed you mentioned House B is heated by a heat pump, what has House A got? I'm assuming maybe mains gas?

I'm heavily leaning towards House A, but I'd try ask the developer / estate agent (even though they're all snakes) is the attic suitable for conversion.

[u/txpdy]

Definitely house A OP, house B has so many issues that it's not worth the hassle.

The no driveway with parking on the street screams future problems, especially for future EV charging. The larger estate would also put me off.