2 existing properties to choose from - your assessment, tips?

Good day,

we have now decided against the construction because we are unexpectedly expecting a child and want to move into our own home before the birth.

House 1:
- Built in 2001
- Larger plot than House 2
- Living area is the same
- Two parking spaces in front of the garage
- House at the end of a dead-end street (quiet), no turnaround, so some maneuvering is required when driving in and out
- Overall more spacious than House Number 2
- No blinds
- Energy class C
- Brick
- Private garden

House 2:
- Built in 2009
- Smaller garden, partially visible from three sides
- Enough parking spaces (4 vehicles fit easily)
- Energy class A
- Plaster facade
- Also in a dead-end street but as a T with more houses and semi-detached houses in the neighborhood with tenants instead of owners

Both houses are appealing. House 2 only worries me because of the tenants in the neighboring houses. To the left of the house is a three-family house and to the right are two semi-detached houses (rented). Overall, you can tell the tenants do not care as much as owners (front gardens).

Advantage of tenants:
- if there are idiots, they will eventually move away.
- younger neighbors, ideal for us as a family

Disadvantage:
- Noise level?
- Value of the house in 20 years?!

What are your thoughts, experiences on this? Anything I have forgotten to consider.

Well, for me a question like that would already make quite a difference, namely:

- Size of the plots? Is the one from House 2 enough for you or would you prefer more and therefore House 1, which is then especially less visible. That would be a clear plus for me if you like to spend a lot of time outside.

The thoughts about tenants and owners are somewhat important since this can change from time to time. But in the end, with the information provided, no real statement is possible.

What do you want to know?

House 1: 600 sqm
The house is located relatively close to the property line, so there is 1 parking space in front of the garage and another in front of the house entrance. With some effort, a visitor could also park there, but that’s about it.
In return, you are rewarded with plenty of space inside the house, a good layout, and a garden of sufficient size for us, which is bordered by 3-4 meter high mature hedges.

House 2: 490 sqm
The garden is smaller but still sufficiently large for us. Everything basically fits here, except for possible neighbors who are not owners. I am ambivalent about that. On one hand, tenants keep to themselves more, don’t want to participate in every neighborhood fuss, and simply live their lives, while established neighbors (owners) try to involve you on every occasion.

I think you should reconsider your prejudices regarding tenants/owners...

After your last post, I would take house 2. The garden is enough for you (personally, I also find 500 sqm a nice size, I'm not a fan of huge properties), the house is newer with significantly better energy efficiency. Especially the younger environment is much nicer for a young family than just having "old geezers" around, especially for the children!

I would not choose my house based on how many visitor(!) parking spaces are available directly in front of it.