Size expectations / pets / *headdesk*

Hi folks.  This is my first advice seeking post here, so please, be gentle!    I've rummaged around some of the previous posts, but a lot of what I found was from last year, and I'm not sure how the market has changed recently.

I am curious if my thoughts on renting an appx. 1800-2000 sq. ft. home with a garden in "west-ish" London (which allows cats) are far fetched.  Would that be considered a decadent home size?  We currently live in a roomy Texas suburb so I'm prepared for the likelihood that what I'd consider small here, would be quite large there.  Under ordinary circumstances I'd be happy to downsize, but it looks like we might be bringing our 3 cats with us.  I'd hate to stick them in anything smaller for fear they'd eat each other -or me.  I think we'd be looking around the Brentford, Middlesex area (which admittedly  means quite little to me )

Homes arent normally measured in 'square feet' here, so I'm afraid i have no idea what size home you are looking for.
Sorry!

I think I know the roomy Texas suburb and the kind of house you are talking about, and something like that, even if it is to be found in the area you are thinking of here, would be prohibitively pricey.

Everything is smaller here and even when it's not, it's expensive.

I have no idea of your finances but the kind of place you would wish, in the kind of area you would wish, is getting into "small fortune" territory here in the greater London region of the UK, even though it is "completely affordable" territory there in Texas.

Differing opinions or experiences will of course come along in this thread and are equally valid, but this is my personal take on it.

Anything's possible, it's just going to depend on what you're willing to spend!

Yeah, okay, I will weigh in on this thread. As Bmore says, anything is possible with enough money. But that is probably a bit large for a rental property.

There's a very high rate of home ownership here, so there's less choice in rental property to be had. And anywhere near London, semi-detached (duplexes) or row houses are going to be more common than detached homes.

The English do love them some gardens, though, so there's likely to be one.

Thanks for the replies .  Currently we live in about 2400 sq. feet, so the 1800 would be a definite downsize for us.  It's a little scary to hear that that might be a problem to get, but the faster I get used to such notions the less likely I am to completely freak out.    Plus I can get rid of a ton of my stuff which would certainly add to livable space.  I have two toddlers, and it will be interesting to see how they react to the change of furniture.

For a stay of 3-5 years, is it possible that it would be more sensible to buy a home?

I took a look at some of the google street maps this morning and saw what y'all were talking about with the duplexes.  It will certainly be a whole new world if we get to go!

Subject to the usual caveats, now would probably be an especially good time to buy, if you can get a mortgage. We've had the same real estate bust, and then some.

Though property near London never loses much value.

Here is a link to some 2+ bedroom houses for sale in Brentford:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=OUTCODE^2731&minBedrooms=2&displayPropertyType=houses&oldDisplayPropertyType=houses&includeSSTC=true&_includeSSTC=on

Is there a particular reason you are limiting your search to Brentford?

 if you can get a mortgage.

Or you are a cash buyer.

But the proportions you are seeking in London, with a garden as well, it going to mean what is a great whacking lot of cash to most Texans.

Hi Orestia,

Sorry to be the bearer of semi bad news - but yes, 2000+ Sq Ft homes to buy or to rent are at the very high level in the UK. As already mentioned, in estate agencies and online adverts etc and for the UK in general, SQ FT sizing is rarely mentioned. When it is, and in the context of comparing to the USA for this website, anything you see will make you gasp at the Sq FT for the price!

I'm in Slough, so *just* outside of West London (no snickers from you lot who know who you are! ) and I monitor the property element of things quite a bit. In our local freeby property newspaper, where SqFT is mentioned I do remember a house in Ascot which was 'Approx 2000 SqFT' for around the £700,000 mark! and that was a very 'Executive' aimed house. There's a few others I can mention as well, usually the 'New Build' 3 bedroom houses will be approx 900-1200 Sq Ft and 4 bed new builds approx 1100-1400 or maybe 1500 SQ ft. These are very very approximate levels of the £300K -400K level homes. Spend more, and you'll get 3-500 Sq Ft more - and usually £500K and upwards

I along with everyone else dont know how deep your purse is, and of course there may well be some properties that are significantly larger than the figures I've given for similar or possibly less of a price that I've mentioned. Around the London boroughs though, I'd put forward the notion you'd have to spend significanltly more to find the potential 2000 + Sq Ft properties that are out there.

If you do manage to downsize in conjuction with de-clutter for the move, then you may find that a suitable compromise as you say. I fyou can give some estimation of your budget, I can look around and ask a few contacts in the property field around here I know to keep an eye out.

Cheers! DtM ! West London & Slough UK!

Thanks again!  Unfortunately I have no earthly idea what our budget will be.  I'm sort of basing it off of our current salary, which might change for the better if we move, and it's possible we'd get a housing allowance.  I think prepare myself for something around 1100 - 1300 sq feet.   It will certainly be nice to get rid of some of the useless crud we've accumulated over the years.  My big worry with space is my cats.  They've finally reached a happy place with the amount of house we have and no longer fight.  I need to talk to my vet again and find out the recommended space for 3 cats -- and possibly really work on finding two of them a new home

I'm guessing we'd want something around Brentford because that's where my husband's office would be.  He's done the 1+ hour driving commute to work and is tired of it.  I think he'd like to be able to ride his bike or perhaps even walk to work - be within walking distance of the trains/tubes.  Neither of us have had much experience with subways except when traveling, but from the sounds of it being located near one is a good thing.   So I guess that we'd be open to surrounding areas if we're near public transprt .  Now if we could just get word that this is actually going to come to fruition!

I wouldn't be too hasty in finding new homes for any of your three cats just yet. Cats can be remarkably adaptable to changing environments, and you may find that even though three seems a lot of cats, on paper, to have in a smaller place than you're in now, unless you are going to have them in a little studio bedsit (!) I'm sure they will be fine in the average British house of the type you are looking for. I say this only because I know of Brits who have more than one cat in their modest terraced Victorian and no feline insanity is occurring. 

Thanks for the encouraging words   We did re-home one kitty this weekend.  I think trying to move four would have made me bonkers!

Not to mention, it ain't cheap.

Thanks for the encouraging words   We did re-home one kitty this weekend.  I think trying to move four would have made me bonkers!

lol - I'm moving my four next July!