To choose a detached house a mile's walk from the station instead of a semi near station?

[NotJustACigar]

We are buying a house and feel we have finally had some luck after our previous purchase fell through. We have found a gorgeous detached house that's within our budget in a perfectly acceptable though less posh area than where we were originally planning to buy.

The house we now want is a mile from the station and I commute by train every day. No DCs to worry about but we are oop North (still in England though) so there will be plenty of rain, cold days etc. I have to dress fairly professionally at work so naice trousers and shoes with a button down shirt kind of thing. I plan to wear walkng shoes and leave my work shoes at work to change into while I get there. And will wear waterproof overtrousers and a raincoat with a good on rainy days.

DH uses the car and parking may be an issue as the new house is four doors down from a park with playing fields that's also popular with dog walkers. A few times we have been by the house and the drive has been blocked by another car and the street is choka with dog walkers cars. But I figure thats DH's problem as the one who will be driving to work .

Do these sound like reasonable compromises for a house that would otherwise be out of our reach price wise or is the walking in the rain, parking, and kids and dogwalkers constantly passing by going to do my head in?

[MrsLettuce]

I'd go with the detatched house too, most certainly. A bike will get you to the station sharpish.

[DrDre]

I walk a mile to the station at the start and end of every day. I quite like it, I much prefer it to driving. Get yourself decent weatherproof clothes and you will be fine. I'd go for it!

[AnUnearthlyChild]

Think I'd actually prefer to walk.

2 miles a day will keep you nice and fit.

[lljkk]

Sorry, I do wonder if the weather will defeat you if You need to be very smart and if it can be very wet. I guess see how it goes.

[JennyCalendar]

Go for the detached house.

I commute by train daily. Although I'm a 6 min walk from the station my end, at the other it is a mile to my work. It goes really quickly, keeps me fit and the fresh air wakes me up in the morning. I used to cycle it, but found it was too quick!

Proper warm and waterproof coat is essential. Some days I wear waterproof trousers & wellies too.

[JohnCusacksWife]

Personally I'd rather have a smaller house in a better area than a bigger house in a worse area. Having said that a mile is nothing and as long you have the right clothes you'll be fine...what's that quote about "there's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes"?

[MrsKoala]

I think any longer than 10-15 min walk is too far for us. We couldn't walk a mile in that time so only look for houses .5 miles from the station. However, if you are happy to do it then go for it. We'd compromise on the Semi tho as walking in the rain and then sitting on a train and getting to work damp and sweaty for months on end is utterly miserable (we have done it which is why we wouldn't again).

[LoveIsTheDrug]

The station thing wouldn't bother me but I agree that I'd go for the better area over the bigger house, if it were my decision.

[specialsubject]

if you are able-bodied and without toddlers you should be able to walk a flattish mile in 15 mins without getting sweaty. As you note, wear sensible clothing and keep the other stuff at the office.

you'll keep fit too.

[MothratheMighty]

OH walks over a mile to the station every day, which is why he is trim and fit despite being old and crumpled. Decent clothing and footwear.

[NotJustACigar]

Thanks, all. Getting fit sounds very appealing - hadn't realised a walk rather than a run or something would have that effect so I'm pleased about that. Plus being in a desk job I do think I need to be more active. Any specific recommendations on rainwear would be brilliant, too!

[whatever5]

Would the semi necessarily be smaller than the detached? I would definitely prefer a semi or slightly smaller house in a better area.

You don't say whether you intend to have children in the future. A mile to the station doesn't sound far but it could be a pain if you have children to drop off at nursery etc. Also consider whether the detached house is in catchment for good schools etc.

[Artandco]

A mile is close. Most can walk that in 15 mins, especially if everyday

[mattsmadmum]

Go for it. You might even get your own dog one day.......

[cece]

The walk wouldn't put me off but the parking would.

[Littleen]

would choose the detached house! it's healthy to walk a mile anyway ;)

[Tailtwister]

The mile walk to the station wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

You say it's in a less posh area. The only thing I'd look into is the catchment for schools as you may find this accounts for the price difference.

Personally, I much prefer living in a detached house (or bungalow in our case). I'm very sensitive to noise and have always found semi-detached properties and flats stressful to live in. Now we have children I really value a detached property as you don't have to worry about babies crying/early rising toddlers etc annoying the neighbours.

[WorraLiberty]

Sounds great, I'd go for it.

A mile walk is nothing, even in wet weather.

The OP didn't say the other house was in a better area, she said this one is in a less posh area and those are two different things.

Good luck

[MrsKoala]

well i must confess i don't know exactly what a mile is. But when dh and i were looking at houses a lot said the journey to the station was .7 miles. So we walked it and still weren't there after 20 mins. We are both fit and i walk very fast and have a long stride (dh is a bit of an ambler tho) and it wasn't possible for me. I suspect the measurements may have been taken as the crow flies tho so navigating streets and crossing big roads probably added distance.

[curlew]

Can you get a slightly earlier train and then get changed at work?

[bookishandblondish]

Theoretically I'd have no problem with a mile walk. But as well as looking smart, I have to lug laptop as well, and that makes a huge difference to what I'm willing to consider.

[Inertia]

I think that regularly having your drive blocked by other people's cars would soon prove to be very annoying indeed.

[Viviennemary]

I certainly wouldn't want to walk a mile in all weathers to the station so wouldn't consider a house so far away no matter how nice unless I planned to buy a car to drive to the station. A mile's walk in wet weather is nothing. It is to some folk. Me!

[VeryStressedMum]

Personally, I'd take the house in the better area unless I'd totally fallen in love with the house...it's nice to walk but I don't think I'd like to have to do it everyday when it's freezing and pouring down and I'd just done my hair. But that's just me, some people like going out in all weather's.
The parking thing would annoy me too, even though you don't drive to work, at some point would you not want to drive somewhere and you're blocked in?
Also you don't have children at the moment but are you planning any for the future? What is easy now definitely won't be easy when you have a couple of children in tow.