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?

[ComposHat]

I can't believe healthy able bodied adults are baulking at walking a mile. I would be embarrassed to admit that on a public forum.

[BackforGood]

I'd really value a detached house over a semi, put it down as a massive + point. That's what would sway me.

[Caterina99]

I walked about that distance to my train for work for 5 years. Trainers in summer, boots in winter, umbrella, waterproof coat and trousers, and I used to keep a spare pair of socks and tights at work cos there is nothing worse than wet feet if you step in a huge puddle. Makeup got done on the train.

I quickly put on weight when I moved, because I wasn't getting that exercise automatically built into my day. Occasionally it was a pain due to rain or snow, but usually I just enjoyed the me time.

[NotJustACigar]

I don't have any problem walking a mile, to clarify. I just finished couch to 5k in fact so can even run 5 kilometres which is about 3 miles. It's more the walking in the pouring rain and wind and sleet in business clothes. However thanks to all the tips I'll be keeping spare shoes and trousers at work, wearing proper walking shoes, etc. I'm quite looking forward to it now in a way. I thought I would have to keep running to get and stay fit but if just the walk will do it I'm all for it.

As for dog poo, yes I think it will be an issue but mostly will I hope be confined to the park rather than the pavement outside of ours. On the plus side I do like dogs but can't have one as DH is allergic so it will be at least nice to see them playing in the park. I think the poo won't bother me too much as I'll just have to be careful where I step!

I think the biggest issue will be car parking. Eventually we may be able to remove part of the wall in front of the house and ask the council to extend the dropped kerb so we could have a drive with space for two cars. Also we could ask the council to paint a white line by the dropped kerb we already do have (parking space space for one car) to try to get people to stop parking there. Or maybe one they see someone is using that drive they'll stop doing it anyway - fingers crossed.

[whatever5]

We all value different things when it comes to houses (e.g. I wouldn't care whether it is detached or not and would rather live close to the station, good schools etc). Ultimately you should make a list of what's important to you in order of priority and go for the house which most suits your needs within your budget.

[WholeNewProblem]

I would take a minute to seriously consider this before you buy.

The walk is not a problem. But if your DH needs to get to work and someone is ambling up to take a leisurely dog walk by parking across your drive from 7.30 - 9.00 several mornings a week then you are quickly going to see this as a disadvantage.

Read a few parking threads on here to get a sense of how infuriating all this can be...

[nessus]

New house is an 18min brisk walk to station. And I am looking forward to this being a regular part of my life. Used to walk lots before passing driving test and was very very fit. Less so now I am wedded to my car. It helps that the walk is through beautiful rural aspects!

Funnily enough I chose unique house in less posh village over generic house nearer station in neighbouring posher village.

[Katisha]

Can you not ask the current owners why people park across the drive? Do the current owners not have a car or somethign?

Anyway if that started happening I would :
a. Put notes on windsceen requesting that it not happen again
b. Put up a big sign saying DRIVEWAY IN USE PLEASE DO NOT OBSTRUCT
c. If necessary take reg numbers and report.

[tobiasfunke]

The parking thing will drive you demented. We had a garage and a car parking space at our old house with a dropped kerb. People parked in front of it all the time- despite there being lots of other spaces. They didn't care if there was a car there or not. They just didn't notice. Once you're blocked in that's it you are stuck. Reporting it doesn't mean the person comes back any quicker. You would need to park the car for work on the street at night to make sure you get out. If we were going on holiday or anywhere important we would parkone of the cars on the street to be sure we couldn't get blocked in.

[NotJustACigar]

Good point about not getting significantly wetter,amiciss.

The current owner parks on the pavement outside the house - her car has been there every time she's been home and we've driven by (god I sound like a creepy stalker or something . But she's a teacher and gets home earlier than DH so will have more of a chance to "stake out" her spot.

Next door has a works van and they tend to park very close to but not quite on the dropped kerb outside the house. Then a dog walker (I assume) is often blocking the drive between the works van and the current owners car. I think it will be up to DH to decide whether to park in the drive and risk getting blocked in or on the street/pavement if he can get a space. He thinks the current owner probably doesn't park in the drive as its narrow and she has difficulty getting past the works van but I suspect it might be through fear of getting blocked in. Although perhaps she has told the dog walkers they can block the drive as she doesn't use it.

My weirdly obsessive mind has clearly now decided to focus itself on the parking rather than the walking- apologies for boring you all with this!

[PrimalLass]

A 15-min mile is quite fast, but 18 mins is easily do-able.

[Snog]

if you wear trousers with heels at work and walking shoes on the journey surely your work trousers will be too long for flat shoes and will trail on the ground?

[EduCated]

Snog Just tuck them under, or into boots.

[girlwhowearsglasses]

a Bike or even one of those geeky looking adult scooters - I covet them but can't scoot with three unruly boys.

www.micro-scooters.co.uk/scooters-model-aluminium-adult.html

[BB01]

We did a similar thing, although it's a thirty five min walk, and I didn't have to do it every day. Have not regretted it for one min. It's not as posh as the other areas we looked at but it's next to a posher area which we can easily walk to and buying a detached house is one of the best things we've ever done. Granted, we are super sensitive to noise and like our privacy!

[Bubble80]

A mile is easily doable. Just to give you some reference I do a 1.5 mile walk with two young kids in 30 mins. They are on scooters so I walk quickly as they fly! But that's only 20 min for a mile and it's easy.