Advice for first time buyers

[Modernstoneage]

Hello, posting on here for more traffic.
Currently saving for a deposit, should be on track to buy within 1-2 years. Relatively flexible on where I want to live (buying alone), currently live with parents.
I want a house, not a flat.

Interested in Berkshire, bucks, Bedfordshire, (would love South Hertfordshire if I could afford it, have ruled out north/west London as its too pricey for me). 2 bed, off street parking and garden are my main wants. Not fussed about being super close to the train station. Looking at up to 260k price band. I don't have kids, and I'm single so plans to start family etc are nowhere near 😂

So here are my questions:

1)What are some towns within those areas that reasonably priced?
2)What are somethings you wish you knew as a first time buyer?
3)Are there specific things you wish you knew as a woman during the buying process?
4)How did you prepare mentally about living alone? - I currently live with family and my younger siblings are still at home.

TIA

I should think with your budget you should manage a small house in Reading, Aylesbury or Milton Keynes. Possibly High Wycombe at a stretch if you'd consider maisonettes or could up the budget by 20k or so.

Reading is much nicer than it was years ago. Good links and a buzzing town centre. I don't know it very very well but we almost moved to Caversham a couple of years ago so did lots of looking around.

I don't know Aylesbury or MK well but it's popular affordable accommodation.

We had even someone just chilling on a bed during viewing. Really made us miss some bits since there was always someone behind us.
The owner of ours was in the bath when we came to view! It’s not like it was a surprise. “Oh, I won’t be long.”

Sniff for damp, it has a distinctive smell. Count how many sockets per room and look out for trailing extension cables: sign there may not be enough sockets. Stomp on the floors looking for rot/weakness (can you tell I’ve only bought shitholes). Watch for peeling wallpaper. Stand outside on the other side of the road and try to get a look at fascias, gutters, chimneys, general look of the place.