After many months looking on the market, how the housing stock varied within our neighborhood and recognized what was possible. For instance, if we wanted to be near the park and near public transport, within the catchment of our preferred school and be near the high street, there were literally only a handful of streets that ticked all those boxes. The vast majority of the houses on those streets have very small gardens so we decided that was something we could live with if something we wanted came up there.
For us, deal breakers were being outside the catchment of any primary school, being more than 10-12 min walk for the station, the house had to be period, on a quiet road and it also had to be suitable for extension we wanted to do a loft and side return extension.
The nice to haves were a south or west facing garden, a large garden, off street parking, double bay windows, and a place needing work (for us that was a plus as it meant we wouldnt be paying a premium for a kitchen wed just rip out for the extension work and would allow us to put our own stamp).
We ended up buying in one of our preferred roads, but had to settle for a tiny garden. Off our nice to have list we got a South facing garden and the place was a bargain as it needed work.
Also, when we walked in, even though the house was smaller than we were originally hoping for , we both really liked the feel of it huge windows, high ceilings, relatively wide rooms etc.
I think you have to spend some time seeing whats out there to be really confident when you decide to buy. We really do know our area well and knew nothing better for that price would come up and bid over asking to secure it.