3/4 bed Town house vs period house

[itdc]

want to know people's view on buying a 1960-1990 style three story town house versus a 1900-1930 two story period house. In my area (North London), in general period house appears to be 15-20% more expensive than town house but with 20% less space. For example a 1000 sqft 3 bed period terrace will cost around 750k whereas a 1300 sqft 3 bed terrace town house will cost around 650k (normally come with a in house garage which you can convert to some extra space easily) . Apart from the look (I would say 1960 town house are some what ugly), what is the cons to own a town house vs a period house?

Thx

Well I've only ever owned a 1960s house though I have lived in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian properties.

Cons: lower ceilings, don't appreciate as much as Victorian properties, often look ugly on outside.

Pros: massive windows, loads of light, warm (if double glazing) and generally decent size rooms.

Townhouses built after the 1970s oil crisis generally have much smaller windows.

Totally agree with the previous poster. I owned 2 bed Victorian house then sold and have bought a 1960s town house, albeit over 2 storeys. It depends what you want. My town house is ugly, flat roof, no kerb appeal it will likely appreciate slowlier than a period house, but it is in a better area and excellent schools. The house is warm and dry and first in years I am happy that it needs nothing doing to it as opposed to a never ending list in my previous house. But I do miss the charm and will reconsider if I want to move after school decisions are out of our way.

I like 60s houses.

Usually the modern houses are smaller than period where I live. For that alone I would prefer period.

Difference is a lot of money for aesthetics. I would buy more space for less money as I think the differential is crazy.

I'd choose the period two storey, solely because I HATE these storey living. Did it once for a year, never again.

Id be worried a 1990 house may have thinner walls and if a terrace or semi then more neighbour noise.

I prefer the period property but if my circumstances dictated i.e. budget or family size I would buy the town house, favouring 60/70s over more recent. I think the build quality will probably but not definitely be better. That vintage go against our immediate sensibilities but have big rooms, lots of light, more generous plots etc. There loads of interiors information available and furniture from that period is excellent quality so you can have fun searching on eBay etc, playing to the period.

thanks for the replies. Looks like the cost of aesthetics and kerb appeal is very high.

Lifestyle and how you use your rooms is important to consider. In a Townhouse the living room is often on the first floor and It may give better views if you have them, but then if you want to be popping in and out to the garden may be awkward. If you have a teenage child or visiting family and it had a ground floor 'suite' it may be perfect, if young children may be a nightmare with you on the top floor.

PettsWoodParadise has it right. It is how you use it. It is great with older kids but not so easy with young ones.

More space for the money - and I love the big windows and mid-century feel BUT no lovely cornices and fireplaces. Often considered ugly - but I quite like them. It is the three-storey split that is the key thing to consider.

Previously owned a small 3 bed Victorian property with lots of lovely features, we now live in a functional new build which is twice the size yet costs the same to heat, always warmer and much easier to clean. From a practical perspective the newer property wins!!!!

I hated living in a town house - the ground floor is a waste of space and you're always dragging stuff upstairs plus no easy access to garden.

It really depends on the layout of the ground floor as there's a lot of variety out there. We've got two decent sized rooms on our ground floor as the garage has been converted. I've seen loads of townhouses where the main room is a very small bedroom which wouldn't suit us.

Id only go for the Townhouse if the ground floor was kitchen/diner with enough room for a sofa, and a loo. Enough space to spend most of the day down there and keep the 1st floor lounge for evenings.

Sadly most of the three storeys around here have their ground floor taken up with a garage and a spare bedroom.