Property choice dilemma - wise advice needed!

[Time4Tiffin]

I'm seeking advice from the savvy property buyers out there. This is my first purchase (at an advanced age). Choice is between village, small town or country. I am finding it hard to make a decision. I don't have much to tie me anywhere (living alone) and living under lockdown has skewed my perspective on what is sensible...

OPTION VILLAGE - ex-housing association, 2 up 2 down, modern, garden front and back, parking, nice neighbourhood, nice neighbours, friendly village, no pub or shop (except farm shop). 1-2 miles to nearest town/rail station. 2/3 bed (1 double, 1 medium. 1 boxroom), v small bathroom. Compact village not chocolate boxy, but generally pleasant mix of private/social housing. Rear garden ok size but north west facing, so pretty damp and seems to get very little sun. New kitchen. Rests needs minor cosmetic work. Cheapest. 1 hour drive to work. 196k

OPTION TOWN - 1870s end terrace with living (wood burner), sun room, kitchen diner, utility, large bathroom, 2 bedrooms (1 double, 2 boxroom). Town has nothing really bad about it, but nothing really good either (unless Waitrose counts). Locally it's a bit sneered at, maybe because it's non-descript? Mixed street, Victorians, modern, some pretty, some not. Bad points are neighbour has right of way across back garden (current neighbour uses rarely) and 5 affordable housing units are about to be built in small gap opposite, by relatively tasteful developer. Rear garden long and south facing, very sunny with small cabin at end with electric and plumbing (random!) Doesn't need anything doing. Small drive at side, but would block right of way - have not seen it in use. Rail station and shops in walking distance. 1 hour drive to work. 215k I think this is least likely to increase

OPTION 3 - COUNTRY Itechnically a village, but is strung out, so no real centre or community feel. 5 miles to nearest proper shop, 1 mile to farm shop (and oddly, patisserie and yoga). Biggest house, largest garden - faces north, but there is large space to side of house so 2 thirds of rear garden gets sun from front. 1 and half miles to rail station. Heating and decor needs updating throughout, but nothing shocking. Has conservatory (upvc). 3 decent sized bedrooms, kitchen, living room. Has best potential (I think - but what do i know?) of increasing in value with some improvements. Drive, front garden and ample parking. Closest to work 40 mins. Most expensive 220k.

Help please...

Town for me. Village with no shop or pub and driving to train may well just be a collection of houses in one place (unless there is a thriving group you know you could join). Country sounds similar. Town has the benefits of walking to stuff, opportunities to socialise/activities/hobbies. Need to investigate that right of way thing though.

No one can really decide for you, as you are in RL and can get the ‘feel’ for each house.

I’d go with option 1. Near the station. North West gardens, just need the right planting and presumably it get some afternoon sun. ( I have a N facing garden, it has flowers al, year round) It’s cheap enough to allow some improvements, such as the wood burning stove.

Option 2 - I wouldn’t like the right of way by neighbour, it means you can’t extend. 1870s houses do need a certain amount of upkeep.

Option 3 sounds quite remote. It depends whether you want a community feel or not.

Is there an option to wait for something better to come onto the market? Otherwise, town.

Country.

I wouldn't want two because of the right of way. A

Probably three as there is a big difference between 40 minutes to,work and an hour. You are going to work more than you are going to the shops.

Op,

I would consider, what would happen if you can no longer drive ?

What you want your lifestyle to be, rural, peaceful and don't mind isolation, driving to everything...v walking to shops, more noise and people?
How will your week look, what will your work days be like?
What will your weekends be like?

What makes you feel happy, neighbours to chat too? or seeing fields all around?
Which is more important having an undisturbed garden or don't mind neighbours (possible noisy children?)
Is this a forever move?
Do you want to do work to make it yours or are you too busy, not interested?
Put aside the houses for a bit, and really think about how you want to live and what is most important to your quality of life...
Good luck.

What do you want from a location?
Ie do you want to be in walking distance to a shop / pub?
Both would be a priority for me.
So I’d discount Village and country.
I’m not keen on the right of way for Town option.
So I’d wait tbh.

Look @Dragongirl10’s post. She makes some really good points. Worth assessing what it really is you want / need from your house / location.

What kind of location do you live in to the moment? Have you ever lived remotely?

Town (or better, city), but that house does not sound good and the right of way would be a deal breaker for me.
The other two sounds like not much opportunity to meet people.

How old are you? (You said advanced age). Are you likely to be grateful having shops, doctors and facilities within an easy walk/taxi ride in the future? If so town - but I would want to see plans for the units and think how that will impact local parking.

Out of the houses I would say 3, decent bedrooms and sun in the garden. However, 1 May get some sun depending on the surroundings and size of garden.

I wouldn’t want 2 because of the right of way and second bedroom being a box room. Add in less desirable location and I imagine it would be difficult to sell.

Location wise though it’s entirely up to you what you prefer.

If you live alone, I think 3 could get quite lonely.

2 sounds good but I would be very put off by the right of way - are there any other suitable properties in that or a neighbouring town?

1 sounds good apart from the garden.

In all honesty, I would keep looking.

They all seem quite far from your work. Where do you work and what are the surrounding areas there like?

You write most warmly about 3 - is that what your gut is telling you is right?

Really hard to advise without knowing what sort of person you are, and what you want.
If literally only those 3 choices and someone held a gun to my head I'd go 2 & town, because I value the option to be able to pop out and get a pint of milk with minimal hassle.
Also, it's really easy to discount the downside of a North facing garden when viewing properties in winter - but for me nothing beats a cool glass of something in the warm evening sun in the garden in summertime, so I'd be discounting 1 & 3 on this basis unless they really had major plus points elsewhere.

I would choose the one with the sunniest location/garden

Thanks so much. You are all wise (that's why I came here). I am 51 (I do not care at present about being close to doctors etc). I have predominantly been a small town girl (I have lived in cities for spells and moved around the world - but have settled in small towns for the longest periods). I feel safe in town. My friends live away from where i now work, so that accounts for the distance. i love the small town i rent in now, but cannot afford to buy there. I cannot wait. as i have managed to get a mortgage based on the TOWN option, and while i can switch properties if the price is similar, i do not want to wait too long and risk losing this mortgage, as the market has changed and I genuinely may not get another!) but I too have reservations over the right of way. My current rental is ve expensive and I have stayed here longer than intended. Interesting @NikeDeLaSwoosh that you say i write most warmly about 3. It is my favourite at the moment because of size of rooms and garden. I do love the sunny garden of the town house but the RoW gives me the fear, as does the new development opposite. And the slightly sneery way my friends speak about the town. The country option is nearer ageing mother and semi-retired horse...

@yourestandingonmyneck I wouldn't want to live near my work, it's pretty awful - the closest i would contemplate is at least 10 miles away

@Trut @Cavagirl totally with you on the sun points, which kinda makes me think i have to rule out the village option, though as everypne keeps telling me, it is a LOVELY VILLAGE with LOVELY PEOPLE...

I think my biggest 'thing'/fear is not wanting to make a mistake/buy something i cannot easily sell as i would probably look to move in 4 or 5 years. Being stuck is my worst nightmare. And i have noticed a couple of properties in the TOWN option in the same price bracket which have taken a year or more to sell (or just don't sell) though of course that could be for other reasons. I would also like a house it would be easy to rent out if I have to move in with my mother (probably more town and village??) And town and country have downstairs bathrooms, which she could use when visiting.Village doesnt.

I’d keep looking if I were you.

Are you looking for a ‘forever’ home or just somewhere to live for the next five or ten years?

I must admit, I like option 3. Option 2 sounds like it’ll be messy and noisy with the building going on next to you. The access is an issue to.

Reading your updates go for 3 then. It seems to be the one you like best. (Garden and light in the home make a massive difference for me).

It the biggest decision (financially) you will ever make which is why its scary....but just do it....

@Beebumble2 The TOWN house couldnt really be extended anyway, and i wouldn't really want to - though i would look to upgrade that cabin at end of garden into guest accom/extra living space. It is a cute house. I have beeb back at various times of day. There are trees on neighbours side to left, so it really gets little sun. Theres not much planted now and the lawn is mossy. I appreciate what you say about planting being possible (and even interesting) with some thought. But I would like to bask a little myself . I like the 'feel' of all of them in a way - that's the problem!

[quote Time4Tiffin]@Beebumble2 The TOWN house couldnt really be extended anyway, and i wouldn't really want to - though i would look to upgrade that cabin at end of garden into guest accom/extra living space. It is a cute house. I have beeb back at various times of day. There are trees on neighbours side to left, so it really gets little sun. Theres not much planted now and the lawn is mossy. I appreciate what you say about planting being possible (and even interesting) with some thought. But I would like to bask a little myself . I like the 'feel' of all of them in a way - that's the problem! [/quote]
@Beebumble2 The TOWN house couldnt really be extended anyway, and i wouldn't really want to - though i would look to upgrade that cabin at end of garden into guest accom/extra living space. It is a cute house. I have beeb back at various times of day. There are trees on neighbours side to left, so it really gets little sun. Theres not much planted now and the lawn is mossy. I appreciate what you say about planting being possible (and even interesting) with some thought. But I would like to bask a little myself . I like the 'feel' of all of them in a way - that's the problem!
Sorry - the reference about trees on left is re the VILLAGE - the TOWN one just has sun, and no shade, except a couple of nice small trees

I must admit I would go Village as the quality of life seems best- but I may be biased as I live in a village with only the Farm shop, although we have a pub (just!). Suprising how many small businesses deliver- paper shop, farm selling their own meat, and a fish shop from nearest town.
I have a North facing garden and with careful planting it has colour all year round.
If there is a Village Hall , there is often plenty going on - and an outreach post office! Is there a bus service?
Country would be runner up.