Given Op’s budget and need for a family home, she probably won’t be looking at a period home in other parts of Reigate. Those houses on Rightmove or are presumably roughly 50s built. Clearly they are all occupied by people living in them. Parts of Reigate have also seen new builds too and there are lots of 30s houses in Woodhatch/SouthPark.
Lots of peopled o move to Reigate from parts if south London when they have kids and sell their flats or small houses and have big budgets for period family homes in Reigate. But people are also moving to Reigate from other areas too and they don’t all have big budgets and buy in the spots they can afford and give them the homes they need. They are also moving more locally from within Reigate or other nearby towns such as Redhill or Caterham or Horley.
I thought both those houses looked decent size houses and the second in particular looked as if had been done up fairly recently and could work well for a family. I’m not so familiar with their exact locations, so you’d have to come and drive round and walk round the area to get a feel of them. They could be a really good option - both looked like they had good space.
For that budget, you could get a smaller house in a non-estate location. It’s just personal choice isn’t it...estates can vary, and although they might not so naice as some areas, often have good community feels and are almost all privately owned now anyway. You’d have to come and do the research. You will get bigger size and as people have said you’d have access to good primary and secondary schools from there.
If you wanted a period property (many people aren’t interested in them but prefer modern) you’d get a terrace or semi in Earlswood for your budget. That is near its own station too, if you need that. On the Watercolor or Park 25 new build estates built about 15 years ago near Redhill, you’d get a 3 bed house for that budget with en-suite etc. Those were built as private housing.
It’s personal preference and budget at the end of the day. Lots moving to Reigate will spend more and won’t want to live on an estate. But clearly lots do perfectly happily and the houses on them can be roomy and suit families and importantly be in budget as not everyone is looking at paying £700k+ for a Victorian semi closer to the middle of town.
Hope you work out if they are for you and the area suits you Op.