Its a "which house would you choose" one

[IWillAlwaysBeinaClubWithYouin1973]

Both 3 bedrooms, both shared ownership (so leasehold). Don't want to discuss pros and cons of shared ownership, this is my only option. I have to be out of my rental mid June. When reading bear in mind I have a dog too.

House A - mid-terraced town house with a sort of "suite" style bedroom/bathroom taking entire top floor. Separate lounge at front of house then kitchen diner opening onto garden. Attractive estate mostly finished, looking out over river, house is on a sort of promenade, wide streets. Parking is in a garage in the next road. Estate fees are currently £50 a month so a bit worried they are just going to keep going up, existing residents Facebook page is full of complaints about fees and parking. Nice landscaping but noticed a lot of litter. Nearest towns are not great, quite deprived areas but still have all the amenities. Available to move in to now, I've viewed it twice. It's £10k less than the next house below. Slightly closer to station too.

My main concerns about House A are that I've never lived in a terraced house so very worried about noise and I thought it was always preferable to get a detached if you have a choice, and the fees - seems like a risk taking on estate management fees as they have less scrutiny/legislation than service charges.

House B - detached. Costs £10k more. "feels" much smaller from floorplan, its all open plan downstairs - small "galley" kitchen area at front of house, into lounge/diner (including stairs) then opens onto garden at back. Parking on drive. Estate is highly regarded but has been going on for years and there's still no green spaces or walks been built. You look out onto houses back and front. I was thinking it would have great re-sale value so I was very keen to get it, but now I've seen the outside is really ugly. Service charges (no estate fees) are lower as the area is managed by the housing association (around £25). Might not be ready till June/July and we are not allowed to view inside before we purchase, so a bit hairy. Near a massive shopping centre which I love.

My concerns about House B are that it seems cramped, we can't view inside and its a bit "meh" outside, no green spaces built yet (supposed to be massive parks but in 5 years nothing has been done), and it might not be ready in time.

If you had to choose one of these, what would you do? Also does it read as if I've already made mind up?

Neither sounds ideal, but if you’re out of time and these are the only options, I’d go for 1 because it’s a better house and a nicer estate. I’m not too keen on the parking situation but you don’t seem overly concerned.

The estate fees sound a bit high though. Is that for ground rent? Can you check the lease document? Our house is leasehold but there’s a clause in the document that says ground rent can only go up 10% every 10 years.

I just wanted to add - our previous house was an end terrace built by a developer. We couldn’t hear our neighbours at all and they said they couldn’t hear our very loud puppy when we apologised about the noise.

I’d have to choose House A because I don’t see how you could ever choose a house you’re not allowed into!

I don't think she is not allowed into it, i think it is a new build that is not ready to be viewed internally yet.

OP of you don't think house B will be ready in time then it seems that house A is your best option.

@loropianalover I thought you meant you'd prefer not to take a new build that you can't look round first, or were you joking? (!)

B. Detached and parking. River , parking + fees would put me off A.

Go on the government site to check the flood risk for house A. I’d be put off by the higher charges which could change unpredictability, but it depends how tight your budget is. You could try and find houses of the same design on a different development and try to get a look inside .

Are there no other options? Neither sounds ideal. If I had no other choices I’d pick A. I’ve never had a bad experience with noise in either terraced houses or flats, and I’d much rather live somewhere established, and with an attractive outlook than somewhere cramped inside and on a building site - and particularly one managed by a housing association, who can be glacial when it comes to developments.

Thanks just answering points as they come in - I prefer to be by the river and there's no flood risk on this site (but fair point).

I'd go for A as it sounds like a much nicer environment inside and out. I live in a terraced house and hardly ever hear my neighbours.

B because I’d choose detach over a mid terrace every time.

I'm doing an exercise called "least worst" option, it's a technique where you have little time to decide and all options have problems. So yes, option C would be to not get a house and go into another rental.

Neither is ideal but I would go for property a - sounds like you could walk the dog nearby. But definitely check the leasehold agreement for management fees and how far they can go up.

Of those two, B for detached and parking.

There is no cap at all. You see my dilemma!

This is much more helpful than I'd hoped thank you everyone so far.

Another bonus to a terrace is that the houses either side help to keep the heat in. I can tell when my neighbours have their heating on because my house is warmer!

My friend's detached homes are much harder to keep warm (am aware other variables like insulation and position affect this).

One is aware that the neighbours are just the other side of the wall away, though, but that's usually me being paranoid trying to keep my teenage ds's noise down.

It depends how important noise and parking is to you.

Terraced house would be a nightmare if it's poor insulation and you can hear everything either side.

Parking a street away would be awkward if you have lots of shopping.

I'd go for the second one as parking is going to be a better resale option in my opinion.

House B definitely - detached, better parking and estate fees. If you google the builder and the house type you may find a home tour on YouTube

Are you able to post the floorplans?

B. Once in a detached, you never look back (especially with a dog).

Has the builder of House B finished any developments where you could look at the house type?
House types on new build estates usually have names. For my house type there were loads of people on instagram posting how they had styled there new builds which gave me lots of ideas when we moved in. They had tagged the builder or # the house type.
Having lived in a semi detached for 11 years very happily then having horror neighbours moving in next door (resulting in us moving to a detached). I would never be attached to a neighbour (let alone two) ever again.
You can never know who you will be attached to, if external noise bothers you, even slightly chose the detached.

Are you noise sensitive? I have always lived in flats and now in a terrace and it really doesn't bother me. House A being near a river would bother me, there is always a risk of flood, even if it is small. That and uncapped service charge rises would push me towards property 2, even though 1 sounds nicer.

A sounds nicer, but more problematic.

I'd go for B.

B. I'd love a driveway. The fact that others argue about parking for A is a real worry.

And midterrace even if the neighbours are quiet you'd worry if they can hear you all the time.

My house is overlooked and this does make you feel cramped. I don't like it, but have got used to it.

I'd go with B. I really valued having a drive way when I lived in a house and I wouldn't have wanted my car in a garage on another street. Also, is your dog quiet or does it bark when the doorbell rings or you leave it alone? If so, definitely go for the detached or you will have endless complaints. Primarily though, I'd choose B for the location. It sounds like it's a much better area and once the park and walk ways are built it could be a lovely area. Maybe check with the developer when/that this will happen.