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?

It would be A, so yet another problem. Sorry I'm not replying to much, having attempted to post the floor plans last night I am still having tech problems with MN!

Aha, I can now type a message. What I was seeing was the "message" box (I'm on a laptop) with the floor plans superimposed over it and unable to type unless I replied by means of "quote". Anyway, @abracadabra1980 I am exactly like you! I think the same, so it's affecting my objectivity here. @RosesAndHellebores I didn't want to post an overwhelming amount of information but I agree, if people wanted more info, there is a lot.

I split with ex-h after 35 years, once our house was sold there wasn't enough equity for me to get a mortgage as I am in my 60s. So shared ownership is an option to have a nice house for a few years at least - obviously it's like long term renting, but on my salary I could only afford to rent a 1 bed flat. Whereas with this option I can basically get a fairly large 3 bed house. one DD in 20s is disabled (nothing that would mean a problem with stairs) and still lives with me, another DD is living alone in flat and not sure if she can continue to afford it, so 3 beds ideal. In my area, shared ownership is either granted due to "local connection" or given after a rush to the first post situation. I've managed to score on both counts, I've sort of made it my hobby!! But I can't pick and choose, and I can't wait another 6 months to see if anything else comes up.

@NewmummyJ - what's an escalating lease? I'm buying my "share" cash, and will simply pay rent on the part I didn't buy, for as long as I want to or can afford to. I will sell my share when I retire, maybe 5 years or so. House B, they sell like hot cakes. House A, that's the first type of those houses built in that area, so its a complete unknown.

Trying to see any other questions - yes both have enclosed gardens. There's no show house for B, its the type of estate where there are maybe 20 different styles of houses (full price) that can be chosen from, and they only have show house type XYZ to indicate the finish, nothing else. I have googled the name of the house over and over, the builders etc., nothing coming up. Just floor plans and external photos. V. frustrating.

Detached every time but I'm biased because I live next door to noisy bastards.

I don't think I would ever choose a mid terraced house over a detached house. And overall, option B sounds like a better idea.

Don't know if that helps.

Definitely definitely B, I had a mid terrace new build once and could hear everything, toilet habits included…

You could try posting on New Build Homes U.K group on Facebook (you can post anonymously) and ask for people of that house type to post pics of the inside. Very useful group.

Given the way climate change is going, I would definitely not buy a house near a river.

If you are selling it in 5 years you need to also factor in that new builds very rarely go up in value in the first years and after 5 years it will be in that annoying bracket of being new-ish but not brand new/not yet lived in so people will not want to pay a premium for them. It's a tricky one as I agree it's far better than renting a 1 bedroom, but you need to see if you can actually afford to sell at a loss when you retire too.

I would go for house B as detached and nice area, driveway etc make it more sellable than a mid terrace

B
Detached, not a town house, less stairs, has parking.

B without a shadow of doubt. Detached, parking etc. New build so everything fresh and guaranteed. No chain. I don’t like the sound of the area for A. I’m older and have an open plan new build. It’s fabulous. EV charging is a bonus. Gas and electricity costs me £75 a month as it’s so well insulated. Green areas to come in the future here too, but it’s not a problem to wait. DD bought a shared ownership and didn’t get in to see it until the last minute before moving in. It wasn’t really a problem.

B because you wanted a choice. But really I’d wait and see what else came up

House B.

After neighbours from hell in our last semi detached house (they moved in a year after us) I would never buy an attached property if I had any option not to.

Reader, I chose house B.

Even though I went back for a third time to see house A and still loved it, I knew I was kidding myself with the parking in the next road, 2 adjoining neighbours etc., it could go badly wrong. I'll just try to make the best of house B and think of you all every time I park on my own drive!

I think you have made the right choice OP. Wishing you lots of happiness in your new home!

I think you’ve made the right choice, a 3 storey town house with the master suite on the top floor is definitely not great for someone in their 60s. I cleaned at my daughters 3 storey house in my late 50s and it was a right pain.

The other thing to say is that you live inside the house not outside and with nice furnishings and decor it will be ‘home’

fingers crossed all goes smoothly
good luck