Nice, modern flat in a posh area or semi detached in a decent area

Legacy_user

Same price, what would you go for?

This will be my first home.

I_have_spoken

Semi, esp. where the stairs are either side of the party wall.

lvm

Semi gets the vote from me too.

But you'll need to think about costs for semi above a flat. You'll probably have outside ground/garden to maintain yourself (as opposed to factors/leases or the like for flats...in my experience anyway!) and energy bills probably higher as no-one downstairs who has heat rising to your property.

ACG

House every time. After living in a pub for 4 years and now buying a house i realise how important a garden is.

BitterAndTwisted

A freehold over a leasehold every time, even if it is in a less-desirable area.

Mobeer

If you want outside space then the semi, otherwise the flat.

bouicca21

How important is the area and its facilities to your life style? How is your lifestyle likely to change in the medium to long term? Presumably there is more space in the semi? How important is that?

Then of course there is the question of running costs and maintenance. What are the provisions for increases in ground rent and buildings/ service charge for the flat? Is the house in good nick or is it likely to need a new roof, gutters, damp course etc in the near future? Does the flat have good storage - lots don't and you really do need somewhere to put the ironing board/vacuum cleaner/mop/ etc

What effect would location have on your commuting costs?

calicocat

I've just had this choice. I went for the semi as decided that if it was going to be forever I wanted my own bit of garden as was sick of being in a flat. A bit of garden I could call home was in the end my priority after looking around for nearly a year.

tanith

I'd go for the semi every time.. you can't be a bit of your own outside space .

curedham

Depending what you want and the area. I would choose the Semi if the area suits.

Similarly earlier this year we had the option of a flat or a terrace. The flat is in a more expensive area and slightly closer to central London, the terrace is less so but still in a very nice location. So we went with the terrace.

Paully232000

I would say it also depends on what your lifestyle is, for instance are you married, with children.

My fist flat when there were just two of us was the same price as our first home give or take a few £K. As we didn't have children at first we chose the flat in the posh area. Then when we were thinking about having children and settling down etc we moved to a semi in a decent area for more space, gardens, quiet road for children to play in, ease of getting pram in and out.