House-shopping travails of a single girl in London, part 1

So I took the very first preliminary baby-steps today, and went to view 3 properties in the Marylebone area (two 1-bed, one 2-bed) and choked. Ladies and gentleman, look at me carefully - you see before you the face of a life-long tenant!

For the amount I was expected to cough up, I certainly wasn't getting much! So I wanted Marylebone because of the location, and the estate agent said that the price was very reasonable for the location. Well yeah.. if the location was actually nice! I've discovered that some areas of Marylebone, though nearish the park and the main Marylebone Road, aren't particularly savourable or attractive at all.

And my previous idea of buying an older flat - none of that ultra modern, bright and shiny, spanking new builds for me, I prefer an older flat with in a quaint historical building with character, thought I - has taken quite a beating. There's something to be said for an in-built gym, modern amenities, porterage etc. The places I went to were, if not exactly decrepit, were nonetheless very dated - think narrow, steep steps, in short (at least!), shabby-exteriored buildings on top of commercial shops. Hmm... maybe I should scratch out "character" and put "cosmetics" and "convenience" on the list instead.

Seriously, I'm shocked at just how little money can buy in London! Suddenly, the idea of leaving London seems that much more appealing, and renting seems that much more attractive (even though my landlady is planning on increasing the rent, to what I thought was an exorbitant amount before today)... my rent, even after the increase, is so much lower and affords me a much better space, than what I would get if I bought and paid my mortgage monthly.

Now I understand why so many couples are rushing to buy a house together so soon after they get together (French girl's friend bought a house with her boyfriend-now-turned-fiance after a mere 3 months into the relationship, and Dutch boy's friend bought a house with his girlfriend I think it was about a month (!!) after they got together). I used to think that was foolhardy and reckless. Now I think it was probably just practical and necessary.

So it's back to the drawing board. I'll try the Bayswater area next, on Dutch boy's suggestion. Or maybe even the East. I'm beginning to think that East > West after all..