Snooping around: Rural, urban and renovation

In town: Plymouth. This three-bed flat is practically paddling in the creek, with views across the water and residents sharing a private slipway. The city centre and ferry port are a walk away. It’s just a shame it’s on the ground floor, so your vistas may be framed by car roofs. Cost: £295,950.
Bradleys, 01752 251251 Photograph: Bradleys

In the country: Essex. The quaint village of Dedham is Constable country, and this spacious 17th-century cottage is in the midst of a watery landscape. It has three bedrooms (although the master bedroom is downstairs), a sitting room, a dining room, a summerhouse and office, a garden store and a greenhouse. Yours for £395,000.
Jackson-Stops & Staff, 01473 218218 Photograph: Jackson-Stops & Staff

Wreck of the week: County Durham. Fireplaces are the only heat source in this two-bed listed cottage in Frosterley. The roof needs fixing and the wiring replacing – £50,000 upwards should do it, but that’s on top of the £79,950 price tag. The views from the living room window seat are to the dales, and it retains quaint character features. Its location offers an easy commute. There is no garden.
George F White, 01388 527966 Photograph: George F White

Dream home: France. This Norman chateau, near the French polo centre of Deauville, is straight out of a Jilly Cooper book. The house itself is perfect for entertaining with nine bedrooms and three receptions, but the main attraction will be the racing track, polo yard, paddocks and 30 loose boxes outside. It also has a swimming pool, tennis court and helipad for quick getaways. On the market for €4.8m.
Knight Frank, 020 7629 8171
Photograph: Knight Frank

Dream home: USA. This 128-acre ranch in Idaho is located in the Sawtooth national recreation area, and has been home to the Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Carole King for the past 29 years. It consists of a painstakingly restored five-bed lodge, a caretaker’s house, eight log cabins, a hot water pool complex and a free standing professional recording studio. There is also a two-bed cabin perched on a buff above Warm Springs Creek. But of course it’s not cheap: it’s on the market for $16m.
Hall & Hall Photograph: Hall & Hall