HOUSES, EH? They’re just like buses. You wait for one to come along in the right location and then two come along at once.

And so it is with this pair of imposing homes in South Esplanade, on the river front in York city centre.

Both are beautiful period treasures with a huge amount of style and space, yet presented in very different ways.

We’ll start with Number 3, a simply stunning and delightfully elegant property, stretching splendidly across four floors.

A Grade II Listed Victorian house, it has been completely and wonderfully refurbished, is immaculately presented and offers a number of eye-catching wow factor moments.

These start on the ground floor where there is a gentle flow of spacious entertaining rooms from the well-fitted kitchen into a dining room (with doors opening on to a courtyard) and then a living room with bay window.

On the first floor there is a grand drawing room (again with bay window and looking out over the River Ouse) and a bedroom and bathroom.

The second floor provides two further bedrooms and there is a fourth bedroom with shower room on the top floor.

“This is a house which combines attractive original details with contemporary influences,” as the marketing agents Savills, quite correctly conclude.

A superb home, offered at a guide price of £590,000.

And now, let’s visit the neighbours at Number 1…

This is a house, say Savills, which “would lend itself to a degree of modernisation” and a potential purchaser would “be able to modify to suit their preferences”.

Phooey… I have to say that when it comes to his house I love it just the way it is…

It’s a brilliant bright bundle of sunny rooms, set out to make the most of its location and south-facing views across the river (it helps that the photographs seem to have been taken on a particularly sunny day).

Highlights include polished wood flooring, high ceilings, deep windows, decorative coving and architraves, period fireplaces and occasional exposed brick features.

And on the first floor you get the feeling of being right in the heart of the city as the present owners have set out a double reception room across the whole floor in order to make the most of views over the river and towards Clifford’s Tower.

But, let us leave the waxing lyrical and, more prosaically, give you the run down on the house layout.

On the ground floor there is a kitchen and dining room (facing front) and a drawing room with doors to a courtyard to the back.

That first floor double drawing room layout comes next before we step upstairs to find a master bedroom with en-suite and second bedroom and bathroom – and then a further bedroom and shower room on the top floor.

Love it, love it, love it… now I just need to find the £495,000 asking price!

In both instances , for Number 1 and Number 3 South Esplanade, interested parties should contact marketing agents Savills; phone 01904 617820.