If you were to pick only one house...

Cpt_Teemo

Imo if your looking to buy one of the 3 faction manors I started with DC cause its like an inbetween EP / AD, good outside but not as big as AD, but also big inside like EP.

Also I think EP has the best fountain position as well, this is what I did with mine, except this is a semi old pic replaced the orc statues wit the cowering ones from coldharbor looked better imo.

karrie7

Get Sleek creek xD

Invincible

I'd have to say the chateau. I like the ash and mist and ambiance and as far as a I know it's the only House available without a normal daylight cycle due to the ash. I find the brightness of the day cycles in this game to be complete eye cancer.

Latonia

Sleek Creek for me. Love that it has part of the nearby river flowing through the garden although it's a shame I can't fish in it. I find the interiors of buildings claustrophobic because of being unable to see out of the windows and SC has a large outside platform on which I can sit, whilst puffing on my skoomer bubbler

Tan9oSuccka

Autumns Gate. Nord, cozy and away from everything.

Badwire

Wow I could not believe that through all those post it wasn't until that far down the list that Old Mist Veil Manner hit the list. For me this was my 1st house and I think one of the best choices in the game it is fairly priced and can be furnishrd in a great number of ways. One of my favorite things is that it offers a complete compound that is walled off but yet still has a lovely view of the surrounding area. The combination of this walled off compound fairly good sized Courtyard and Outbuilding which makes an excellent crafting station area is a great mix of features. Its close proximity to riften which has all of the conveniences you could need for crafting, gaming, and banking needs. Riften also has plenty of containers and buildings to search during a stealing run which can net you 3 to $4000 in about a 20 minute run. Admittedly it would be nice if the Guild traders in that area were more popular or if there were a few more of them but the centrally located crafting stations and the outlaw refuse close-at-hand in addition to great fishing, fighters Guild, mages Guild and taverns make Old Mist Veil Manner a great choice for the price, convenience and options.