Looking for a decent crib

I took a couple of hours off from work to go crib hunting in the Oxford area. A collegue of mine recommended Jericho, in central Oxford - an upwardly mobile, bohimien neigbourhood. So i searched for properties on daily info. I stumbled upon a studio apartment on Juxon street going for about £610 pcm and then arranged a viewing. When I got there....man this place was a shit hole...smelling, small, old worn out furniture....GUSH.
I decided to do some freelance crib hunting and got to finders keepers in Central Oxford. They asked me for my budget and being the dude that I am said I had a grand to spare (lol) for my monthly rent. This got them on their feet and a viewing of 2 properties was immediately arranged. Here's how it went:

PROPERTY ONE
This was in Central Oxford off the London Brewery at St. Thomas Street. This was a spankingly new, luxury studio apartment with video entry security, elevator, floor heating, new leather sofa, new wall to wall carpeting, steel finish kitchen fittings, marble finish bathroom and a balcony with a view over looking a canal.

The price for this luxury?
£850pcm (way off my budget) meaning that when council tax, water and electrcity bills are paid total monthly spend on the apartment will be between £1100 and £1200.

PROPERTY TWO
Was a two bedroom Victorian house in the Osney Mead Island Village....saw my local pub (if I were to move in) and the local community that happened to by the banks of River Thames.
This two bed duplex was a disaster. The bathroom was downstairs! It had a run down fireplace, ugliest furniture I had ever laid my eyes on....and the asking price? An outrageous £800!


Crib hunting is more difficult than I previously thought....my search continues.