I've tried operating from other houses but I always come back to Whiterun.
The main drawback is, as said by the OP, the absence of an enchanting altar, but I've installed a mod which puts one next to the alchemy table.

You can get a house in Whiterun by doing the Civil War for Imperials as well. Pretty sure Hjerim becomes available either way too.

Vindrell Hall is my favorite. The location on the main map may not ideal, but the house meets all your needs and you have a fence walking down the street.

I knew about Hjerim, although I've only done the civil war for the Stormcloaks - just forgot about it. I wasn't aware about Breezehome. But bear in mind that you can't progess the CW quests unless you've passed a certain point in the MQ anyway, so that point is kinda moot. But like in Morrowind, I would imagine that most characters I play will not get involved in the MQ. Or at least no further than clearing out the first barrow. I usually stall the MQ by not handing over the Dragonstone. Which would leave me unable to get either of those houses.

Whiterun-Breezehome, it's easy to get and the only house with an alchemy satchel to store unlimited potions and herbs right on the table

Riften-Honeyside, it's a honey of a home with good space and is really kinda pretty. I love being on the water and at least the town is diverse and has nowhere to go but up.

Solitude-Proudspire Manor, expensive and extensive so it balances itself... not anywhere near the best digs for the price, though. I have to store my stuff in barrels around the basemant for crafting and drop by old mines or Whiterun to smelt my ore on my way home.

Markarth-Vilendril Hall (i've never owned this one so I'm not sure what to think... I know some scary stuff about the neighbors/"vendors" nearby and well... yeah. that and the local issues with foresworn put me off even bothering)

Windhelm-Hjerim - hands down the best house in the game and because of where it is, well... last on the list under a house I've never owned. I love this house and I do own it on two characters. it's glitched BADLY on one character so less enjoyable even still... and on the other character it's perfect, unglitched, wonderful storage and... she's not Nord so I can't tell myself she's really happy living there... even though as a gamer I love love love the house.

You can take torches and drop them around the place. I put mine on the tables and they've never moved and stay lit permanently. You can see one between Ursana and Cosnach in the background of this pic

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6615750849_81325f5261.jpg

I've only owned Breezehome, Vlindrell Hall and Hjerim up to now and Vlindrell hall is the best. Storage is right next to your crafting sations, and there's enought to separate your apparel how you want. Hjerim is the worst - one wardrobe outside the crafting room!?! Pfft.

Julienne,Markarth has a satchel on a stool near the alchemy table.

Not true on the downstairs containers.
There is the servant bedroom right next to the alchemy station with three storage units.
I use the one right next to the door to store my alchemy ingredients and the clothing dresser to store all of the items I might be interested in enchanting.
The little end table I use to store the potions that I have concocted but don't want to carry around.

Also, the two manequins in the room with the enchanting table can be used to store lots of armor and clothing. You can load them up with more than just one outfit even thought they visually look mismatched rather than a nice pretty display set of armor.

I really wish every potion making station would have two of the apothecary bags attached to the side like I saw in one of the forswarn camps.

So far as rating them I much prefer Riften to any of the other locations.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it an 8 because the blacksmith just a couple of buildings over doesn't have a smelter to change ore to ingots. The Riften location on the fast travel map is way off in one corner which is a bit annoying when you are trying to scroll around on the map to set your travel location.

The house in Riften gets a 6 because it doesn't have an enchanting station but is located real close to the city gates and the city is centrally located on the fast travel map.

The rest are a 1 or 2 because they are inconveniently located and waste a lot of your playing time running between the nearest fast travel location and the house. Also, in the bigger houses it can be tough to locate your wife when you come home. Too much space for her to wonder around in.

Remember, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

That's exactly what I do with my housecarls room in Riften.I love that house.

I'm sure they remember the old rule about never eating food that they've been introduced to...

Anyone else had the problem of the manequins in Riften going walkabout? I've got home a couple of times to find them in the middle of the room - made me jump the first time. You have to take the armour off them, then put it bak, whereupon they zap back to their start position.

Moving manequins is a well known glitch.
I like it because it makes me wonder if they might have some sort of life of their own and become manequins when I appear, sort of like Toy Story.

1. Markarth. This is my favorite because I really like the look of the achetechture. Thats pretty much it though.

2. Breezehome. This is my "base" for where I return from all of my pilliaging and/or adventures. Keep all of my smithing supplies here since the blacksmith is right next door. Its where I return if I am over encumbered because its closest to spawn area.

3. Hjerim. Love the armory. Would be better if they had storage in the armory room.

4. Proudspire. Loved it at first. Now I hate it. Just not good storage at all. Probably the least desirable house in the game.

5. Honeside. Nice small house. Basically its Breezehome with an enchanter.

Other:

Arch Mages Quarters. GREAT if you are an alchemist. Everything you need is right there.

Dawnstar Sanctuary. Cool "Man Cave" if your character is a dark assassin/thief. Only worth it if you get all the upgrades from Delvin Mallory before moving in.

Favorites in order:

- Markarth. Spacious but cozy. Good storage. Perform all alchemy and enchanting here. A devout Dibellan spellsword fills his bedroom with Dibellan statues and worships his Dibellan Priestess wife Senna in peace.

- Solitude. Nice house, but not cozy and too large. Spent more time chasing/tracking Senna than enjoying her. Now, Jordis just guards precious gems and papers stored in the bedroom safe.

- Breezehome. Good location and Lydia guards all smithing and ore supplies. All smithing performed conveniently next door.

- Honeyside. House is ok. Nothing special. But, agree that Iona is a good cook, and enjoy eating supper on the back deck and diving off of it for evening swims.

* Windhelm (Dont own it; Dont like the city)

* Arch-Mage Tower. Nice bachelor pad and get away. Allows his favorite non-carl followers to rest/relax here after brutal quests. (Ria; Njdia; Brelyna; Mjoll)

Do you guys consider the harbingers room in jorrvaskr and the ragged flagon cistern homes?

Because they are pretty good.

Only places I consider "home" is places that have secure storage that won't randomly disappear on you and that your wife can live and be available to give you your daily $100 allowance.
Ragged Flagon...definitely NOT.
Since I am not 100% sure the room you inherit after finishing the main Companion or College or Dark Brotherhood or Blades quest lines are safe, I stick with the purchased houses.

It would be nice if there is a listing of all of the places where secure long term storage is located.
Based on that your options could very well open up.
My favorite base of operations would then be the big cave that has ships inside (forget the name).
Beautiful scenery and much more open than most of the caves.
A bit inconvenient to have to run all the way to the far end to do smithing and you would have to travel to a town to do much trading.

The cistern "Guild Chests" (near the beds) are safe !

Riverwood- Old blades headquarters. A home that's free, has an alchemy lab, an enchanter, 2 chests and 1 barrel, and almost directly across from a smith. Only downside is no bed (doesn't matter to me because I'm a werewolf) and lack of traders. Even with money being no problem, I wouldn't dream of dropping 8 grand on any other spot unless it beat the crap out of the deal I have now. Lot of traders, 2-3 more chests, with an alch lab and enchanter is all I'd need.

I have three out of the five, so I'll rate the ones I have:

Solitude: It's the worst home I've bought. Its price is incredibly high for a place with almost nothing unique.
Windhelm: The BEST, it has everything plus its affordable.
Whiterun: Very good, it's an affordable starter home.


Honestly, I hope they come out with a fortress/stronghold DLC. I'd love one of those. I need a non-city base.

You don't need to join the Stormcloaks to get Hjerim -.-"
Also, all merchants svck, except Lucan of Riverwood.

This. I can make due with honeyside for now, but I mean, come on. Id uch rather have my own stronghold outside of a city, and away from the anoying guards with thier stupid one liners. I miss the battlehorn from oblivion. This game could realy use it.

Well, I'm surprised that Riften's isn't higher because that's my #1. It has a secret side entrance which is PERFECT for my vampire character.

1) Riften - I actually liked this house the best before I became a vampire. I like the enchanter and the alchemy stations right next to each other with storage, in the following room, all downstairs. It isn't that large so you don't have a lot of area to decorate with your own statues of dibella or whatever. Over the course of the game I've collected so many ingots that I don't need a nearby smelter though I admit it still would be nice. The forge, grindstone, and tanning rack are just a jump over the river. Strangely it was already my favorite before the vampirism but the side entrance really makes this house for a vampire (as I only ever just feed off my wife - she's well acquainted with my mouth in like 4 ways).

Of the non-purchasable homes:

- If your wife could live with you in the Dark Brotherhood's Dawnstar Sanctuary and Babette would stop randomly coming into your bedroom, I'd like to live there as my #1.

- I really like Riverwood. It's a nice, quiet place unlike the cities. I recruited Faendal into the Blades so now his home is vacant..... so now I use that as a home.

1. From the start, I prefer the Alchemist's Shack.
Free, quiet, safe storage in the End Table, alchemy table out back, forging stations at the nearby Legion camp...

Afterward, and for the following reasons...
2. Honeyside in Riften

Reasoning:
-It does not force the MQ on my characters. Breezehome requires you begin the MQ.
-It does not force any Faction questline on my characters. Hjerim requires you to choose sides in the Civil War.
-It does not require a minimum Level. Proudspire Manor requires your character to be a minimum of Lvl20.
- It does not require a minimum Level. Vlindrel Hall requires your character to be a minimum of Lvl20 to receive the required quest.

This leaves Honeyside as my main home.
I can purchase at any level, needs only minimal favor questing, affordable, and does not require my characters to join any faction.
Nor does if force me to begin any questline I never intend to complete.

A simple choice, really.
One person's opinion. Your mileage may vary.

@OP - you don't have to side with the Stormcloaks to get Hjerim - Brunwulf Freewinter will grant you permission to purchase it (and make you thane) on the Imperial side once Ulfric is dealt with. But yes, it still means you have to complete the Civil War either way.

Anyway, on two characters I've found myself using different houses more often.

I do like the cosy feel of Breezehome (Whiterun) even though it's the smallest. Location is perfect. Just missing the enchanting table, and a bit more display space for any flash items you pick up. Lydia is a decent housecarl.

My first character married Argis so I spent a fair bit of time in Markath but I'll agree, it's not all that convenient, and though cosy, it's a bit on the dark side. Does have everything you need, however.

Solitude house is nice - decent display options, plenty of storage. But yes, a good run from the gate (not great when you are overloaded and looking to dump stuff in your house because the vendors have all run out of money to buy it off you).

Honeyside - this one grew on me. Once I make a thief character I will likely use it the most. Has everything you need, plus a backdoor that leads outside Riften, and a garden. Housecarl never appeared on my second character but my housecarls generally just sit around eating bread so no biggie.

Hjerim - have to wait ages for this. Lots of display space, but it's rather gloomy and not at all cosy. Plus it's the murder house. Would you want to live in a murder house? Really? I also dislike Windhelm (snowy, gloomy, oppressive) and the fact a dragon wiped out most of the vendors on my first character's run through the game didn't really help matters.

Honeyside all the way. magic mannequins in the basemant.. But really, I like the log cabin style housing.

Not many of the other houses appeal too much to me, aside from Proudspire manor.