It sounds like whatever you decide, you are not going to be happy without some space (basement, garage, as you said) for your projects. And you may find it easier to find a house with at least two bedrooms, rather than one. You may need to buy a house that is a little bigger than ideal, but just not fill it up with "stuff." I can vouch for that being entirely possible. I have an 1100 sq. ft. two-bedroom, two-bath flat ranch with a full basement, two-car garage, attic, and large storage shed out back. The washer and dryer are in the basement, but other than that, I simply leave the basement, attic, and storage shed empty. I pretend that space simply doesn't exist. The two-car garage has my one car in it, and only the crucial necessities--the garbage can, the snow and leaf blowers, the snow shovels and a couple bags of salt, the out-of-season tires. The second bedroom is fitted out as a minimalist guest room/office, but is virtually never used. I kind of pretend it isn't there. The house is situated across the road from a large Metropark (see the thread about Youngstown, OH and the Mill Creek Metropark, lol)...I certainly don't need all this space, but this is a very LCOL area, and also I just could not pass up the location on the park.
Not sure I'm giving you useful input...just trying to help...those are my thoughts, anyway.