Initially town house inexpensive, essentially for a nicker? (5)
I believe the answer is:
thief
'a nicker?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'initially town house inexpensive essentially for' is the wordplay.
'initially' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'town house inexpensive essentially for' is 'THIEF'.
(Other definitions for thief that I've seen before include "Raffles, say" , "Pilferer" , "A robber or pickpocket" , "nicker?" , "Unlawful taker" .)