If you had a budge of £250k, and could live anywhere in England, where would you move to?

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

I have two children in secondary school, who need educating near by.

I have no DIY skills, and don't want to renovate, don't mind getting the builders in to do an extension, extension costs would come off the £250k budget.

[flatbread]

I would personally move to either Kent or the Scottish west coast. By the sea, with amazing water views to wake up to every morning. But know nothing of the education quality in either, sorry.

Lucky you, not being tied to a particular place! :)

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

I tried some costal area's and they seem quite expensive.

Whilst it is great to be free to move anywhere, it is such hard work to research the area's and how much house you can get!

I suppose I need to employ a private Phil and Kirsty .

[minipie]

Are your children academic? If so then it might be an idea to look at grammar school areas. this page has a map and list.

[greentown]

From Whitstable to Herne bay is nice. Out of Whitstable, Tankerton, Swalecliffe, Herne Bay end would definitely get big enough house in that price range. Don't know about the schools but I think Kent still has the Grammar system.

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Minipie, yes they both are, they both don't do well under pressure though, and currently they are in a school that is run like the army, which is not for them, they are good kids and they don't need the iron rod treatment it stresses them out, they need something gentler, and have done well in ok schools before, so as long as the school is not mega lax with rules they will be ok with an average school.

Kent seems nice when I have been there previously, I though it was pricey though?

[agentcarter]

I think I'd be off to the West Country, Devon, Somerset...away from the maddening crowds and traffic. Not too far out of the way though, so that when the DC's want to go to London or similar it is not too long a journey.

[EdlessAllenPoe]

250k..not a huge amount where i am, will get something decent...

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Edless I know it is not a lot, it is the budget I have and there are not a lot of places that I can buy somewhere, that is why I am asking for advice on places that I can afford.

[BornSicky]

west country definitely. you'll get an awful lot for your money and great schools as well.

Go near the bigger towns/cities - so: Exeter, Truro, Bath, Bristol all great. Pricey in city, but just outside your budget should cover it.

[Witchathulu]

Completely depends on what you're looking for - period/modern, number of bedrooms, do you want to be close to good schools or in a nice village/area of town? We live in Eastbourne (our maisonette's not long been on the market,) but are moving to Suffolk area to make DH's commute easier/be nearer his parents/get the kids into outstanding secondary/have a decent size house.
Eastbourne's quite expensive I think - but then it has good amenities and great schools. Hastings is a lot cheaper, but not a single good secondary and a pretty bad record for crime. Our budget's even less once we've paid back my mum her original deposit, but we just wouldn't be able to afford something that we'd be comfortable in, iyswim!

[EdlessAllenPoe]

billingshurst

this place is so nice, if you get to the top of town, peer into the distance..you might just might make out an outline of poverty
the state secondary there is very good indeed gaining 85% a-c.
ok, the house you get is a bit meh, but it is detached...

this is where i am going to live when i grow up.

[SazZandASparkler]

For Gloucestershire, there are plenty in your budget, you just may not wish to live in some of the areas.....

i like this one, nice location

much more space for your money but not great location

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Edless, thank you so much.

I like the fact that is detached and has some space to extend in the future if you had the money wanted to.

I think the problem with a lot of three bedroom properties is that there is always a box room, at the moment we have a four bedroom house and the children have roughly equal sized double bedrooms, so who is going to have the tiny bedroom?

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

Sazz, thank you so much.

That house is beautiful and three decent sized bedrooms.

I worry about old houses regarding maintenance costs, I have never owned an old house?

I didn't look at the one in the bad area, incase I was tempted.

[SazZandASparkler]

No problem

The 'bad' area one isn't 'bad' per se, just a new development 'dropped' on the outskirts of a city close to office/retail parks. Not my cup of tea, but i guess some people choose space over location.

We have an old house, so far we have put in double glazing to solve the cold issue but that's about it. Our neighbours have managed to get loads of insulation grants as the Govt is keen to try and help make homes more efficient.

[SazZandASparkler]

Oh, and it is walking distance to Waitrose

[TheMouseRanUpTheClock]

I had a peep at the second one Saz, I don't mind new builds, the problem I know having lived in a 1990's one previously is the thin walls that you can't hang a mirror on.

[mowblem]

Another vote for Gloucestershire.
This is my end of it .

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32489132.html?premiumA=true £275k This is over budget but 4 beds and don't know if you can negotiate?

£243k This is only 3 beds but two decent sized rooms.

Lovely area - edge of cotswolds, excellent local schools (secondary is outstanding), commutable to lots of big cities - Oxford, Cheltenham, Swindon for work.

[mowblem]

I can never do links!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32462285.html

and

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32489132.html?premiumA=true

[toughdecisions]

Plenty of four bed homes here! Market town 20mins to coast. Not so sticks though - Michael Morpurgo doing his Xmas thing here. 2 of 3 local secondaries get good results & not selective (check which side of town with agents). The Chester Ave & new build are right side No vested interest in these properties.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/Beverley.html?minPrice=230000&maxPrice=250000&minBedrooms=3&index=10

[toughdecisions]

This house is in very nice village with top 100 state primary & duck pond 2 miles from aforementioned market town.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33017408.html

[greentown]

lovely house by the sea at Tankerton

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-20461533.html?backListLink=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DOUTCODE%255E548%26maxPrice%3D250000%26minBedrooms%3D4%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26radius%3D3.0%26propFeature%3DGarden

[greentown]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-20461533.html?backListLink=%2Fproperty-for-sale%2Ffind.html%3FlocationIdentifier%3DOUTCODE%255E548%26maxPrice%3D250000%26minBedrooms%3D4%26displayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26oldDisplayPropertyType%3Dhouses%26radius%3D3.0%26propFeature%3DGarden

[greentown]

sorry!!! can't do the link bit

[Dotty342kids]

I live in South Herefordshire and it's gorgeous here. Quite a bit of house for your money (in fact if you want to wait a few months you can buy ours for 250k as we'll be selling up - very reluctantly in my case - to be nearer my husband's work in the south east).

It's quiet here, a little like the land that time forgot! Virtually no crime (unless you count thieving from the odd farm outbuilding), a fantastic local secondary school, gorgeous countryside - great for walking, biking and canoeing. It's very friendly, only an hour away from Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham for occasional big shopping trips. Close enough to Malvern, Cheltenham and Gloucester theatres.

Typical house for your money would be a four bed modern detached or a 3-4 bed period property.