please please help - possible move to East Cheshire

[ooohiknowiknow]

Good morning all

I am really hoping for some advice, we are a family of 5 currently renting our house in Macclesfield. We like the area and the boys are settled in school however we are now in a position to buy a property, under 200k, and you really don't get a great deal for the money where we live :(. We have looked further afield and further into Cheshire you really do seem to get much more for your money. We like the countryside (but don't want to feel too remote and cut off) and walks etc but we would want to be in fairly easy reach of a hospital a and e (asthma in family). We have been looking at both Middlewich and Nantwich (they seem really nice) but don't know anyone who lives there to ask! Eldest is 9 and youngest is 5 (plus middle one who is 7) so we want to make this move the last area move we make til they're grown up. Please can you help? Are these areas nice to bring up the family? Are we missing anywhere else? Husband is self employed so can bring his job with him so to speak - and he can still commute to Macc.

Thanks again for any input...I am excited but scared of getting it wrong.

[struckwithindecision]

I don't know the area but looking into schools would be a good start as I guess that will be a priority. They you could look in the right school catchment. We've learnt the hard way about that.

[ooohiknowiknow]

that is a very good point struck thanks....would be v hard to fall in love with a house and realise there were no places for the boys. Thanks

[5446]

Nantwich is massively expensive compared to Middlewich. Nantwich is beautiful, much nicer than Middlewich, good primary and secondary schools but some are oversubscribed.

Middlewich has always been one of those places that you travel through to me, rather than live, if that makes sense. Although, I have a lot of friends who grew up there and enjoyed it.

A friend recently bought a 3 bed house for £115,000 with a big garden, so house prices are a lot more affordable. They all went to the local catholic primary and then a catholic secondary in Northwich.

Northwich and Davenham are other places that friends grew up in that have got decent schools.

[ooohiknowiknow]

that is very useful - thank you :) I do like the prettiness of Nantwich I must admit ...£115k is a fantastic price for a family home isn't it! Thanks

[SquinkiesRule]

My son just bought a house in Winsford, it seems very nice there. Northwich seems a bit more expensive.
He asked for recommendations at work (in Northwich) they said Northwich, Winsford, and the little villages all round those parts.

[georgedawes]

Disley?

[Viviennemary]

I asked DH as he knows these areas and as well as the places mentioned he said Bollington or Rainow.

[weshallneversurrender]

could you look at areas such as Congleton? still only 20-30mins odd to Macc, but you get more for your money here and there is a wide variety of 'areas' within the town, depending on what youre looking for, lots of wealthy and less wealthy estates alike :)

[chosenone]

I'd agree with Rainow and Bollington but you would get more for your money slightly over the border into Derbyshire...whaley bridge, chapel-en-le frith or Buxton. All lovely. Will be able to get a decent family home particularly in Chapel, which has a very good secondary school. There are a choice of Primaries in the area but Chinley or Taxyl and Fernilee probably the best.

[andadietcoke]

Is Marple too far? Our adjoining house with a big garden sold for £205 k last year. Nice and leafy, canals. Not brilliant schools, but okay. I grew up in Whaley Bridge - also quite nice.

[ooohiknowiknow]

Thanks everyone for all your input! Looks like we have a bit to go on there! And some driving about to do....we mentioned Congleton but had not really thought of Derbyshire :)

[passmethewineplease]

I live near Nantwich and it is nice enough. A lot nicer than Crewe anyway.

Only been through congleton so can't comment, not heard great things about middlewich but that's going back a while.

Some of the schools are hard to get in to though, though there are other options, my DD goes to a lovely village school.