..to uproot my son from a good school to try and make a better life somewhere else ?

[NicePear]

I am a sole parent ( no contact from other parent ) and currently live in Brighton with no family local . Living here has financially broken me after years of struggling .
My father has recently died and I will be inheriting about £60k soon and I have seen some lovely 2 bed houses in Manchester I could afford on a part rent part buy status, and I would actually be on the same salary if I got a like-for-like job.( I would need about £250k +for a deposit here for similar) .
However .....my 7 year old is doing really well at school so am I mad to move him and disrupt his education (even though I have no hope of ever buying in the South) ?

[CreepingDogFart]

By all means move but why Manchester out of interest?

[MigraineMartie]

Do you have family local there?

[NicePear]

I have about 5 or 6 friends there . Not close friends but potential to be !
I guess it could be anywhere really but I went up there this weekend for a bit of a scout around and we loved the museums and restaurants

[ditherydora]

I would. At 7 he I'd going to adapt pretty easily I think. Just research the new school well. I think Manchester has a lot to offer.

[CreepingDogFart]

I agree about researching the school and also research the local area well. Your friends there will be able to give you good advice about places to look at and places to avoid. There are some nice areas around the outside of Manchester too but if you like a city-feel and you have people there to link up with then it seems a good option. Sorry to hear about your father

[CosyNook]

I think you have to consider if your son could ever afford to buy a house in Brighton too. If you are struggling then he will too.

Could you live on the outskirts of Manchester where prices are slightly cheaper, therefore giving you both more disposable income and a better standard of living.

[ilovevegcrisps]

Oh do it but don't live in Manchester but the surrounding area. I live in a lovely place opposite a train station and can be in Manchester and Liverpool in twenty minutes, there's an outstanding primary, a good secondary and you can get a four bed detached for less than £200,000 :)

[NicePear]

Thanks so much for comments so far .

I have been looking around the Trafford area (Sale etc) . It appears to be best of all world's . Near the city , good schools, near to countryside , seaside not a million miles.

[ilovevegcrisps]

Trafford is nice; expensive though! Probably not in comparison to Brighton though.

[NicePear]

Oh God ! I didn't put that apostrophe in worlds ....autocorrect stitched me up

[figureofspeech]

A friend lives in Hale just outside Manchester which is lovely although I'm not sure if it's cheap.

[Monroe]

There are some lovely places to live in trafford, great schools, public transport, close to motorway for access to surrounding areas. I moved to Sale last year. Happy to send you a pm if you want more info. Good luck

[JolieMadame]

Hale is outrageously expensive!

YANBU though. I'm also a single parent, miles from family and friends. I'd move in a heartbeat if I could. That support is invaluable.

Out of interest, where are your family? Would you not get more support near them?

[AugustaFinkNottle]

I think you possibly need to check whether you could get a mortgage if you're in a new job with no job security. But maybe you could rent initially.

[Onecallaway]

I have thought of doing exactly the same. I used to live in Manchester and it was so cheap compared to the south so I would consider it if I were you. You will need to have a plan so that you can survive up there until you get a job. You can find good schools in any area if you do your research.

[NicePear]

I am hoping to get a part rent part buy so wouldn't need a mortgage . Although I will have to rent first and get a job so I have a local connection . There are literally loads of jobs in my field in Manchester Central so as long as am near a tram stop and I can find a school with a good breakfast club / after school provision I should be OK .

I don't really have any other family .

[LaPharisienne]

If you're from Brighton and like Brighton I wouldn't recommend Trafford for various reasons. And yes, I know there are grammar schools there.

Have you looked at south Manchester? Chorlton is probably more up your street - lots of little cafes and delis, like minded people and close to the city centre.

[NicePear]

I have been looking at Charlton . That would appeal too . It'a a scary yet exciting minefield

[Onecallaway]

If you rent first, that will give you chance to get to know the different areas. It's a big place.

[YoungGirlGrowingOld]

I have lived in Hale and Cheadle - both lovely. I am originally from London but you couldn't pay me to live in the south east now! (Appreciate that many jobs don't give you the option). I would do it without hesitation.

[JolieMadame]

Start a thread on the local site asking about areas.

You've also got walkden and worsley which are nice and easy to get to the city centre.

Do you own in Brighton? In which case south Manchester might be a possibility. If you don't it's a more expensive area

[NicePear]

I rent a 2 bed here which costs 1200 a month . Brighton average for a 2 bed flat .

[JolieMadame]

Ouch! So what you can afford in Manchester will depend on the job you get. What do you do?

Don't make the mistake of thinking that everywhere in Manchester is cheap. It isn't, although Trafford is reasonable

[NicePear]

I'll be on about £23000 pa and will have 60k deposit . I have identified some part rent part buy properties within my price range in the general South Manchester area