Newly single and priced out of the south help me find a new home town

[Shitonthebloodything]

My absolute peach of a husband is buggering off leaving me with 3 kids and no hope of securing a mortgage anywhere close to my home county of Essex. I can’t rent forever and I don’t qualify for any single parent help from UC so it’s time to put down roots somewhere new.

Budget £150-170 (yeah, I know!)
I need at least 3 bedrooms, close to a town that’s good for shopping and teenage socialising.
A college where ds16 can finish his plumbing training or equivalent opportunities
A decent secondary to start ds10 in yr 7
A decent primary for ds3 to start reception
Plenty of things to do
Somewhere reasonably safe
Somewhere friendly that will welcome us
Somewhere with nice outdoor places to visit seeing as I’ll be bloody skint forever.
Poss near a motorway to allow for regular travelling back to see family etc.

And the moon on a stick.

Any ideas would be very much appreciated, at this point I’m basically just sticking pins in the map and searching on Rightmove.

@Shitonthebloodything

Hope no one minds me bumping this back up, I’ve been referring back to it constantly over the past few weeks so it’s helpful to keep all my thoughts together and any input is appreciated so much.

I’ve taken advice on board and have refined my search a bit, sticking to the east side of the country and making Leeds the furthest north. I really will need to drive back or at least halfway every other weekend and further would be too hard on the kids.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the following areas

Leeds (I know it’s a big area so any areas to avoid would be good to know)
Sheffield
Lincoln
Rotherham - is it really as bad as it’s reputation?
Barnsley

These are the areas that seem to have the most in budget that would make for easy journeys back to Essex.
I would love to be closer to the coast ideally but the towns in budget don’t sound great. Can always save for a caravan one day

We moved (back) to Leeds in May - we were here as students and postgrads - and I can’t believe how expensive it’s become! We’re looking to buy a small house for our DD to rent from us and there’s very little under £200k, and nothing for that price in our area (Headingley).

Meanwood, Kirkstall, Horsforth and parts of Armley are all areas I’d be happy to live in.

I live in the Midlands it used to be cheap but in the last few years prices have skyrocketed. A three bed semi next door to me sold for 275k in the summer. I think further North is really where the bargains are to be had now.

I’m taking a trip up to Sheffield next week to spend the day wandering around and getting as much of a feel as you can in a day. I’ll do some longer trips as the short list gets shorter but if nothing else I’ll experience the reality of the journey. Taking my 16 yr old along so he can feel part of the decision making. Will also drive through some of the cheaper streets currently on right move to see if they’re really that bad in comparison to where I’m from.

Yes, Sheffield.

Check out Nottingham too if you are in the Sheffield area.

@Shitonthebloodything

I’m taking a trip up to Sheffield next week to spend the day wandering around and getting as much of a feel as you can in a day. I’ll do some longer trips as the short list gets shorter but if nothing else I’ll experience the reality of the journey. Taking my 16 yr old along so he can feel part of the decision making. Will also drive through some of the cheaper streets currently on right move to see if they’re really that bad in comparison to where I’m from.

Lincoln is nice. It's an easy place to live in as it's so small. I'm happy to pm you if you have any specific questions. But I also really like Sheffield. It does feel like a city where Lincoln feels like a big town.

Sheffield city centre is a bit run down in parts, largely due to Meadowhall shopping centre (which is still good). Ecclesall rd/Sharrow area is lovely for a mooch. Full of small shops and restaurants.

Can you give your tenants notice and move into the property as a short term measure? Then sell up and move on...

@MrsMoastyToasty I could but I’m at a tricky time as I have dc’s starting reception and yr7 in September so I don’t want them to start then have to resettle into new schools. I need to make it a more stable transition for them.

I think you are being very sensible about moving. It's not just for your housing. It won't be long before your older kids won't to leave home and moving up north means they should be able to do it without too much help. I also think you should be ok to make new friends as you have a three year old. If you can fit it around your work then just sign up for some activities with them. I've moved a lot and I've not found it difficult when I've had young kids.
I joined the local School PTA when we last moved and made friends for life.

Definitely not Runcorn.

There are nicer parts of Liverpool where you can get a house for your budget. However, it's not very practical for Essex. I wonder about Lincolnshire, it is quite affordable and straight down the A1?

i also saw a pp mentioned Newton Abbot/Torquay - your money absolutely would go further there (and there is some really nice housing stock on both towns - I also like Teignmouth) but it's a long old way from Essex.

If you fancy south there's still cheaper areas in the sw away from the coast where public transport to London is poor. Above you budget but saw a 4 bed for £225k the other day advertised in Somerset.

I lived in Nottingham as a teenager, the public transport is excellent there is loads to do, good shops, theatres and concert halls. It’s really central and easy access to motorways and good train services.

I don’t know what the schools are like now, when I lived there you needed to be in the right catchment for “good” schools, it was a bit mixed.

We lived in Aspley which was nice and Wollaton and Bramcote were all right.