Why are houses so much cheaper up north?

[CliveThighs]

OK, I'm aware this is probably a silly question so please don't flame me too much.

But I live in the south east where a 3 bed terrace costs around £350k. Which is crazy high. But somehow my brain has accepted that this is what a house costs.

But I fell down a zoopla/rightmove rabbit hole earlier and realised that up North a 3 bed terrace is about 1/3 of the price.

So what makes the south so much more expensive. I know the theory is London jobs and higher wages in the SE but are wages really that much lower in the North? Surely teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers get paid roughly the same where ever they are in the country? Minimum wage is the same all over the country, and the vast majority of those living in the SE don't earn these magically high London salaries?

I live in the north and houses where I am are well above the national average. You could probably get a 3 bed terrace for £230k but it would be very small and likely need work.

I have family who live in the south in cheaper areas than where I am. It depends on the area.

@CliveThighs curiousity has got the better of me. Where exactly were these cheap as chips terraces.

Within a 6 mile radius of my house, not far from Newcastle City centre, there are properties in the millions and 3 bed semis for £100k, and plenty in between. I've got friends in Hertford who paid half a million for a house the same size as my first home which I paid 77.5k for! But they out earn me significantly, although I would guess there disposable income isn't vastly different

*their

@3Daddy31982

I've a classmate from GCSEs in Whitley Bay. Plus there's a chance to be on Vera.

Ah the Jesmond Jetset!

Tbf you are more likely to be in Vera if you live in a council housing estate / High rise etc.

Tan Hill was on! As was a lass I went to Hull Uni with.

Our rural home town, not much bigger than a village, used to be just outside what was considered the London commuter belt.

It isn't now, and property prices have risen astronomically as a result. People who lived nearer London took advantage of the lower prices and move further out, and prices rose as a result of the demand.

My house is now worth ten times what it was worth when I bought it 30+ years ago, but conversely, my dc wouldn't have a cat in hell's chance of ever buying a house here, where they were born, where their jobs, family and friends are, and where they've spent all their lives.

So they will have to move further away (along with many other young people), which will raise house prices somewhere else.

Whitley bay was on as there was a murder on one episode. The houses in that episode were opulent and detached.

Around here 350k would get you a 4/5 bed detached BUT it’s thin on the ground for things to do unless you like grotty pubs and chain restaurants.

Days out? Thin on the ground. Small attractions to visit.
Naice hotels with lovely restaurants? None.
Coffee shops with delicious coffee? One. Costa doesn’t count because it’s awful coffee.
No John Lewis either anymore. Just endless Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, no Waitrose for miles, more co-ops than you can shake a stick at. Even Four Oaks doesn’t have a Waitrose now. There’s no clientele for them.

Also don’t forget it’s a bit colder and less daylight hours. It’s only half an hour difference but it’s no fun when the suns going down at 3pm.

If I could afford it I’d love to live down south.

Ffs. ‘The North’ isn’t one big area with the same prices. Much as the south isn’t. I’ve lived all over the North and I think you would struggle to get a 3 bed for 350k in a lot of areas. I’ve just put 3 beds in Kent into Right Move abs there are shedloads come up under £350k. Probably less desirable areas. Guess what. News flash—-same up North

@BlueStripedTowel

For £350k you could have a 4 bed detached new build up in Scotland (surrounding areas of Glasgow)...

We live within Glasgow and our 4-bed detached house with decent garden and a kitchen extension (into garage) is worth under £250k. It's in a non-salubrious postcode which makes it cheap, the same house across town is £350k. We've never had any bother and the folk are lovely.

@TheBiscuitStrikesBack

I live in a suburb of a major city in the North.

It is NOT cheap. The housing market has gone bonkers in my area and we are looking to move from a 3 to 4 bed and looking at half a million to do so (which we absolutely can't afford so in our 3 nee we stay!)

I live in an ex mining area in south Yorkshire. £350k would get you a decent 4 bed, 2 bathroom detached house within 5 miles of where we live. And it isn't grim round here.

350k near me gets you this
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110707019#/?channel=RES_BUY

I have a 2 bed/2 bath apartment with private garden and that is about 120k (75sqm open plan)

We did the move up North thing to buy a house. Once you get used to the whippets it's not too bad. Saw the sun for a while hour last week too so that was nice.

That's really interesting. Dds teacher has just bought a flat, she had to move back into her parents house for a few years to save up a deposit.

DS1 is a teacher in Yorkshire. He bought a 3 bed semi for £140k last year. He was 24 at the time.

Even if you earn less in the North your money goes further.

Within 5 miles of me you can choose a 3 bed terrace for 80k or a 3 bed terrace for 635k

So not a simple issue.

I live in Northamptonshire and it's quite cheap, weather is not too bad either.

Coz it's cold

I think the UK weather is cold and miserable enough as it is. That's one big reason I couldn't live further north.

@SeedsForDeeds

A 3 bed terrace where I live (North West, suburb of major city) doesn't come for less than £350k?

Same.

I can find a 3 bed terrace for £350k but not in an area where I'd want to live.

If you can find a 3 bed terrace for under £350k it's likely to be in am area of high deprivation, higher crime, low attainment and high levels of socio-economic difficulties.

I've lived in both the north and south of England and can't say I noticed much difference in the weather! Grey and crappy in winter wherever you are.

There is alot of cheap housing in the north that are cheek by jowl with very expensive properties.... Housing is cheap for a reason and just because it maybe near a des res area doesn't mean its a bargain...... I live in a town house inthe historic core /conservation area of my city I have views of both a castle and a cathedral as well as a historic house.... But also in the street are a hikers hostel, bedsits, rented flats over shops, lovely private maisonettes over shops and large georgian houses. There are many mix up of areas like this up here hence the mix of high prices and low ones in the same street /area

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/116488010

This is what £350k gets you where I live - ex council house in the middle of what was until recently the biggest housing estate in Europe.