House in the North or a flat in Southampton

[SandyDunesCoffeeShack]

Your choices

I wouldn't buy a house in the north of the UK if you paid me. The reason is I know literally no one, not one single soul, who lives in "the north". My furthest north friends are in the Cotswolds.

I have friends and family in London, Cardiff, Exeter, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex, Kent, Suffolk, Wiltshire, Hampshire. Therefore "the north" holds no attraction to me no matter how cheap.

I'm sure there are residents in other parts of the country who feel similarly.

There are some lovely villages between Barnsley and Sheffield if you fancy that.
Or would you rather be in city? York or Leeds?

York is incredibly expensive, not sure the price of a flat in Southampton would pay for the cost of a house in York.

We live eight miles down the coast from Southampton; the last time we went there was a couple of years ago to visit the boat show and we're steeling ourselves for this year's show.

Some of our relatives live in Hebden Bridge. All things being equal, we'd move up there tomorrow, but the stars don't align right now.

North for sure.

I’d go wherever my friends are

Flats in Southampton tanking in value as the leases are going up crazy pricing so I’d escape and live in your other location.

York is also a good hour or more from Barnsley.

Well like most other places some parts of Southampton are nicer than others, 1 1/2 hours on the train to London. The North's a big place, covering just about everywhere else in the UK from Soton. What about jobs, free time activities? I think you need to be a bit more specific about what you're going to need to live a happy life...

It would be fine in some parts of York outside of the city

OP didn't say she had to be very close to Barnsley, just that she had family there

I’d stay in the south. Yorkshire is beautiful to visit but I find southern British winters depressing enough, I’m not built for northern winters.

Go and rent up north for a while and see how you get on?

I'd be very concerned about service charges with a flat. They can be huge.
I moved to the west country fron the south east to buy a house. Im 63.
Have you thought about a bungalow? So much more manageable.
I have a number of relatives who moved up north and they love it.

I live not too far from Barnsley so maybe I'm biased but I would 100% look at properties in the Barnsley area. Prices are below the national average. Barnsley covers a large area & there are some beautiful villages whilst still having easy access to M1, A1, Leeds, Sheffield & Meadowhall. Plus Barnsley town centre has undergone a recent regeneration & is well worthy of a visit.

Barnsley gets a bad rap and the town centre isn't the best but i often drive to Sheffield that way and there is some amazing countryside and lovely villages like Wortley
In OPs shoes (depending on what she wants/needs) I might go for a flat but in a central location like Leeds or York with everything on her doorstep

I am a city dweller at heart but do love pretty countryside also. I love creative writing, embroidery and churches, amazing beach is a bonus. I use public transport actively

Agreed that Barnsley town centre has been redeveloped recently and is looking good. It’s still not great for shopping, as it will always be in the shadow of Meadowhall (15 min on the train).

In your situation @SandyDunesCoffeeShack, if i did decide to go north, I’d consider Penistone. Market town 15 mins drive/5 mins on the train from Barnsley, but with it’s own busy community, indy cinema, library, cafes, a few independent shops and bars, biggish Tesco, GP, dentist, fudh n chips, a couple of small restaurants, always stuff going on at the community-owned leisure centre, surrounded by nice countryside, which is not-quite the Peak District etc. It has a sought after grammar school, so there are always families to keep the town buoyant.

Possibly the villages between York and Scarborough might suit? Malton maybe