To ask where I could move to to get on the property ladder??

[PleasantPheasant]

I need to move if I ever want to afford more than just a room in a shared house. I am single, so one income and earn less that 23,000 GBP gross. I desperately want to be able to afford a place of my own, eventually 2-3 bed. At the moment in my town I can only afford an 8 sq m room in a shared house, so you see why I need to move.
I'm quite able and willing to move, I've moved around all over the place during my 20s but I'd like to settle wherever I go next and I don't really have ties anywhere in this country so nowhere jumps out at me.
So - inspire me?! I'm looking for somewhere cheap to live, but not in a city or industrial place. I would love to live near the sea or lakes, out in the country but not too far from a small town - 30-40 mins say.
I only need a small place, bungalow, mobile home, cabin, but need to be able to afford the land it stands on, or a small cottage/bungalow/tiny house.
I'm looking to rent somewhere again for now - on my salary I can't afford to pay much over 600/month if I ever want to save. I would consider anywhere in the UK, currently looking at Wales and Scotland as they seem cheaper? AIB totally naive to think I will ever be able to move out of this grotty room??

I live about 30 minutes on the road Noth from Inverness. Houses very cheap here. Not all of the Highlands is cheap there are a few sought after expensive places but you definitely get a lot for your money up here.

Come to Cumbria! Some pricey patches e.g. South lakes, we're on the edge of south lakes with a beach 3 mins walk away and the hills behind us with a view of the Lake District fells. 'Proper' lake district a 30 min drive. Houses in our village start at 50k. We live in a 4 bed detached house with lots of land that cost us £200k

Mrsderek perhaps we're neighbours

Stanhope here

Bamburgh here

Nice one here

Very cheap here this is out in the countryside.

Very cute place here

That one in Alston is lovely!!!

I know, I fancy that one myself Bike

Just think about heat, OP. Some old places are a divil to heat.

That's true painted. We rented lots of lovely old cottages before we were in a position to buy. When we did, my main requirement was "mains gas".

Those are gorgeous helpimitchy! Wish I had 7,000 and was ready to move right this second!

You need to see a mortgage adviser ASAP OP. Forget high street banks or mortgage calculators online, you need to see someone who is qualified and can search the whole mortgage market for you to give you a realistic picture of what your price range will be for buying a property.

The expectations given by most pps on here are totally unrealistic in terms of what you will be able to afford, assuming you will be taking out a mortgage and don't have a huge inheritance sitting around.

This advice coming from someone on a wage slightly less than yours OP.

This is true. I am just looking for an area to check out and then move to (renting) until I know the area well enough to look to buy or rent a bigger property. I would be looking to move within the year to a new area, job dependent as I want to stay in my current job for another 6 months to a year as this will give me better prospects.
I have a tiny amount of savings - less than 5,000 but hope to save a deposit separate to that because I don't want to leave myself in a position with no savings at all. Buying is not all important but it probably makes sense, I dread to think what I have spent renting for 10 years. Also interested in shared ownership? But I don't understand how that makes things cheaper. Surely you are paying more by having mortgage and rent?? I really am clueless about all this. Where can I find a mortgage adviser?

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55789534.html]

This one is lovely

The Isle of Wight might suit you BUT jobs are harder to find there.

Ryde here

Freshwater here

Run your figures through this, it should give you an idea what you are likely to be able to get a mortgage for.

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/tools/house-buying/mortgage-affordability-calculator/step-2

Until you know that, it's not much help us putting links up?

It's cheap out here in the Fens. But that's because employment is largely unskilled and there's fuck all here. As soon as you get within sniffing distance of Cambridge it's London prices. I'm a teacher so a 3 bed semi with a mortgage of 420pcm was fab for me. Three beds are around 130k here. However, as a farm labourer it's bloody expensive.

I know that 90% of my class have parents doing low paid seasonal shift work. It's all relative and very much depends on your job prospects.

Mid / west Wales is lovely and cost of living cheap. As pointed out previously, NHS and teaching salaries go that bit further.

Lincolnshire wolds sound perfect for you and well within budget. We had a picture postcard cottage with the nicest garden in a wolds village sold last for not much over 100k. The villages are cheaper than the towns or seaside but all close by. We live in a town attached to seaside resort now. In one of the nicest areas of town and still average price for a 3 bed semi is still below national average and anywhere between 110k and 170k more for the fanciest streets or larger than average, but having lived all over the country it's definitely one of the best value regions without living in a dump.

Wannabestressfree yep they are always recruiting. You could come down this September I expect.

I'm in Renfrewshire and am paying £400 a month for a modern one bedroom flat in a really nice village.

I'm planning on buying soon. Ex council houses around here (2 bed semi/terraced) go for about £75 - £90k