To ask what you would do in our situation RE buying a house or leaving?

[RedPandaMama]

Me again. Think I've been more active in the last week than ever due to nights of insomnia. Sorry for long post, just looking for advice really.

DP works in Manchester in civil service. Has opportunity to move position to other major cities (Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham, Nottingham and more) if so wished. Wouldn't be straightforward but very doable and common in his position of work. I'm currently getting MA as off with 4mo DD but will be going to work in March/April, have been offered secretarial type position where my dad works which I will probably take. Our combined salaries would be around £48k.

We're getting a bit bored of where we live now - North West large town, lots of traffic shitty commute to the city BUT relatively cheap good schools good shopping and half an hour from my family. Our tenancy is up in 6 months and we need to start thinking what to do.

Current ideas:-

1. Buy a set-to-live-in house near Manchester - budget around 200k could afford a nice 4 bed somewhere like Trafford or Stretford. Only a 30ish minute commute. We like Manchester, and would be happy to stay, but also are getting slightly itchy feet here.

1. Buy a fixer-upper, do it up and sell on for profit. Not sure how doable this would be having a 1 year old but could potentially make a good amount of money, enough to relocate or buy a really nice house.

1. Rent in the city centre - around £1100 per month. Probably living in an apartment with a baby (not sure what that would be like) but have seen really nice ones for that sort of budget near Salford Quays and could live a nice city lifestyle.

1. Relocate. DP likes the idea of moving to London as he's from down that way. He'd get a salary bump so despite the rent increase etc we wouldn't be THAT much worse off and we'd be close to his family, who are lovely. Also culture things to do lovely parks... But then also pollution and have to be more wary about crime etc. I'd consider any of the other places offered, but then we wouldn't have any family close by for babysitting or help.

1. Other. Any other ideas appreciated as we just keep changing our minds.

Yesterday I was set on moving to London and living in Crystal Palace. Today I'm looking at buying 5 bed fixer uppers outside Manchester and planning IKEA-ing the fuck out of the kitchen.

Please help me make a decision before my head melts.

200k won't get you a 4 bed in stretford/old trafford

i'd be looking at a fixer up

Oops sorry meant to put 3 bed there are some nice 3 beds on rightmove between 180-220.

Buy a house that you can afford then if you get itchy feet you can rent that out and move to Crystal palace.

Is there much for a baby in Manchester City centre? Ive done the whole 'lovely apartment' thing in Manchester and although I didn't have DCs I don't remember there being any/parks or lots of nice museums etc.

If you can afford to move to, and buy, in London I'd say give that a go whilst you're still young and willing to try something new.