To live in a 4 bed mortgage free for £250k

[ScoobyCan]

Where can I find a really good 4 bed for £250k?

Not joking - that's where we are at post divorce. The world is my oyster but ideally I need a great primary, secondary, and a flexible school hours (9-3) job (DC have medical stuff going on so can't manage wraparound childcare). Anywhere?

Lovely those in shropshire:) Had two girlfriends from that area they both never adapted to the home counties. Don't fancy Milton Keynes wierd place that thay say your tyres wear out with all the roundabouts!

It is surprising what you can get for 250K though round our way that'd buy you - actually nothing:-(

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80192096.html

I'd agree you want to be in or close to a big city with a tertiary hospital but also around a decent sized job market too. Sheffield and Newcastle are both great cities, I like both, but I wonder if Leeds, Manchester or Birmingham might be slightly better in terms of more job choice?

@Crapplepie I'm from Orkney and I'm really not convinced recommending it to a single mum with a child who requires regular consultant appointments is sensible. Every time that child needs a consultant appointment they will need to be flown down to Aberdeen. Who looks after the other children when she's doing that several times a year? On the other hand the GPs can be excellent and provide an old fashioned personal service that someone from the south will find incredible.

And the climate is famously challenging for ferryloupers. Lovely long days at this time of year, not so lovely in the winter when it doesn't get properly light for days on end. And incomers will be treated with suspicion if they don't come with useful skills.

You'd be able to find somewhere that met that criteria in and around Nottingham - not in the most expensive/desirable parts but perfectly acceptable places.

For those asking about contact with their DF - am I obliged to stay in area when he has moved away?!

OP - someone up thread has mentioned the Wirral (near to Liverpool).

Check out Bebington. Nice area, great prices, friendly, easy access to Alderhey Children's Hospital.

I'm in Nottinghamshire. You can get the house for that money, and I too have kids with regular medical needs and can say that the main hospital in Nottingham (Qmc) have been very good.

Look at towns/villages out towards the vale of belvoir.

Up my way, County Durham

@sheshootssheimplores Do you mind if I ask where you live? I am around the same distance from Cambridge, give or take 10 mins...but the other direction. PM if you'd prefer, thank you!

The North East has excellent hospitals, schools and affordable housing. Plus great towns and beautiful countryside.

Mid Wales.
Good schools, low crime, fresh air & not so far from Shrewsbury or Birmingham if you wanted bright lights.

@ScoobyCan both of my kids have had ongoing issues (one with severe allergy - he has ongoing clinic appointments, the other with severe asthma that landed him in HDU). The local paediatric hospital has been great (it's the Women & Children's Centre at Royal Alexandra in Telford).

@ScoobyCan No you're not obliged to stay if he's moved away. However, if you had a contact order it would usually be the moving away parent responsible for travel...as I understand it, he did that first. He could apply for prohibited steps to prevent a move but it sounds like he wouldn't be that bothered anyway. I can't tell you how much I empathise with your situation!

Cheshire

Is there restrictions on where you go, for access to their dad? Is there any consent orders, which would limit your distance from him, and would he be able to apply to have you back in the same area if you did decide to move anywhere in the U.K? If your child has an established medical team, is it a condition which you van get picked up and properly looked after st another hospital without the established history you already have?

@thegreylady I'm north of Shrewsbury too :)

Northern Ireland. You will get a nice house with a garden for that money, it isn't a pitiful amount at all. Education is excellent with free grammar schools if your children are bright. Unfortunately the Highlands and Islands are out unless you're close to a hospital.

Do you really want to move?
What standard of living are out used to and are you a city/suburban/ country village person?

No good moving somewhere with all the associated costs if you don’t settle.

I do sense a bit of bitterness over your divorce settlement, I would try to come to terms with that before making any hasty decisions.

You may be able to downsize in your home area rather than flee into the unknown. On the other hand you might all welcome the change.

Sheffield has a brilliant children's hospital.

South Wales, I’m 20 minutes to Cardiff on the train and there’s loads of lovely 4 beds for 250k. Great village primary and choice of good secondaries too. Heath hospital in Cardiff would be good for the medical needs.

In the moray Firth Scotland. We live in a 4 bedroom detached sandstone house. Bought it for £210k and has a sea view. 😀

Newcastle is one of the few with decent houses and schools for cheap prices. S

For that amount you're looking at a fixer upper in most places these days unless you want in a ghetto or out in the stix.

Or on the Isle of Arran 😁

Scooby, I don’t think you should be obliged to stay in the area but he could kick up a fuss and leave you with no option but to rent (or look closer to him) and have your capital dwindle away.

I’d keep your cards close to your chest and not give him the chance to prevent you moving.

My DC dad and I deliberately live close together so we can both look after DC easily. There’s no way he’d have moved 2hrs from them. The fact your ex did, and has left you without the possibility of daily support (even just being around to pick up your other DC from school if you have a DR/hospital appointment) means that you need to ensure you take care of you (the DC need you be not be stressed) and that you manage DC and life in the best way for you.

Moving somewhere where you can afford a house and not have to worry about rent/mortgage will go a great way to relieving stress on you, which means less stress for your DC. You can manage weekends and holidays with ex as he’d be doing that anyway living 2hrs away.

A bit cluttered but a fabulous location, 10 minutes from the M4.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72112513.html