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?

@ScoobyCan he could go to court to prevent you from moving. If you decide to move really far away then the courts wouldn't look too kindly on it and would most likely expect you to facilitate the contact.

As for houses, try Glasgow! Near the Royal Hospital for Children.

Not many parts of the Wirral are that nice to live in @AnnaFender for £250k and it's probably one of the least diverse places to live in the UK, with the poorer areas only going worse rather than up. And I say that as someone that just moved out of the hell hole of Kensington, Liverpool 😬

Move to the seaside - Devon, Cornwall, Wales.

I'd suggest Leicestershire, particularly the Charnwood area between Loughborough and Leicester. Or going more towards Nottingham.

Three good hospitals in Leicester, plus you have the Nottingham hospitals and even Derby close by. Schools are generally good as well.

You would easily get something nice in your budget.

Central Scotland! There's fantastic hospitals in Glasgow and Edinburgh and if you're around the m8/m74 you can move around for work fairly easily

How about Somerset? Really well regarded hospital (Musgrove park) in Taunton, or Yeovil is supposed to be pretty good, either would have decent consultants for most conditions with extra specialists available in Bath or Bristol if needed.

Would you prefer town or country?

Also, Somerset is pretty easy reach to London and much of the South so travel should be reasonably easy for your kids for contact with their dad (while he may well be doing the collecting etc they’ll probably still have to do the travel too).

Some really good schools depending on area.

School hours jobs are not generally great pay round here, but living costs are quite reasonable and if you are mortgage free you should be reasonably comfortable.

Telford? Right next to the highest performing state secondary school in the country. Very close to the M54 and mainline rail station. Lots of jobs. Lots of people chasing them, too, mind.

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=77569301&sale=9583741&country=england

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=73650833&sale=7901275&country=england

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=69812498&sale=6547402&country=england

For term time income, would you consider becoming a childminder? That would be one part of the jigsaw puzzle. Another vote for Sheffield. A good shopping centre and seemed very friendly. 2 hours by train to London will be good for day trips with your DC.

City or close to city for jobs I'd have thought - denser populations good for sales roles. Denser populations also mean lots of schools, universities and councils all of which more likely to be flexible with hours.

I would echo Norfolk. We moved here several years ago from the expensive Cotswolds. Mostly good schools (huge improvement in recent years), stunning coast and countryside, lovely people and a mix of market towns, pretty villages and lovely Norwich. Great train links to London (we go from Downham Market and in Kings X 1h30), airport useful too. Still a few places I would avoid but you would have some good choices within your budget. Good luck!

Lots in Devon and Cornwall eg www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59398329.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-82362335.html

Quite a pretty house with a great kitchen.

Birmingham?

here

I used to live in this area and wonder about moving back from expensive can't afford to live in SE....

Most of the UK outside the South East tbh.

Sorry, that was only 3 bed...

Back on p1 someone mentioned getting a 4 bed in Manchester for 250K - trust me, the bits of Manchester where you could get a 4 bed house for 250K are not bits of Manchester you would want to live in.

Yorkshire bits of the Pennines? Huddersfield (the bits north of the town centre going up towards junction 24 are nice), Halifax, Keighley, and all commutable to Leeds (and Manchester in the case of Huddersfield).

I live in Sheffield, I love it. Very leafy and close to lots of beautiful countryside (whichever end you live in). Obviously the children's hospital and lots of good schools. Apparently it was voted one of the best places for value, as wages aren’t bad as it’s a city but the house prices are relatively low. Lots of insurance companies are here too with flexible hours.

Cheshire I bought my 4 bed in August for just under 250k. Lovely area too!

Leeds. Lots of choice but as an example this is in a great location
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62485794.html

Chepstow/Monmouth...just over the border into Wales and easy M4 access. Wouldn't get a four bed in the nice parts for 250k, but you'd get a four bed in a reasonable area....the schools are good and its a lovely area

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-81425978.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70558321.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80291117.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70533730.html

My town in pembrokeshire you can get a 4 bed new build for that easily.

honestly start with the job/hospitals first. there are loads of places in the country where 250k will get you a reasonable house.

I would buy this. The beach is a 3 minute walk. Some of the local comps are doing really well too.
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/51282376?search_identifier=0795b34b9aaa572f0145decffc202c21

That would get you a nice house in a good area in the North west. Maybe not the rich snobby areas, but good decent places.