To want to sell up and buy this house by the sea?

[caramara]

Lockdown boredom has set in and started looking for somewhere to buy with what I could roughly have in equity if I sold my house.

I know Jaywick is a bit rough (I'm the opposite side of Essex currently so know the area a little) but still, can it really be that bad? The idea of being mortgage free is quite appealing, and the house looks like it requires no work at all, plus I love the kitchen.

And I could walk to the beach!

the house

Please tell me I'm BU/ point out all the faults with my plan!

It's likely you wouldn't be 'accepted' there as you would be an 'outsider'.

Please don't. Once you're in you will find it impossible to get out.

However nice the house is (and I suspect this one will look much less appealing if you go and see it), location is hugely important for your safety and happiness. I've spent a weekend in Clacton (which was jolly and quite friendly though my friend, who lives there, hates it and says the locals are awful) and a week in Frinton (which is dreary and pretentious) and both times I've been through Jaywick (between those two towns) by car/bus and it is terrifically depressing. I urge you to go and visit it and you will see what we are all talking about.

ArriettyJones thank you! have just found a reasonable one in budget in Great Yarmouth. I know nothing of GY, but it looks a bit better than Jaywick based purely on streetview...

wonderwhatnext it really does need to be a house. I'd hate to live in a flat. I can stay where I am and keep paying the mortgage, but the idea of living by the sea, working fewer hours and having a dog appeals (this may be lockdown talking of course), and I can't do any of that unless I move somewhere cheaper and buy with my equity.

Why is the kitchen full of those lockers from the swimming pool?

I take the point about Jaywick generally but I still think the house is really nice, I know it wouldn't work for a family but for 2 adults I think it would be pretty comfortable.

If you’re the other side of Essex (Havering, Redbridge?), take a day trip to have a drive around as soon as travel is permitted. Then find a nice pub in Dedham or somewhere pretty to recover from the shock.

Meanwhile take a virtual stroll round Jaywick on google maps to give yourself an idea.

When we are telling you it’s rough, we mean tougher than anything you’ve ever seen in your life. I’d quite honestly think it was similar to going to prison, demographically speaking, and there are almost ZERO amenities.

Also, read the history of how the place sprung up in the first place. It does help explain what happened. Plus the documentary.

If you do your research, you will drop the idea like a hot brick.

I absolutely don't want to live anywhere that feels unsafe. I've lived where I am now my whole life; anyone not from London would think it's a bit rough but to me it's fine, I know it, I know the people - obviously I wouldn't have any of that in a new area, I'd have to go by first impressions.

I suspect in the case of Jaywick that wouldn't be great.

I think I've been 95% put off it now! I might still take a drive up there once we can all travel around freely, just to confirm to myself I couldn't live there.

I've been to Jaywick
Don't buy before visiting in person
High unemployment area
Ok for a holiday

ArriettyJones thank you! have just found a reasonable one in budget in Great Yarmouth. I know nothing of GY, but it looks a bit better than Jaywick based purely on streetview...

Phew. I was getting worried about you there for a moment! I must emphasise that GY has plenty of problems, but it’s still a couple of rings up from Jaywick. Three if you choose your area carefully.

GY is comparable to Margate now or to Hastings fifteen-twenty years ago, I’d you’re DA molar with either of those.

...if you’re familiar with either of those.

OP - if 3 bed; near the sea; good for dog walking and quick connections into London are your priorities - plus the mortgage free aspect - what about something like this in the very fashionable Whitstable? (I love looking on Rightmove).

Villages around The Lincolnshire Wolds are lovely, half an hour drive to the coast. Here’s one town, www.theguardian.com/money/2018/jan/12/lets-move-to-louth-lincolnshire-worth-the-slog#comments

I can think of plenty of places in the UK that are as bad or worse than Jaywick has been portrayed and besides, often you are only shown one side of things. I would rather live in a shithole by the sea than a shithole overlooking the North Circular. I would do as others have advised and spend some time there first, preferably also at night so you can get a feel for the level of anti-social behaviour and if it is just in certain areas and remember that old adage, be careful what you wish for.....

Sorry, meant to say, I know it’s a mobile home, but really it’s the same thing as a bungalow - no? Also, the problem with Jaywick in that documentary was that many of the houses were only built to be temporary and are now collapsing and there’s no money to repair them.

www.pridemagazines.co.uk/lincolnshire/highlights/10-of-the-best-lincolnshire-villages/03-2018

I’d suggest you rent a holiday key for a few weeks before you commit.

OP, you could get a nice cottage in Frinton on Sea, just outside the 'gates.' You'll be within walking distant of restaurants, coffee shops, cultural activities, tennis, cricket and golf clubs. You won't get anything inside the 'the gates,' within your budget.
Walton is a bit run down, but has some nice property and the beach is nice.
Kirby Le Soken, is not coastal, but less than 10 minutes drive to the beach.

I don't know anything about Jaywick, only what I saw on tv, so can't really comment, but just wanted to ask what the problem is with downstairs bedrooms?

I live in a maisonette and my bedrooms and bathroom are downstairs.

I love my little house!

The house is lovely, but I also saw jaywick on that benefit programme and it looked like a proper shit hole. As previously mentioned, it’s that cheap for a reason!

I’m not a snob but honestly, evacuation for tidal surge? Poor construction , ex holiday chalets? Below sea level? More authoritarian countries probably wouldn’t even allow humans to inhabit such places. I’d be out.

I think the house is quite cute, and feel a bit downhearted by all the people saying its tiny..it's bigger than my house!
But Jaywick...noooooo!
Go North OP. Scarborough? It's a proper town all year round (and yes a bit sketchy in places) but not in the same league as Jaywick, and a short hop to York.
Or further North? As long as you can get to the East coast mainline you're only a couple of hours from that London,

Girvan looks nice and you can get a 2 bed flat for under £80k

If you google earth Jaywick it’s like Canvey Island back in the day - some retirement bungalows done up nice, some half derelict. I don’t know Jaywick and I wouldn’t base my opinion on the dumb ‘Everything-On-Benefits’ documentary about the place either.

Higher than average unemployment. A desolate and not very scenic windswept beach. But probably some good community.

The only way to tell is visit the place and walk around.

Don’t they recommend to always buy ‘the worst house on the best street’ rather than the other way round?

I drove through Jaywick once and my overriding impression was of chalets and cars up on bricks with a variety of rubbish dumped in front gardens. Seriously depressed area - you would be mad to move there. The house has tiny rooms and barely any garden. It would be a huge no from me.

Girvan isn’t without issues either.

I would say that this isn't in a great area either - but much nicer than the one you are thinking about - and much cheaper too.
Probably too far though.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68194252.html

I've been to jaywick, I wouldn't live there.