To move up north for a big but cheap house!

[dancingmonkey]

Just that really. I l live in Hertfordshire- south east and very expensive part of Uk. Budget is around £270,000 and around here that will get me a small 2 bed/ poss 3 bed. But have looked at properties in York which I know is lovely and the will get me a 4/5 bed with massive garden, playroom, utility etc!

Has anyone on here moved far from friends and family to get more value for money on a house? did you regret? I have a 2 year old so obviously it would be hard to not see grandparents and friends but other that that not sure what I would miss! I also work from home so wouldn't need to worry about that.

Deal to be done here I think been on the market for 2 years.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-90241871.html

Northerners are defensive because in the whole they have a huge chip about not being from the south

They're really not, they're just tired of the same old generalisms that are spouted every time.

They call people out on the "houses being cheap as chips, lack of culture, hopeless job market and somehow being inferior to anyone who comes from the South" crap. And when people can't articulate a proper response, they call it "being defensive".

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74119777.html

Hi OP, I think you need to consider a few things when relocating, particularly with kids, I have done this a few times.
I grew up in Lancashire, uni in Yorkshire, moved to London, moved to Hertfordshire on Thames link, had 1st baby, moved to East Hertfordshire had baby 2 and now in Berkshire.
Things to think about:
Do you depend & /or see your family a lot? I have never been near my family since my early 20s so hasn't really bothered me. You need to work out if this would be an issue.
Sounds like your careers aren't dependent on location which is a huge plus. One of the biggest reasons we have stayed south is because my husband's career and mine is heavily Southern based.
You need to look at Primary schools and Secondary schools - if you get a great house but you are in a rubbish catchment you need to think of private schooling.
You will make new friends particularly when your children start school
There are so many beautiful places up north where you can get a lot more for your money.
If it feels right, go for it

Northerners are defensive because in the whole they have a huge chip about not being from the south.

Yup, you hit the nail on the head.

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace You definitely sound an acquired taste. I live in the south and have been north of England many times, in lots if different places, from York, Newcastle right up to Edinburgh and Glasgow with lots of places in between. I've always found everyone kind and really friendly. I'd definitely live up north if given the chance but agree that being nearer to family is really important especially in this climate with the virus.

Northerners are defensive because in the whole they have a huge chip about not being from the south.

Oh yes, that's it exactly. We're absolutely gutted 🤣🤣🤣

In the North there are some amazing places to live. You have cities like Liverpool, Leeds, Chester, Newcastle. You can live close to the countryside, have days out in the city. There's a lot of culture, beaches, nightlife, tonnes for kids to do. Similar to the south I imagine :)

We moved and our family followed haha

Don’t want to be a party pooper but I live in York and you’ll find it very hard to buy what you suggest for £270k. Take a look on Rightmove and you’ll see.

Sorry one more thing, if you do move North, you need to consider it will be harder to move back down south.

To everyone, trying to do a North v South divide thing. My experience is that there are nice people and horrible people everywhere - thankfully mainly nice. Northerners tend to chat more and are more direct

Northerners are defensive because in the whole they have a huge chip about not being from the south

I am from the south. I grew up in central London*, I have chosen to spend my adult life and make my home in Yorkshire. Out of curiosity, this thread has made search what we could get for £270K locally. 3-4 beds detached, garden, outstanding schools.

*SW1, none of this Ilford or Bromley being London business

I’m from the north but moved South in 1979. We could move up North and get a nicer house but I’m a summer person and they are at least twice as long where I am. It depends what is important to you.

Lincoln is a nice city, you could get 4 bed detached there for £270k.

Lincoln £245, 950

Once you move it's hard to move back. You are pretty much priced out of the southern housing market. You need to consider eating potential too. You might be able to afford a bigger house in the north but your earning might not increase as easily as they would in the south which might put you in a worse position. I'm talking from my own personal experiences.

@dancingmonkey

The Area you're looking in isn't far from several lovely seaside towns and North Yorkshire is a nice Area.

I'm from the East Midlands and we've looked at moving to either Scarborough or Bridlington.Unfortunately due to hubby's current job it's not going to be possible 🙄

I wouldn't. Would not go up north. You'd never be able to move back.

@Jeeperscreepers69

People say up north... I live in the north east and up north to me is anywhere just past york to borders of scotland. North easteners have warmth but personally i find york and further Down awfully baron. If you say morning at the bus stop in london people ignore you. Wow. North east you chat about everything to anyone.

So true..I'm from the North East but moved to the North West when I met my husband. He regularly says 'who's that you were talking to?' when we go shopping/to the pub/to the park/ anywhere really. I say 'I don't know?'. He says 'but you've been chatting to them for 20 minutes ' That's because I'm sociable, everyone talks to everyone in the North East whether you know them or not. I found it a bit of a culture shock just moving to the North West.

11.08 It's not 400 miles for me, that was another poster, it's 160 miles for me.

Around 3 hour drive

Quick refresh for people that can’t be arsed to read the first few pages or all the Ops responses;
That’s the Op. She never said York was 400 miles away.

Rent for at least a year before you decide

They call people out on the "houses being cheap as chips, lack of culture, hopeless job market and somehow being inferior to anyone who comes from the South" crap. And when people can't articulate a proper response, they call it "being defensive"

Bollocks. No one said anyone from the North was inferior. People have indeed said house prices are cheaper and earnings are lower both those are facts.And cheaper housing us what the Op was looking for, so hardly negative.

Someone said the north was “an acquired taste“ but that doesn't mention the people either. The North has a different look and feel to it As I mentioned earlier there are differences in weather, look of the houses, transport, topography of the area, even the water.

If you’re in Sussex you’ll be used to being in the sunniest bit of the U.K., the gentle hills of the South Downs and flint cottages ( and hard as hell water). That’s pretty different to the scenery and look of Northern countryside. (Yes I know there’s flint cottages in Norfolk and Suffolk before the pedantic ones pile on)
www.open.edu/openlearn/sites/www.open.edu.openlearn/files/imported/o_47742/map_landscape.jpg The scenery is different.

@Leflic have you read the last couple of pages? When you say "No one said anyone from the North was inferior" did you miss the post that said
Northerners are defensive because in the whole they have a huge chip about not being from the south

YANBU we moved out of Herts for the same reason many years ago. I dont regret it.

@Leflic

They call people out on the "houses being cheap as chips, lack of culture, hopeless job market and somehow being inferior to anyone who comes from the South" crap. And when people can't articulate a proper response, they call it "being defensive"

Bollocks. No one said anyone from the North was inferior. People have indeed said house prices are cheaper and earnings are lower both those are facts.And cheaper housing us what the Op was looking for, so hardly negative.

Someone said the north was “an acquired taste“ but that doesn't mention the people either. The North has a different look and feel to it As I mentioned earlier there are differences in weather, look of the houses, transport, topography of the area, even the water.

If you’re in Sussex you’ll be used to being in the sunniest bit of the U.K., the gentle hills of the South Downs and flint cottages ( and hard as hell water). That’s pretty different to the scenery and look of Northern countryside. (Yes I know there’s flint cottages in Norfolk and Suffolk before the pedantic ones pile on)
www.open.edu/openlearn/sites/www.open.edu.openlearn/files/imported/o_47742/map_landscape.jpg The scenery is different.

Does it really matter. If you leave your hometown and move to a new city it will take some getting use to. Most cities look different and have a difference in weather even within the North they are differences. Your right about the houses looking different that’s like that in a lot of places as well. Living in an expensive city that is your hometown but you cannot afford to buy a house in wouldn’t be ideal for a lot of people. Also wages are lower but everything is cheaper so it likely that you will have more disposable income up North.