To move from Cornwall to Manchester?

[totaketheplunge]

I live in Cornwall and always have. I'm 26 and have a shared ownership 2 bedroom flat. I feel that I don't want to stay down here forever and I quite like the idea of moving to a big city (I'm a teacher so I can work anywhere) and starting a fresh, especially after an abusive relationship.

I've never been to Manchester, but I've been in a relationship with a Mancunian and love the accent, how welcoming they are etc. also you can get SO much more house for your money! I could trade my shared ownership flat for a 3 bed semi-detached!

Pros? Cons? Anyone who lives in Manchester who can recommend any specific areas to consider and what might make it a good move for a 26yo female.

Thanks!

I assume a typo for Chorlton given the other areas mentioned.

But far too expensive imo.

OP, with your budget I’d look at Levenshulme and Stretford. They might even be a bit of a stretch now, but are up-and-coming, fairly central and much more realistic than the areas people always recommend that are far too expensive.

Also, I’m quite depressed that someone is trying to make “Chobo” a thing. If you live in Whalley Range, just say so.

I like Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield and know a bit about each. Manchester has the best buzz, but a budget of £200K for a semi or even a terrace will restrict your location considerably. Please, not Gorton!! I have a friend in Prestwich. I like the vibe and N Manchester is definitely more affordable.

Stockport is fine and you might be able to find a two bedroom terrace there, but it feels very suburban and family orientated to me. That’s great if it is what you want.

Liverpool is nearly as lively as Manchester with more affordable housing. As a bonus, you’ve got the sea.

Sheffield is a compact, highly liveable city in a beautiful area. It probably has the most affordable housing and it has a good supply of affordable housing, not quite the same thing. As Sheffield is smaller there are fewer top drawer cultural opportunities, but the smaller scale cultural scene - art, music, theatre - is exceptionally vibrant. It is a very friendly city, although Manchester and Liverpool are both friendly also.

You have a fun decision, OP

What about a smallish city like Lincoln? I also love Sheffield, Leeds and Liverpool. All really friendly and lots going on.

Groton is awful that’s why the house is so cheap. A house in a nice area in Manchester eg Didsbury is going to set up back 400-500k

The nice areas in Liverpool are on par with the nice areas in Manchester.

For example

South Liverpool - Allerton, Childwall, Sefton Park

North Liverpool - Crosby, Formby, Ainsdale

Houses cost the same as nice areas of South Manchester. Manchester is definitely not more expensive than Liverpool.

My partner is Cornish and we are moving to Manchester! At the moment we're choosing between the south Manchester suburbs and Macclesfield, which you may like - it's a town not a city so a huge matter of choice, but has regular 23 minute trains to Manchester as well as direct lines to London, the Peak District on the doorstep and cheaper house prices than the nice bits of Manchester. In Manchester you want to be on the metrolink really, Prestwich is a good place with a vibrant young community and green space with reasonably priced houses.

@totaketheplunge please don't move to Gorton, it's really horrible!!!

l know Cornwall has very few opportunities out of the holiday season and that many local people have been priced out of the property market by people from outside the area buying second homes. It is also natural for someone of your age to have itchy feet. However, you come across as incredibly naïve in your outlook. Your only connection to Manchester is an ex-boyfriend who originally came from there. You say that as a teacher you could find work anywhere but is it really as easy as all that? Have you looked into teaching posts in Manchester? It would be very different from Cornwall and possibly not for the better. Also, as others have pointed out, there is not as big a north/south gap in house prices as there used to be if you want to live in a decent area. I agree with others who have suggested looking further south. There are many places in the West Country where you would get the change of scenery but be a bit nearer to family and friends. The south Midlands might be worth exploring, too.

@totaketheplunge it's a fallacy when people think they can get so much more 'up north' - you can in certain areas, but not necessarily where you might want to live and if I'm honest about Manchester- I like the city but it has very few areas I would pick to live- and the ones I would are all almost as expensive as here in Bath - the only way you will benefit is if you really aren't that picky or if you look at cheaper areas than the usual suspects that are still connected like Rochdale, Bury, Bolton , Greenfield (saddleworth) etc.

Personally if going further 'up north ' and wanted better value I would pick the Wirral and Liverpool or Newcastle/Durham or maybe Nottingham

I moved up to Mcr 11 years ago, well Greater Manchester. Had only visited once with work previously and had no ties to that part of the country at all.

I have zero regrets, great city, fantastic transport links, balance of city life but with amazing countryside not far away.

I made a random decision to rebase my life following a relationship breakdown and could not have picked a better place to do it.

Research where you buy though, I too bought rather than rented but took onboard advice from people who knew the area, not so much on where to go, but definitely on where not to.

I did exactly this, as a teacher, about 20 years ago. Loved Manchester for similar reasons and settled here. Manchester schools were a shock at first but the city is great and you’re only an hour from beautiful beaches in Formby, Wales etc. I agree with what others have said about getting to know areas; south Mcr is the most ‘graduate’ place, but there are good, cheaper areas in the west.

I love living in Manchester. Its been my home for 23 years, but I'm a northerner. There's so much variety for someone fairly flexible from central areas like where I live (Urmston) to further out heading towards the peak district,chaehure, the moors, or the other countryside surrounding Manchester.

It's hard to get a feel for the place without living here for a while. What do you like about where you live now and will try and suggest a place to rent. I suggest looking for jobs in good areas. Trafford or the right parts of Stockport are a good bet for schools.

Please don't move to Gorton. You can't get anywhere decent in Manchester for under £300 2 bed. There's loads of great areas. We have lots of lovely big parks. It's very family friendly and convenient. I'd like to live in a big house in the country but I prefer convenience.

I live in Manchester and love it. But I would 100% recommend visiting before moving. Its not as cheap as it once was either.

Just what I was thinking.

I agree Liverpool has more to offer, with the added bonus of being on the coast, but do love Manchester as well. In both cities as per pp property prices are high in the more desirable areas. If you find a house on Rightmove that is dirt cheap there will be a reason for that. You really need to do a lot more research into where you want to live before committing to buying a house or it could be a disaster move. Maybe move up to the NW and rent for a bit to get a feel for the place?

Can you stick it on air bnb or spare room while you rent in a house share in Manchester for the first few months while you decide? Or you can just sell up if you're sure you want to leave your area and try Manchester renting before you buy anywhere there

Ps if you have itchy feet also look at dubai/Singapore/Hong Kong - great for teaching

Manchester is great. Particularly for young people. Get a job up here. Sell your flat. Rent in a house share for a bit and meet some friends. Then decide where to buy ( and maybe benefit from house prices falling?) central Manchester, Chorlton, West Didsbury all good places to house share and not too studenty.

Abbey hey is straight off the set of shameless op

Monton
parts of Swinton
Worsley
Prestwich

You have shared ownership thus you say you have to sell.
Why can you not ask your co-owner to share a house with a lodger? They could choose the person.
You might not like the new city and if you don't sell and buy in the same market you can really lose out finincially if the house prices escalate.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123477329
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138676463 in Salford 6 which is fairly close Manchester centre and has lots of nice properties.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139111334 mad decor but I know this road. Nice neighbours and the street is a relative oasis in the area. Very close to Manchester and a good Aldi at the top of the road.

Three bed in Monton for £200k...not a chance

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/133676435
nice road if you want a doer upper.