To ask your views on Hartlepool?

[HartlepoolMover]

Please do not judge firstly.
I am 41 and still live at home. I am Surrey based and single.
I work but don't earn enough to live independently in this area.
A few months back I visited Hartlepool for a wedding and really liked the area. Of course many would say it is run down but I love the beach, the marina and they have a shopping centre.
I have 70K which is my life's worth savings so could definitely be in a position to buy a 1 bed flat there. I have health issues and they have a hospital nearby also. I do a job which will never be made redundant (sorry to be cryptic but don't want to be outed) so no worries with finding work.
I would be alone but I need that. Family issues and being the scapegoat in the family has made me see I need a clean break and to rebuild my confidence.
Just wondered if anyone could provide any feedback.
Thanks in advance.

OP is talking about a 1 bed in Hartlepool- I’m guessing they’re not thinking about a mortgage.

Possibly but it doesn't mean they couldn't.

There are also flats in Whitley Bay on Right Move for that sort of price.

Perhaps, but I was specifically talking about Whitby, Sunderland and Newcastle. I think Hartlepool is a better bet than Whitley Bay.

Maybe you could get somewhere for a bit cheaper but I shouldn’t think it’s anywhere near as nice!

Hartlepool has some lovely areas - definitely worth checking out. There are cheaper places in the NE/Teesside area, but I think taking house prices and amenities into consideration, Hartlepool scores pretty highly.

What about Blyth?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150581546

I do want to buy and not rent.
It's only me so that's why I only want a one bed flat.

I’m excited for you OP! It’s a nice part of the world. :)

I think you might get a culture shock coming from Surrey.

There are some really nice apartments by the marina for under 70. It’s fairly cold im winter but lovely in the summer months. Go for it.

It was on Rich Holiday, Poor Holiday last night and dh and l both said it looked quite nice!

I am definitely not posh if that's what you mean.
I hate the humid and horrible heat we get down this way in the summer. Much prefer colder weather, yet another reason to move.

You could also look at Morecambe/Lancaster. Again some cheap and not so cheap areas.

From Rightmove:

Overall, sold prices in TS24 over the last year were 19% down on the previous year and 16% down on the 2021 peak of £120,101.

I would find somewhere better from an investment perspective, you can buy a one bedroom flat for £70K in OK parts of Sheffield and Liverpool, which are more desirable than Hartlepool and therefore property is better value, comparatively. I’ve been in Hartlepool once, which was enough. I know it’s tempting to be mortgage free, but think about other factors.

Yes, this is what I would take into account.

You could get a nice 1 bed in Saltburn with a small mortgage and probably a better long term investment.

Another poster who lives here and actually, I like it. Like a pp has said, look at the outskirts such as Hart, then inside the town look at Clavering, Bishop Cuthbert, both are nice, West Park is lovely but expensive, Fens area is also nice.

Everywhere has its nice parts and it's horrible parts 😊

Wow judgemental much! Saltburn is beautiful and an easy drive to plenty of places.

Ah right. My BIL, nieces and nephews and 75-year old FIL live there and we visit Saltburn often. Thanks for letting us know, I’ll pass on the info to DH’s family.

I live in the NE and agree with this. However, I think the OP was saying she could afford to buy out-right in Hartlepool? I would choose any of those three places over Hartlepool.

There were riots about 20 minutes from where I currently live so not worried about that as such.
I'm not just settling for Hartlepool. I genuinely think I could be happy there.
The university of Hartlepool hospital is also very close which is very important also due to my chronic illnesses.

What if you buy there and for whatever reason you need to sell in, say, ten years and you can only get £60K for it?

A friend in Sunderland paid £60K for her two bedroom terrace 20 years ago and she now estimates it would sell for £45K.

Sorry I didn't quite mean that. I mean, it's an area where there isn't much diversity or incomers. People of Durham are the best (biased..ha... family connections!) but it can be insular in areas like Hartlepool and I don't think Surrey has much in common with it. But if you go try it out and love it then good luck to you.

I suppose I have done a similar move because I'm not from where I've ended up and it is also fairly insular. It's been ok but after twenty odd years, it's still not quite home and the people are not my people. I miss the north.

Will you need to work? It's not the best area economical either but I may be out of date.

😮