AIBU to move to a cheaper less “naice” area

[HooMoo]

We currently live in a 3 bed terrace, one baby, two dogs, myself and husband. We need to move to a semi or ideally detached property.

This will probably be majorly outing but I think it gives more context. We are currently in Bradford on Avon - lovely but expensive!

Originally we were thinking max budget £600k but our mortgage would be £2k-£2.2k a month and it just feels too much.

We are now seriously considering Trowbridge - the next town along. We are viewing a house this Thursday there, on the BOA side of Trowbridge literally 5 minutes drive to our old house. We’d release equity around £70-£80k from the sale. It feels mad because a year or two ago I’d never consider this.

But now with a baby, nursery fees and I really want another baby soonish and we’ll need a bigger car it suddenly just makes sense. I’d also be able to go 3 days a week work and it just feels so relaxed financially.

So aibu to even consider this move? Interested as well to hear of people who are local to the area as well.

Had you looked at the modern development between the two - Staverton I think it is ?? - you get a nice detached there for about £425k - thing is it's only 6 minutes into BOA and some nice styles . I'm not the worlds biggest Trowbridge fan if I'm honest - town centre a bit dire- although shopping centre reasonably ok -but yep I do appreciate needs must-and yes living in Bath I know the area well- there a fabulous bungalow style house on the market in Holt for £500k as well

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/87015510#/?channel=RES_BUY

I think there is a huge gulf between less nice and not nice. The area where you're looking sounds like it has a nice family vibe to it.

We live in a perfectly normal, functional part of York. Neither 'naice' nor problematic. We consciously opted for a cheaper house with a good sized garden over a more expensive house/garden in a better area. Not once have I regretted that decision, especially now that we are mortgage free and enjoying the element of financial freedom that comes with that.

I had a look at Trowbridge and it looks perfectly nice to me, I was expecting somewhere like Croydon or Hull!

@CraftyNavySeal to be honest before we popped over there one day I thought it looked fine too- it has some nice housing on the Bradford side- and a nice park , town centre though is a bit desolate, and I thought it looked better on pictures than it was- but yes I can say there are many worse places. Personally I would stay in Bradford, you can buy nice semi chalet style houses around £450 - there just isn't much for sale at moment . Same applies in Winsley which is on edge of Bradford

@HooMoo do you work over that way as you can buy the odd nice thing in Bath for around £500k to £540 which has all the family stuff

This is a decent example

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146454038

That’s one you’ve shared is in my saved properties on Rightmove :) my parents live in bath so open to the idea of Bath too. I think our search area probably stretches from Trowbridge, boa, Winsley to Bath.

Ah yes had a look at those online we drive past them on the way to swimming every week. I quite like them.

This is really positive to hear! I think I want the financial freedom and we could be mortgage free by 45!

Weve done a drive by for that property it’s been on a while started at £600k! But there’s a massive new housing development about to be built in the field behind it.

Grew up in trow and didn't really notice much asb and I was on a council estate!

Some lovely areas in and around trow, my ideal would be Victoria Road or North Bradley.

There's also Warminster and Westbury to think about - we went with Westbury as it was £10/15k cheaper than trow when we were looking (2008) and love that within a 10-mins walk we can be on Salisbury plain. Plus we are pretty close to Frome which has lots of child friendly activities and groups.

Find a decent estate agent and they will advise.

Ps you'll speaking my dream plan - a utility space!

Thanks, Westbury and Warminster is unfortunately just that little bit too far out for work etc.

I just want a massive utility room! We have far too much mud from the dogs and prams etc. 😆

I dont know those areas but I could've got a much bigger place in the next town to be. However although it's got some nice bits the schools are not as good, the town centre is run down and stuff like house and car insurance costs more.

I'm glad I stayed where I am.

We moved to a less desirable area so that we could have more space. It made sense for us as we wanted the kids to have a bedroom each and a garden and that was unaffordable for us in the area we moved from.
The area we moved to was a big new build estate, so not exactly picturesque or desirable but there were loads of other families there, lots going on for families and a good primary school so we were happy there and don't regret moving.
We have recently moved again (for secondary schools) and I want to move back!

OP, often the less naice areas have great communities.

When I left my ex, I moved into a truly scruffy 1 bed flat with my 2yo ds. It was in an ex-council block, and 2nd floor with no lift.

The neighbours might have indulged in noisy arguments, drank a lot and plenty had horrible thug dogs, but I seldom had to carry my shopping & the buggy up two flights of stairs. Most people would help me. You'll be surprised how kind and thoughtful people can be 🙂

@HooMoo I did suspect that with that Holt place - ironically the new estate behind wouldn't bother me at that price for such a great house- but the ongoing mess and noise of them going up probably would!!

If you like 'ordinary practical areas' then Oldfield park is good in Bath- gradually become a bit less studenty and more mixed but some lovely big houses and Victoria park really close, very community minded too - my friend has a 4 bed 3 storey terrace there - would be about £520 k - she loves it

Agree it’s the noise that would bother me. If it was already up I’d be less bothered.

Oldfield park is on our list. There’s a couple I’m quite interested in there around Moorland road.

This is also worth a look in Weston - great layout and nice interior ( I think) plus big garden and very in budget- - yep I think Oldfield p would be a great choice - if I was being honest I think Bath will hold its money more if you can run to it and you will be able to get a decent place -

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155552642#/?channel=RES_BUY

Oh and it's got a huge utility !!

In fact the utility is better than my kitchen!

It’s nice but probably wrong side of bath for us. We’d consider bath if we could walk or be near enough to my parents. I’d like oldfield park, Bloomfield, Combe down. My parents are bear flat but no way we can afford that!

Would Corsham or Chippenham be too far? Corsham might have more of the vibe that you're looking for. Chipp isn't very exciting but there's lots of new housing going up, great schools and lots for young families.

We’ve had a walk round corsham it’s okay we did like the centre. A lot of the houses are in these over built new built estates that just feel quite meh. Although there were a couple of roads we did like. I think I just don’t know it so well but I know Trowbridge pretty well. I wouldn’t consider Chippenham simply cuz it’s similar to Trowbridge so I feel like we may as well be in Trowbridge which is a better location for us.

I get you - I think my friend is going to sell - will find out - could suit you - all new windows etc and quite big