AIBU to hope for a fresh start by the sea on £250k

[RussetDreams]

I am mid fifties and want a new start. No family support. AIBU to think I can find a house by the sea or in a low-crime market town with a maximum budget of £250k? Any ideas?
YABU - budget is too low
YANBU - these places exist

Look at the North Yorkshire coast and Redcar and Cleveland. Moved here 20 years ago and never regretted a moment 😀

My next door neighbours house is for sale for less than that and we are 1mile from the atlantix ocean in Cornwall
Very little crime.

I’m by Rhyl and it’s not the best. Maybe Llandudno would suit though?

In the nicest possible way, what are the odds of you keeping your fully remote job in the next 3-5 years? As a lot of the areas suggested aren’t the best for job prospects

Scarborough is lovely. Lots going on in the town. The actual Main Street for shopping is tired but I think that’s true of most towns. It has smaller shops on falsgrave and ramshill. The spa and open air theatre. North bay playhouse has just reopened.
Southcliff is the nicest area I think but the old town has been gentrified. Lots of parks and gardens open to everyone, southcliff gardens have a strong community group, often have yoga or music in the gardens
Very friendly town. Safe town. I was on the beach with my kids in the dark earlier in the year and so were lots of other people so cafes on the front were open and the cliff lifts stay open until 10pm sometimes later.

Berwick on Tweed is lovely in the far north east. Also easy access to Edinburgh/Newcastle by train if need to shop

I live in the area and I agree, I don’t think the OP would like Ayr. I personally don’t think Ayr is as bad as people say it is but I wouldn’t necessarily choose to live there.
Troon and Prestwick are both nice towns with good reputations Prestwick is popular but I prefer Troon. However, depending where the OP is from they might seem run down to her.
How about Northumberland? It’s got nice market towns that are close to the sea. Not sure about property prices.

Property prices in many second home areas has collapsed as not only do they have to pay much higher stamp duty on purchase if it’s a second home - but in addition local councils are charging either double or triple council tax - so many are being offloaded as people can’t afford the ongoing costs. This won’t have bottomed out yet - and on the change in LL / long term rental and there is a lot of property not sold. Take your time. I would rent in a few places to get the feel for the place (new RR means you can do 3 months minimum each stay) - so sell yours - try out 2-3 places before you buy as buying and selling is a huge chunk of your equity.

Do you have family or friends in any particular part of the UK that you might travel to or they visit a couple of times a year? Do you have any hobbies or particular environments you like?

Port Seaton is mostly ok, I had friends who lived there and had problems but I think that was very localised to the area they lived in, I don’t think you’d have any problems in a house worth £250k.
The area has great transport links into Edinburgh although you do need to drive to the station.

The beach is ok, I suspect it isn’t the beach the OP is dreaming off.

London and West Yorkshire, no particular hobbies except walking and swimming. It’s a good idea to wait as people are selling up. I don’t live in a second home area. Thank you!

Got to admit ) we went last year from Exeter) I thought Exmouth and Teignmouth were both somewhat typically run down seaside towns, not what I expected at all and not that nice ,( and Torquay was just awful) Topsham on the other hand was very nice indeed .

Mumbles near Swansea is absolutely gorgeous! You could find something lovely for £250k. E.G

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/168659483#/?channel=RES_BUY

I don't recommend personally. The hospital is scary bad. The island is full of racist white people.

The reason I suggested these areas is that they are all easily connected back to London if that’s a plus for you , they are on the train and aren’t remote if ever you need to look for work and some of the better weather in the UK too - don’t get me wrong you could get more for your money in Wales or Scotland or the north east but you have to factor in a fair few things - I’m also going to do you a list of nice market town/non sea side ones too . I think I just wanted to say it’s very doable and doesn’t have to mean middle of nowhere or a grim seaside town so long as you are open minded. - as you are - Can I ask if you are quite ‘boho minded’ and don’t mind a bit of scruff if it’s vibrant and lots going on or do you like neat asa pin and are ok with a bit dull - or ok with a mix - I can’t presume -! everyone for instance always mentions Frome ( not too far from us) or Lewes or Stroud - but they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea

Have a read of this thread …. to consider if you want to avoid living in a tourist town as it’s only going to get worse - it’s considerably cheaper and quieter to live a few miles inland from the coast - and then just drive to the beach regularly - depends if you see yourself walking from your home daily to the beach. But looks like there are plenty of quiet coastal locations. Also with climate change I wouldn’t necessarily be looking for better weather on the south coast - might be intolerable in 20 years time when retired

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5554457-does-your-hometown-get-insane-and-awful-in-summer?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share

OP said she would also consider inland market towns.

Average house prices in Clevedon are much more than the OP's budget. It's a very desirable area and a lot of young families are moving there from Bristol, where house prices are currently ridiculous, pushing them up further.

I’m loving this thread - thanks for starting - so many affordable properties in out of the way places - my idea of hell would be to be in a coastal tourist town.

Yes I’m quite boho minded!

Yes, will definitely consider inland market towns, thank you.

Fab - go you! I went to Brixham in Devon last year, it was fabulous and plenty of property in that price range.

Brighton is very shabby and scruffy though, was really surprised how depressed it seemed last time I went. There are lots of better-kept and smarter places with nice beaches.

Narberth is a lovely little town, quite arty.

Wherever you end up I would love to be invited for a holiday. I am joking actually.

That’s a lovey area. Very rural but probably has everything you need and not far from some beautiful beaches and walks.