FTBs in Manchester - where to buy?

[cascaid]

Hi guys,

I am REALLY hoping you can help us with our house search! My husband and I are FTBs looking to buy in South Manchester preferably with a budget of £150k (v. small budget in S Manchester I know), could stretch to £160k.

We are looking preferably for a 2 bed terrace (3 bed would be great but don't think we'll get it in our price range) somewhere with a lovely community feel, close enough to countryside for walks etc. with good local primary schools and a few local shops would be nice. My husband currently works in Altrincham and commutes by car whereas I work at MRI and don't drive so good train/tram links to city centre would be ideal.

Any ideas on areas would help greatly, we're getting a bit area blind at the moment, keep looking at the areas surrounding Manchester but not knowing which are good and bad!

Alty can be a pain to drive in and out of although your husband will be generally going against traffic so maybe not too bad, how's he finding it now?

Have you looked at Sale? Also slightly further north in Urmston? You could look Stockport way, but I don't really know it well enough to recommend specific areas. Chorlton/Didsbury are out of your price range.

Where have you looked?

There are some 2 bed terraced houses in central sale, near the Metrolink. I saw one just off Hope Road. Very handy.

There are a few like this. Cobbled street, two beds, downstairs bathroom. Have a look near Dane Road Metrolink too. Minutes into Alty.

Excellent primary and high schools, and grammar schools if you are so inclined. 20 mins into town on the tram. Decent parks, and The Steamhouse which is the (only) decent pub.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33321621.html?premiumA=true

This has an upstairs bathroom, and a small yard.

I was going to suggest Sale or Timperley as an alternative. You get more for your money than in Altrincham.

You might struggle with the community feel bit, in manchester suburbs.

Sale has been a bit mad lately and doesn't seem good value.

I'd echo Urmston, nice houses & town centre, great schools, direct train into Deansgate.

Stretford has some nice parts (near tram station/Chorlton border, and Urmston lane area)

Spend lots of time looking at different areas, drive around, go for a walkabout etc. get a feel for an area.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, we're in Salford Quays at the moment and it can take him 45 minutes to do the 8 mile drive to work or 60 minutes if there is a Man U game on! Sale prices do seem a bit crazy at the moment, have seen loads of 2 bed terraced for £170-180k which for a 2 bed seems silly to me - maybe I'm being unrealistic who knows!

We've been looking all over South Manc really, have had viewings on houses around the Cheadle area but didn't like the feel of it really. We will definitely have a look around Urmston, I know a couple of people who live there so well worth a go!

Any thoughts on Macclesfield anyone? Very reasonable house prices and really close to the Peaks which would be ideal for us, plus hubby is a Medical Writer and most of the jobs seem to be based there!

Stretford.

A friend of a friend moved to Macclesfield. From a city centre Manchester apartment to a cottage in Macc, total lifestyle change! think they did it mainly to be close to the peak district. I think they still commute to Manchester but not sure how good the train is, could still be a slow diesel thing.

I like it generally over there, Poynton is nice, bit closer to Hazel Grove/Stockport, but probably more expensive than Macc.

Hi,

We moved from Salford Quays to Sale Moor about three years ago. We are 5 mins walk from Sale Moor Village and about 20ish min walk into Sale Town centre. They have just built a new tram line going to the airport and into town (change at cornbrook for now but will eventually be a direct line). Buses quite frequent into sale, manchester, alti etc and buses to the airport, trafford centre and Wythenshawe hospital all at the end of my street.

The local schools are great, Limetree is our closest and is Ofstead outstanding. Not sure if you have kids or plans to but it is so cute, they have a veg garden and chickens etc. Very sweet!

We have a three bed terrace house (small rows of five or six houses) with a decent sized garden and a bit of front garden. Good local shops 2 mins away with a hairdressers, laundrette, local spar/mace type shop, chippy, community centre, chemist etc. There is also a Tesco metro just past the local shops. Lots of little parks both kids ones and for walking the dog (if you have either). A few decent pubs and cafes in the village. Sale Moor Village has the best Butchers (Taylors), a few greengrocers, deli, cafes, small restaurants etc

Oh and the new Met goes to Sale Water park which has lovely walks and decent restaurant (The Boathouse).

Our 3 bed house was under £150,000

Happy hunting! Let me know if you want any more info.