The Cheshire dilemma , location location location

[Lillyjames]

Hi everyone,

Me and my partner have been looking for a property for a few months. We love knutsford, wilmslow and the buzz on Altrincham. We have even been as far out as marple and loved that also. We both need to travel into Manchester for work and Manchester also sits between our families however we don’t love any areas there to live. We would be happy with a 45 min commute.

The issue we are having is there seems to be such a gap in what we can get for our 350k in the areas we like vs everywhere else in Cheshire. We recently saw a house in leftwich northwhich which ticks all our house boxes but we know nothing about the area and I’m suspicious about the prices as we are used to looking at places much more expensive.

Did anyone else have a similar toss up with location ? What did you decide to do ? This will be a house we live in for many years so I want to make sure area is right. So hard when the market is moving so quickly.

You've picked three of the most expensive areas of south Manchester there, you're money won't go far.

Marple is cheaper but not as nice an area, it has an older population.

@Tish008

You've picked three of the most expensive areas of south Manchester there, you're money won't go far.

Marple is cheaper but not as nice an area, it has an older population.

Yep unfortunately we like what they have to offer. We want to get a dog and love to go on walks so like the green space. I also like a bit of interest eg nice places for brunch and quirky little cinemas. We don’t love the areas for their status but they just seem to be the nice areas that have a bit going on.

I've loved and worked in and around wilmslow which is a very lovely place but a bit all face.

Marple is close to the peak district for lovely walks but also Knutsford is pretty green too, albeit is an older village and is much more old money.

Both wilmslow and Knutsford have brilliant markets, covid allowing.

It's all footballer territory though.

Bramhall is another option or Cheadle hulme which have excellent schools and great transport links into Manchester. Bramhall Hall is a mecca for dog walkers and has an annual duck race which is a huge village event

Lived *

If you're going to live there for many years, will schools be relevant? If so, I'd be looking at Altrincham over Knutsford & Wilmslow.

Also for commuting into Manchester, the tram is so convenient (for nights out too) so wherever you look, it's a definite advantage to be on the tram line.

Yes thanks for your info. We are sort of old souls anyway so definitely don’t mind being amongst a lot of older people.

Bramhall is on our list but I haven’t seen any I like since sept there. Maybe this is due to me wanting a period property or maybe not many are selling there I’m not sure.

In terms of children they are quite far in the future for us so schools don’t play a huge role. In the event we did move for better schools we will have still got a good 7 or so years out of this home.

Yes great idea to check any trams