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Original poster

Houses

49 replies

thegrowlygus · 05/12/2009 07:38

Gah. We were buying our dream home. Meant to be moving in Jan. They have pulled out. The swines.

So now we are back looking again.

Generally we have looked at the villages but I am starting to wonder about the centre of town - can I do city centre living?

Persuade me either way!!

Think we will start looking at some houses in the centre just to see what we are 'missing'.

OP posts:
cbmum · 05/12/2009 08:00

We live in the city centre and love it. There's no need to be constantly putting a buggy in and out of the car, just walk wherever you want to.

The town centre is more expensive than the villages and you won't get as much space but we decided we preferred location over space.

We moved in August from a 2 bed house just off Mill Road to the Castle Hill area of town and don't regret moving even closer to the town centre.

Slimcognito · 05/12/2009 11:56

I feel your pain. Just before Christmas too!

We lived right in the centre in a rental property owned by one of the colleges and it was ace. I've also lived in the Panton St/Norwich St area which is fairly central and that was ace too. I would have no hesitation in moving back more centrally if the right place came up. Having said that, my walk into town is only 10 mins along the river and midsummer common so it's not too bad either

Most residential areas in the centre are only a short walk away from green spaces and playparks (Jesus Green, the backs, midsummer common, Coe Fen, Sheep's Green, Lammas Land etc.

Go for it!

goldenpeach · 06/12/2009 23:34

Living in rental in CB4, I'm quite close to centre compared to other houses I have seen. I'd love to be buy even closer, but not much up for sale and prices are absolutely crazy, worse than last year (makes no sense since times are hard). Lots of houses are coming back onto the market, though.

Still very little for sale that is remotely nice unless one has 500K

Original poster
thegrowlygus · 07/12/2009 12:48

I agree! I went to look at one this morning - central ish, on for 575k and already has an offer of the asking price from someone that has already sold.

4 bed, end terrace.

Nuts isn't it?!

Everywhere else in the country houses are moving slowly - here I feel I have to fight over them!

Beautiful house though...(it was the one that was on the front of the property press this week!)

OP posts:
Rubyrubyruby · 07/12/2009 12:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coolma · 07/12/2009 15:48

I want to live a village too! We live about half a mile out of town, sort of the best of both worlds, but not when it comes to choosing schools Want to live in a nice Cb village where they will go to the nice village school like ! did!!

Sorry that was no help at all was it

gizmo · 07/12/2009 16:02

Growlygus - ouch!

That's a real shame. I live on Castle Hill too and I have to say I do love it - 10 minutes walk to the middle of town and everything that's going on. Very easy to see friends, very easy to just go out for a wander and see what fun things you can find.

90% of my journeys are on foot or on a bike - we only need one car so save a bit there. I'm also very close to work so that saves a lot of time.

It's probably true what you say about space. However we moved from a Mill Road terrace to a 3 bed semi with a 90 ft garden so it feels comparatively spacious to us. If you wanted something which isn't outrageously priced would you consider a refurb/renovation opportunity?

Also, what do you like about village life, and what attracts you to city centre living?

gizmo · 07/12/2009 16:12

Aha, looking at the house in Victoria Park a thought has occurred to me. How much space do you want?

There is a house here which has been on the market for about 3-4 months and has already had one substantial price drop (down from 675k, IIRC) It's been done by a developer who is frankly pushing his luck, 675K for that location is crazy, and having reduced the price twice, I think if you were to approach him with an offer around the same level as the Victoria Park house you might get some traction.

It is (a little) smaller than the Victoria Park house, but an OK location and everything brand spanking new. Worth a look if you're toying with city centre living.

Lilymaid · 07/12/2009 16:19

We live in a village south of Cambridge and have found that villages are great for primary schools and for village colleges (if you choose the right place) but eventually your DCs will end up at Hills/Long Road and you will spend a lot of time collecting DCs from town and hearing them moan about living in the sticks and the awfulness of the bus service!

coolma · 07/12/2009 16:38

Yes, I went to Hills road from a village about 8 miles away and it was a pain for my mum!

goldenpeach · 07/12/2009 18:35

Went to see a friend last week. She lives in Impington and she showed me Histon too. I think they are ok as villages because of schools and activities for kids, but as soon as they become teeenagers, who knows?

I find these better than Girton, which is too small and has less stuff going on but having already lived in a small town for 15 months before I moved here, I think I'd rather stick to being close to the city centre.

Found out that a detached in Alpha Road sold for 380 last year, arrrrrr. Houses in this road are now selling for 500-600.

I don't mind buying a wreck myself but then you have to fight against developers. I think estate agents prefer them as they get two commissions (on first sale and on the sale when they have done it up)

Original poster
thegrowlygus · 07/12/2009 20:23

Yep - that dawned on us as friends of ours have just sold their house - gorgeous it is too, and we were very interested in it, but it is in the middle of nowhere. And the reason they were moving to the city centre? Because their teenage girls needed better access to their friends.

We almost put an offer in until it dawned that in about 10 years time we will be in the exact same situation!

OP posts:
mulledfruitshootandcheese · 07/12/2009 20:34

Buy mine!
I'm about 30 mins outside cambridge. Small village, nice walks, pub. 4/5 bedroomed semi.

Original poster
thegrowlygus · 07/12/2009 20:38

Sounds nice - where are you?!

That one on Magrath Ave looks gorgeous - but HOW MUCH!!!! Good heavens.

OP posts:
mulledfruitshootandcheese · 07/12/2009 20:51

probably a bit small if you're looking at 500k ish our is only 250. We are about 4 miles outside Haverhill on the Newmarket road

Original poster
thegrowlygus · 07/12/2009 21:21

Wrong way out for us too - sorry!

Am just trying to persuade my DH into thatch and beams. He is having none of it!

OP posts:
ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 07/12/2009 21:38

my friend lives int eh widsor road area and it seems perfectly placed for town yet not too bustling.. there are a few houses on that road up for sale at the mo. £375??

gizmo · 07/12/2009 23:00

Yes, I agree with you re the price on that Magrath Ave house, GG. The fact is it's still over priced and not shifting which is why I think the developer might accept an offer. There was also a fairly good sized 4 bed house on Carlyle Road for £545k until just a couple of weeks ago, which didn't sell, and I imagine the owners might still be open to an offer, but that one did have a small garden (sort of 30-40 ft, if I recall correctly)

GoldenPeach, I think the Alpha Road house that sold for £380 was actually a pretty small 3 bedder, so it might not have suited you anyway, if that's any consolation?

coolma · 08/12/2009 08:26

God this is so depressing. My mum bought bought a house on Oxford road for £7,000 in 1976! Unbelievable!!

MizZan · 08/12/2009 23:58

would any of you consider buying a house in the town centre but with no garden and with commercial buildings right next door/behind? thinking about doing this as we are feeling a bit desperate to buy and to stay in our neighborhood, and deffo can't afford to buy the vast majority of them (and nothing at all coming up for sale anyway). for logistical reasons a village won't work for us, and the nearer the train station, the better...this ticks that box and is big enough but not sure if we're being very shortsighted.

coolma · 09/12/2009 08:55

Whereabouts roughly?

gizmo · 09/12/2009 09:22

Probably not, in honesty: a garden is very important for my family.

But there might be ways around it. For example, if the commercial buildings have some 'spare' land or car parking which backs onto the house, then it's always worth approaching the landowner and seeing if they might be persuaded to sell you some?

Are you looking at that house at the bottom of Glisson Road, Mizzan, near the Hills Road junction?

Rubyrubyruby · 09/12/2009 09:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 09/12/2009 10:52

rubyrubyruby I feel the same about our village but we don't have a great bus service, it is ok,

we were determined we didn't want to be outside the A14/A11/M11 triangle but coming just the otherside made a HUGE difference to houseprices

Rubyrubyruby · 09/12/2009 11:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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