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Original poster

Any tips for a first time buyer home near Manchester City Centre?

159 replies

Gregorianchant · 31/01/2015 14:35

The budget is £80k-£100k, but could maybe stretch a bit for the right property. Would like 2 beds and a safe area not too far from the centre ie walking distance or near to good public transport links. There seem to be a number of 2 up 2 down on Zoopla etc from £55k upwards, but I have no idea what is a good place to buy. The house is intended for 2-3 years for a couple, no DC involved so schools not important.

All suggestions welcome!

OP posts:

Lagoonablue · 06/02/2015 16:45

Just had a look. Urmston is a bit pricey. Could get a flat though!

You won't get much in Chorlton on your budget btw.

CheeseBadger · 06/02/2015 16:54

On RightMove there are about 5 flats in M21 in your budget. If you can, try to be north of Chorlton Brook. This knocks out the Hardy Lane ones, leaving a choice of about 2.

You'll find more choice in Whalley Range for that price, as I said.

Or 2 claiming to be in Didsbury.

Don't feel restricted to my favourite areas, although you will probably find these the easiest places to sell on or rent out in.

Shedding · 06/02/2015 17:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wowfudge · 06/02/2015 17:04

In the better areas, for your budget, you are looking at flats, rather than houses. Or you need to look further afield.

If you can push the budget to £100k, you might want to consider Stockport - specifically Edgeley, Davenport and Cheadle Heath because they are the right side for Manchester Uni and in easy travelling distance. Public transport is good - the station is on the doorstep in Edgeley and Davenport has it's own station just three mins drive from Stockport station, giving you options.

In Davenport you'd be looking at a small flat, but you could get a house in either of the other two.

Stockport is nothing to write home about, but it's so close to Manchester and practically every train into the city stops there.

Original poster

Gregorianchant · 06/02/2015 17:56

We would consider a flat but we are worried about service charges. I have looked at Urmston, but it seems a bit out of our price range. If we had more money I would love to be in the city centre/Northern Quarter, but it's out of reach, so we are trying to find something easily accessible, that will keep its value and which we can rent out later if we need to.

Will explore some of these further suggestions, thank you so much for your help.

We also expressed an interest in the one in M7 and asked some questions about why it had been on the market so long, why the previous sale had fallen through, was it social housing etc - we are still waiting for a reply!

OP posts:

Kelly1814 · 06/02/2015 18:00

I own two city centre Manchester apartments.

Anything that is 55k is likely to be in a very undesirable area.

What areas have you short listed?

Shedding · 06/02/2015 21:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheMightyMing · 07/02/2015 08:11

I have lived in MCr all my life.

Chorlton on Medlock- avoid, I run through it sometimes him from work, not nice at all.

Salford- not great in parts.

Levenshulme- again I run through it, it's a bit grimy and has become the settling area for a lot if Roma families, my friend lives there and has had horrific troubles with them ( not being racist, this is a fact) .

Hulme and Whalley Range are better, Stretford would be great if you could afford it. Good motorway links, tram has been in for well over 20 years.I'd think would be fairly easy to sell.

All of the Northen Quarter, New Islington etc I would avoid, it's just blocks of flats and houses with everything else crap round them.

I live closeish to the Stockport areas, Edgeley and Cheadle Heath good and accessible- I wouldn't go past Stockport town centre though.

cluecu · 07/02/2015 10:24

Haven't read whole thread, sorry, but we just bought in Blackley for 90k. 3 bed and near good transport links to town. It's obviously not as nice as didsbury or chorlton but I like it and couldn't afford south Manc

housepicturesqueclub · 07/02/2015 10:49

Kelly1814 you actually own two apartments outright, or are they rented from the bank on a interest only BTL mortgage?

wowfudge · 07/02/2015 12:20

I think the OP has offered on the M7 house as it is now showing as under offer. If that is the OP I hope it works out for them.

Kelly1814 · 07/02/2015 14:52

House club sorry if I mis used used the word own, yes I have mortgages on the two properties.

What does one call that, out of interest? The word home owner is so often used by people with mortgages when technically they don't own their home....

One of the properties is getting close to being almost paid off thankfully.

Kelly1814 · 07/02/2015 14:53

Oh and neither of them is interest only, they are both repayment.

Original poster

Gregorianchant · 07/02/2015 17:01

Hi wow, the sellers are apparently considering our offer, they haven't accepted, the agent said today they were thinking about it. Where does it say it is under offer? I am thinking that they are maybe playing us along...! Oh well!

OP posts:

Original poster

Gregorianchant · 07/02/2015 17:25

Now checked the agent's website and you are right that it is showing under offer. I called the agent to say what was happening as I thought they were considering our offer. The person on reception said she didn't know the position but someone would get back to me. I am not happy. We went there last night and walked to the centre and back and it was an easy 20 mins walk and it seemed vey quiet, no problems etc. So will be disappointed if we are being messed around!

OP posts:

wowfudge · 07/02/2015 18:10

It's obviously because they are considering your offer! Different from SSTC.

housepicturesqueclub · 07/02/2015 18:36

Yes its just a flag used by agents. They tend to use it to try and drum up interest from other parties, in the hope someone else will think, wow, we need to put a rival offer in! Think you should be ok though. Just keep spending time in the area, tonight would be ideal

Chchchchanging · 07/02/2015 20:51

DONT BUY NOW
Wait and see what jobs etc you get
Don't be tied to location in a less preferable area when you can save etc in interim
Honestly you have had a bad ll experience but there are better ones out there!

Chchchchanging · 07/02/2015 20:54

How are you paying £8k to rent in fallowfield??!! Do you not rent a room on a share house?

Lagoonablue · 07/02/2015 21:14

Really. Don't buy in Salford. It is very rough with a high crime rate. I would advise about walking about late at night.

wowfudge · 08/02/2015 00:01

Depends where in Salford Lagoona. It's a big city. I know if I were walking somewhere at night I would rather there were other people around or I would make sure I wasn't alone.

Original poster

Gregorianchant · 08/02/2015 07:41

Yes, it's £160pw to have a room in a shared house, although it is quite well equipped and much better than the one I was in last year.

Is M11/Openshaw any better as an area?

OP posts:

Original poster

Gregorianchant · 08/02/2015 07:44

I am also wondering if buying a 50% share in a property is a good idea, as we might be able to afford somewhere more central and buy the other half later, when we are working.

OP posts:

Lagoonablue · 08/02/2015 08:12

No I don't think Openshaw is great either. Can you not just buy a flat in a nicer area? That would hold its value much better than a house in M7 or M11.

SophieBarringtonWard · 08/02/2015 08:59

Just buy a smaller place in a nicer area!is £160 pw including bills?

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