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

[Gregorianchant]

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!

I would steer clear of shared ownership. I'm not sure you'd qualify anyway if you have £80k cash to put down.

Salford varies a lot. Worsley is in Salford, Monton is quite nice too, irlam o th heights is expensive too.

Yes avoid shared ownership - inflexible and a rip off, the only winner is the company receiving the rent.

If I had 80k, I'd invest it some where in decent Interest paying account or bonds for a few years, then buy at the bottom when it crashes after the election.

You are being ripped off rentwise, sorry. Your figures are not usual for non-student Manchester and it is probably skewing all your decision making? Just go and look at what you would pay somewhere, anywhere else! For £160 a week you could rent yourself your own flat in West Didsbury or the Northern Quarter, or a even a whole little house in Chorlton. look look see.

A house share should not be more than £100pw and normally a lot less! 84pw in Chorlton

That house is a bad buy, sorry. It's a bad investment.

Totally agree on the rent Cato! 160 a week is 693 a month (obv)

I have a one bed flat in the city centre that is really lovely, rents for 575 a month, so less than you are paying OP. And it would be all yours! My 2 bed in the centre rents for 850.

I suspect I could certainly have found somewhere cheaper, but I wanted somewhere where it was all taken care of this year, as I am doing my finals. The rent includes all bills, and en-suite bathroom, new tv in bedroom, new bedding etc, shared with young professionals.

Came across this today, anecdotal -

"A couple of friends of ours have just sold their part ownership flat at a loss after 9 years, bought in 50% 2005.
The kicker is as well as paying the negative equity the buyer is buying 100% of the property, so they have to arrange a bridging loan to buy the LA's 50% on which they now have to pay all kinds of fees including stamp duty. "

I moved to the Blackley/Moston border two years ago. Houses vary from four bed new builds from under £160,000 to typical two up two downs via three bed pre war semis for under £90,000 and many character/Edwardian terraces. Definitely an up and coming area after many years in the doldrums. Transport into town is excellent and local amenities are good and improving. I know op doesn't need schools but for readers who do, presently all are full but one of the faith primaries is having an extra eight classrooms added for next September.

We didn't get the house - the agents were trying to get us into a bidding war so we walked away. We have seen another one a 'doer upper' near Eccles New Road tram station. Any views on this area gratefully received!

That's blown the "close to town" thing out of the water.

Honestly, you need to be looking in south Manchester with the sort of resources you have. Location x 3 and all that...

I think missing the M7 house also counts as a lucky escape.

Right thing to do, walk away from a bidding war that's probably with an fictitious bidder.

Eccles New Road - marginally better, closer to Eccles rather than Weaste/Ordsall better still. Proximity to a major teaching hospital as well as another university - better prospects for selling on or letting.

Try Monton if you're going further out. Much nicer area, high street on the up, train and tram from Eccles walkable, decent bus route into Manchester, Trafford Centre on the doorstep.

Thanks wow!

I don't use the trams much myself, but I don't think there is a stop called Eccles New Road - which actual stop is this doer upper nearest to?

I think that's the Eccles terminus. Much better choice of area, although I'd still be scrolling the map south...

Eccles is grim, sorry but it is.

Depends where in Eccles and the better bits are better than M7!

It's Weaste station. And I believe Eccles has nice cakes!

Blackley Blackley :) As long as near the park/Sainsbury's area

It's not in Eccles though - it's Weaste, Salford. It's an area I know due to family connections.

So is Weaste generally ok, wow, would you say?

I wouldn't invest money there and I wouldn't live there. Honest answer. Have you been for a drive round the area? Look at sold prices. They are low for a reason.

In your OP you stated your budget was £80-£100k. If you really can go to £100k do so; in a better area. If you buy a bargain basement house in a deprived area you will not make a return on anything over £5k you spend on it. Don't forget, if the top of your budget is £100k, do look at houses up to £110k because there could be a deal to be done.

For access to Manchester University and all that Manchester has to offer you really would be better looking at Stockport, or perhaps for a flat in Whalley Range or on the fringes of Chorlton.

I would also say a flat in a better area. Something like this perhaps
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-31201314.html
Near tram stop, buses for town etc. Family area, 15 mins walk to chorlton

Sorry if I'm banging on about things, but I don't understand why you would look at a doer upper with your finals looming. I suppose where you think is acceptable to live may be coloured by where you've lived as a student, but if I was spending serious money on buying somewhere, I would want to be somewhere better than that.

Parts of OT are great - you are really close to chorlton, handy for transport links to town. You won't get a house for under 150k but you could certainly find a flat I would imagine. Lots of families, young professionals in the area as you get a lot more for your money than Chorlton.