If you know Birmingham can you help suggest where to buy a city centre flat?

[celestialsquirrels]

there is a real possibility that I will be asked to work in Birmingham for a 5 year stint. I won't relocate as that wouldn't work for DHs job and I have 4 kids settled in local schools. So I can commute there (it will take about 1hr 3/4s - 2 hrs each way) but my job is quite high pressured and I would probably stay 1-2 nights a week in Birmingham to make it all work better.

So I'm thinking about buying a flat. I will be working in the Colmore Row area so need somewhere ideally walking distance of there and New Street.

I've narrowed it down to either (i) around the Mailbox or (ii) around the convention centre on the canals or (iii) in the jewellery quarter; but I am not that familiar with birmingham so I may be overlooking some places.

Can anyone give me advice on what I should look at? I would buy either a 1 or 2 bed (I would prefer a decent one bed than a boxy tiny two bed), budget flexible but I would go up to about £230k for a good sized 2 bed that looked like being a decent investment. Would prefer to keep it under 200 though. It needs to be safe to get to on foot at night, have a restaurant or two and a corner shop nearby, not too noisy or party-area on a thurs/fri night.

Any advice about good places or even good developments/ buildings (and those to avoid) would be great. For example is King Edwards Wharf nice, well located and well run or is it a soulless money-pit? Is a warehouse flat in the jewellery quarter a cool edgy up and coming investment or a slightly dodgy freezing cold space in an urban wasteland?! You see what I mean. If you where me where would you look?

Many thanks in advance!

Anyone?

When I was working in Bham my sister bought a flat in the Orion building complex (1 bed) and it was well run, not noisy and the concierge were brilliant. Also had parking too (some flats don't so if you need a space best ensure its an allocated space). You did get students living there though so sometimes it was noisy otherwise you never heard city centre noise if you see what I mean. I am since moved out and for the past 4yrs she has been able to rent it out back to back so always a good investment.

Orion building like Mailbox is in a super location imo - right next to new street station, shops and supermarkets in walking distance as is Broad Street.

I don't think you would go wrong goign with Mailbox, Cube or even one on a canal. I would recommend you go 2 bed if you can afford it as its more easier to rent than a one bed and you do get more space.

Jewellery Quarter every time. On the doorstep of city, 10 main walk dependant on where in JQ, but has a "village" feel IYSWIM full of beardy fucking hipsters though

Good luck!

I think the Jewellery Quarter too, this puts you on the right side of town for Colmore Row. I would avoid anywhere too close to the canals if possible, lovely as they may seem, as I know from people who have bought there that they have had definite problems with rats.

Eurghhhhhh rats?!?! Didn't think about that! Thanks v much everyone. Will look at Orion building, thank you, I haven't heard of that one. So mailbox or jewellery quarter but not right on canals.
What about somewhere like symphony court near brindleyplace? It's a bit of an older development but you get more space because of it, it seems. Separate kitchens instead of 5 base units in the corner of a living room. Is that too far out of the way/too staid? I must say I'm attracted by the JC and around St Paul's square though...

The Jewellery Quarter is lovely and has some great pubs, bars and restaurants. It has more personality than Brindleyplace or Mailbox although they are both nice too.

Yes I like it - not much on the market there at the moment though and the new developments I've seen (eg metalworks) are incredibly poky flats. Doesn't matter so much for me as I won't be living there full time but can't imagine they will be that easy to rent or sell later - there is no space to put anything!
Something like Hampton lofts has more space but that seems a bit too far away and a more dodgy part of the JQ, no?

As a Brummie I would definitely say JQ and St Paul's Square area too. Nice vibe and definitely the right side of town for Colmore Row.

Thanks honey. Now need to wait for s bit more to hit the market - there seems to be no stock at the moment!

Ps any views on new hampton lofts?

Just had a look at the location of New Hampton lofts - looks fine to me, good location and secure. The best thing you can do is have a wonder around the different areas of the city and get a real feel for them. Living as a single woman may change your view on different areas iyswim. I always loved the idea of loft living in my younger days so would jump at the chance at it child free

That's really helpful thanks honey. Will have a look at a flat there then!
Yes the idea of a place of my own, even if only used a day or so a week, is rather exciting. There are 6 of us at home and the idea of a bed to myself, no loo seat up and no constant trail of toast crumbs and discarded teen socks everywhere... Bliss!!!

JQ definitely. I have 3 friends who live in new Hampton lofts and they love it - Young couple in a divided studio ( not quite a separate bedroom) and the other one ive not been to her flat.

Expensive - but thrn im looking at it from thr point of view of a family home in the south of the City!

Oh that's v helpful Theas, thanks very much for posting. That's good to know.
Re prices - coming from the SEast it all looks incredibly cheap! But then prices appear to have consistently dropped since 2007 which is a concept alien to those in London and SEast so a much riskier buy... Down south you could buy anything and know it would increase in value year on year.

Some great advice here and off-board: bumping for the weekday crowd. Would be v interested for anyone's views (about where to buy, about whether it would be better to rent, and about whether working in brum rather than london is a good idea full stop!)
Thanks in advance.

I agree that the Jewellery Quarter, esp St Paul's Square, is nicer. It all feels a bit more solid and real. If you go towards Mailbox and the Cube then it's a bit pretentious and noisy (you are not far from Broad Street - is that still horrendous on a Saturday night?).
Of course my 'solid and real' might be your 'staid'.

I don't know details about specific buildings but I have heard that some of the newer purpose-built blocks (as opposed to Victorian conversions) are insubstantial eg walls too thin so not soundproof.

I'm not sure about New Hampton Lofts, I suppose it depends on your aspect. On the one side you are facing Great Hampton Street and all the traffic which is the edge of acceptability (a sort of trapezium shape defined by GHS, Icknield St, Summer Hill Road and the canal). The other side of GHS is heading towards Newtown, which is a no-no.

The New Hampton Lofts website is delightful vague about where exactly it is within the JQ.

Hi Senua! Hope your DS is well and enjoying his course/uni life. My DD about to start the rounds of uni open days so may unknowingly encounter yours as she has plans to visit that one.
Thanks for your input - yes solid and real is sadly probably what I want. Bit of lovely architecture, few nice gastro-pubs/bistros, safe walk to and from work, decent or interesting view and no paper thin walls. Oh and a living room more than 11ft wide would be nice...
Of course have to decide whether to go for the posting or not. Have never worked out of central London for any period of more than a few weeks (well, apart from abroad) and various people are sucking their teeth and telling me I'm mad to consider it re quality of work. Ho hum.

Great hampton street looks to me like it is not in the JQ at all, I agree. Hence my scepticism! Need to take the day and go and tromp the streets I think...

Hi. I'm afraid that your DD may not encounter DS - he has his last exam tomorrow then it is party time after that! I can't see him hanging round the Faculty doing PR. Hope she likes it though, he is having a grand time there.

I shouldn't take too much notice of teeth-sucking. Some Londoners never seem to understand that there is life beyond Watford Gap.

I will pm you.