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Original poster

Decent areas in the south of wales?

65 replies

drummergirl34 · 23/06/2017 20:53

I'm on a very tight budget of ~£60-65kand looking for 2bed+. I'd like to be near supermarket, post office and a bit of a community and not too close to a major road (the smell of diesel fumes haunts me), but wouldn't mind living in the middle of nowhere as long as the basic needs are met!

Where could I be looking?

OP posts:
Original poster
drummergirl34 · 26/06/2017 22:20

Ruhr - thanks I'll take a look. Also you raise a good point - I read that a (I think) Dutch company has a contract to erect some wind turbines in some parts of the south which some local residents have opposed. Wales has apparently made a pledge to source 10% of it's power from renewable sources.

OP posts:
Original poster
drummergirl34 · 27/06/2017 20:40

It's a shame that due to the elder population in south Wales, so many houses are not looked after as well as they could be! I'm having to use plenty of imagination when looking at photos.

Also, am I being unreasonable to see a house sold in 2011 for 35k, and see it up for sale now at 50k+ and think that's just too much? It isn't like there's a huge house boom in south Wales! It seems like the children are selling their inherited house and are thinking about their own profit after splitting it rather than actually being realistic.

OP posts:
Unihorn · 27/06/2017 20:57

Yes you are being unreasonable as that's how the housing market works unfortunately. And I don't think an elder population is a problem exclusive to South Wales...

Temporaryanonymity · 27/06/2017 21:11

The houses in the Valleys are comparatively cheap for a reason. There is little or no work. Poor public transport. communities utterly destroyed by pit closures and years of manufacturing decline.

So yes. Houses aren't as well maintained as in the naice areas of the UK. It is because of grinding poverty. People don't have the cash for home improvements.

So please, when you move here with your cash, be mindful of this.

AvoidingCallenetics · 27/06/2017 21:35

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48469248.html

How about Pontypool? Not the nicest town in the whole world but it does have shops and bus links and is not too far from bigger towns for work.

Tobuyornot99 · 27/06/2017 21:41

OP, you seem slightly unrealistic, if I've read correctly the house should be fully modernised and tastefully decorated, with no asbestos. There must be no busy roads or works of any sort close by. And this must cost just 35k as houses in South Wales shouldn't go up in value like other areas. Dream on!

Unihorn · 27/06/2017 21:42

I wouldn't suggest Trevethin, it is not a nice area. Abersychan, Wainfelin, Pontnewynydd or Blaenavon are your best bets near Pontypool in your budget.

Also this is quite a good article about Pontypool/lots of valley areas in general www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/nov/22/just-about-managing-pontypool-south-wales-poverty-post-industrial-truth-britain

Original poster
drummergirl34 · 28/06/2017 21:22

Thanks unihorn for your suggestions - I'm finding them very useful!

I've seen a property in Ferndale that sold 18 months ago for 42k but is listed now as 63k. In terms of work done, a new (very basic but functional) kitchen has been added, and new tiles in the bathroom with a good lick of paint everywhere. What would be a reasonable price for the property?

OP posts:
DragonMamma · 28/06/2017 22:31

House prices here have risen quite a bit, OP.

Irrespective of what you think the house should be worth, that's ultimately what the market dictates that it's worth. It sounds like you feel vendors should only ask more for the house, if they have made the equivalent value in improvements?

I would say £60k for a house in Ferndale is pretty reasonable.

Ruhrpott · 28/06/2017 22:33

Check what other properties around there have sold for recently. What the listed price is and what it actually sells for are not always the same! We paid a lot less than the listed price for this house. (About 15%less)

Original poster
drummergirl34 · 28/06/2017 22:34

No, I expect prices to rise, but 50% in 18 months doesn't sound reasonable!

OP posts:
Ruhrpott · 28/06/2017 22:38

I think they have added on10%just to knock off in negotiating. So would probably accept 53-55K

Ruhrpott · 28/06/2017 22:40

Which is for them a few grand for the kitchen and a bit of a price rise profit

buggerthebotox · 28/06/2017 22:52

I'm from the Valleys and know Ferndale a bit. It's cheap for a reason. It's not very accessible! However there's a supermarket in Tylorstown. Stella is filmed in and around Ferndale!

Generally, the further away from Cardiff you go, the cheaper it gets, but that's not always the case either! Mountain Ash is very cheap. Aberdare is a few miles away and is a nice, cultured town, with good road and rail links. Treharris is ok, good links and cheap. Be more careful with Treorchy as properties advertised there are quite often way outside Treorchy itself. Treorchy is lovely by the way; a nice centre, friendly people, a theatre, community and rail and road links.

The flip side to the Valleys is poor job prospects. The plus side is tons of history and cheap housing!

I bought a house in Treherbert for 50k a couple years back. Stunning location but isolated.

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