Neighbourhoods in Durham

[Tonia14]

Hi
I need some advice re areas to live, can someone give me some honest insights into living in Brancepeth and Haslow? We are looking for somewhere for my parents to buy a cheap property and not be too far from me as I'm in North Yorkshire. Would love some insights as we are not from that area. We just went to Durham the other day and it seems like a lovely city. We are looking for a quiet area not too far from civilisation/activities.😁 but know that we can't get the perfect house/area for the money they are spending.

Hope someone can give me some advice. Also how is it having children in Durham, I will be coming up to visit a lot with my five year old so good to know what's on for kids there.

Many thanks

Never heard of Haslow- is that nr Durham?

I think you need to define a price range. There are masses of suburbs of Durham as well as villages on the other side- east, west and north.

What do your parents want? How old are they? Do they want a village and do they want to be able to drive easily into Durham? What do they need day to day?

There is plenty to do with young kids. There are activities and exhibitions at the uni library on college green by the cathedral, Beamish museum, a cinema, and you've got the coast only 30 mins away at Seaham or Sunderland.

Is this a 2nd home for your parents are are they making a big move?
Where about in N Yorks are you?

Hi, sorry lots of information missing. They are living abroad now and moving here before selling their house abroad so want something very cheap to buy cash out. (50kish) they are in their late 50ish and my mom will be there mainly as my dad works abroad still. (Will be off long periods in between). I live in Harrogate but we are all used to moving around so think they will adapt anywhere where it's friendly and as long as there is a bus/train to Durham. Brancepeth is south west to Durham and Haswell East (Seaham way).

I know where Brancepeth is and Haswell ( you said Haslow.)
Brancepeth is posher. Haswell is an old mining village.

You won't get much at all for £50K. Sorry but the areas for that kind of figure are likely to be a bit rough.

You need to get in the car and go and have a drive around and look :)

50k really will not get you much of anything worth having tbh. Im just north of Durham and even those in Social Housing on mega rough estates end up paying over 50k even with their discount.

Haswell is a bit grim. There are nice pockets in some of the east Durham villages but you need to do your homework and it's sometimes pure luck whether a particular street is good or bad. We just sold a house for 60k and lived there happily for 14 years with mostly nice neighbours but there are houses I'm glad we turned down when we bought it.

This is about as good as it gets for just above that price bracket. I know a few people who live around here. It's ugly but friendly and 20 minutes from the centre of Durham by car or bus.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51134550.html

Do you mean Brancepeth or New Brancepeth? There is a huge price difference between the two. Brancepeth is gorgeous and very expensive. New Brancepeth is a pit village with quite affordable housing. New Brancepeth is fine but the local store is not very good and like most pit villages around Durham you really need a car to get anywhere. Public transport is abysmal. Like most places the cheaper houses are in the rougher areas. But in general I think Durham is a lovely place, very friendly, and very beautiful.

There is lots for children to do. Beamish is fantastic and your ticket lasts all year.

Many thanks, that's very helpful. I know it's not much at all but I guess the properties may look nicer online than reality so def need to drive around.

If your mum needs public transport you need to look at villages and suburbs close to the A690. Places like Houghton, Belmont, Carrville, East Rainton, Pity Me....but £50K won't get you much at all.

I second what PP have said. I am from Brandon and Ushaw Moor (avoid), but places like Bearpark and Langley Park seem to be on the up. I don't live there anymore but my immediate family are now in Belmont, Nevilles Cross and Broompark. Everyone seems happy enough.

Where are your parents from? Durham is a gorgeous city but operates in a bubble. The mining villages (big generalisation) can have resentment to ‘posh southerners’ coming up to Durham, so it can be a uncomfortable place to be. That said, I think if you make a real effort to integrate yourself, it would probably be the friendliest place!

Durham is brilliant for families and has so much on its doorstep. But I’m not sure I would move to a £50k property in the area.

50k won’t go far at all. If there’s room for the budget to increase look at Seaham on the East Durham Coast. There’s nice bits and not so nice bits but good transport links and a lovely beach.

I’m slightly further inland where property is much cheaper and my 2 bed end of terrace cost 74k last year

Would they consider nearer Stanley?

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/60090889

If they're waiting for capital to be released, then they'd be better off renting for a while before buying and getting to know the area. If they're not bent on Durham itself but want somewhere cheaper than north Yorkshire, then Darlo is probably worth a look. Some horrid areas in the town itself with a small budget, but better to be had with more money than that 50k budget.

Another issue is that these sub 50k houses can languish on the market for a year. No problem if you're buying but no good if you want to sell again. And if they only want to buy cheap because they're waiting for the money from property sales overseas, then that could mean a long time stuck in a that'll do house, plus an extra lot of fees, along the line.

I was about to say the same as a PP- why doesn't she rent?

The areas you are thinking about are VERY different to Harrogate :)

Without wishing to offend anyone (and it's where I was born and bred) some of those villages are quite insular, there can be a anti social behaviour, and you are looking right at the bottom end of the housing market.

People in the NE are renowned for being welcoming but having said that, a woman in her 50s on her own in a very cheap property may find herself isolated and find it hard to integrate. If she doesn't have a car, it would be harder too.

Durham city itself is very different to the surrounding small towns and villages.

If she can afford to, I'd suggest she rents in Durham or near enough, (lots of new flats at Carrville to rent) for 6 months and decides if she likes the area enough. When she has her capital in the bank it might be better for her to buy somewhere nearer to you in N Yorks.