Help me find a house near Manchester?

[Piesand]

We need to move by September and as I don’t have the foggiest about the area, I was hoping to get some suggestions on where to focus our search. We’ll be travelling up there every weekend for the next few weeks to explore but would like a head start on shortlisting places to investigate.

Budget: £190k

House: definitely need a house not a flat, at least 2 rooms and most importantly- a garden for my dogs. DH will be working from home so needs some space but a dining room table would do.

Location: I need to be within commuting distance of Manchester University. My current commute (to a different uni) is 90 mins and this really adds to the end of week exhaustion. I’d like my commute to be less than an hour, preferably 30-40 mins.

Likes: we love countryside, open spaces to walk our dogs. Preferably a pub/shop not too far away. A safe area is a must as we’ve lived in some pretty rough areas and I never want to go back to that life.

Dislikes: we’d rule out rough areas and houses on a busy main road. We don’t mind doing some cosmetic improvements but wouldn’t go as far as structural changes and large projects.

I’d appreciate any help

Second question: is Macclesfield a nice area? It’s at the top of my preferred commuting distance but there seems to be some nice affordable houses there.

Have a look on Rightmove / Zoopla

At any area in particular, sparkle?

Yes just put in the area and price range you are in and it comes up with area stats too

Macclesfield is quite far out. I really doubt you could commute in under 40 mins from there.

North of Manchester generally cheaper than South. Look for houses near tram links, but there are loads of lovely green spaces all round the outskirts of the city so that shouldn't be a problem.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71339804.html

This is close to a train station which takes you straight into Manchester. It is also very close to Rivington, which is lovely to walk around (countryside).

Horwich Parkway station is even closer actually. It's a nice area.

And this is on your doorstep.

www.visitnorthwest.com/walk/rivington-pike/

Wow thank you LARLAR. That house would definitely fit us and the Rivington walk looks great! Might give that a go one weekend.

I’ll take a look at the north, Finn, thank you. Any areas in particular that are you favourite?

sparkle thank you but I’m looking for suggestions of nice areas.

Have a look at the Rossendale area (Lancs, north of Manchester). You'll get a lot more for your money. It will be more restrictive if you're relying on public transport rather than a car but plenty of people commute into Manchester.

The only real downside of the area is the weather. Damp, damp and more damp.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/property/rossendale-ski-property-location-guide-12724671

Any thoughts on Prestwich?

For example, £150k gets you this 3 bed semi with garden in Rawtenstall so handy for transport links.

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/47372927?search_identifier=29851f201b23b8cec03312024f611e5b#m4mhLCcPsGHBWygz.97

Thank you, Hundred. I’ll be driving so a lack of public transport shouldn’t be a problem. My dogs will appreciate the damp and muddy puddles so there’s always a positive I guess!

Sorry, misunderstood ! Good luck

Yes, good luck Piesand.

Thank you both.

Look at Stockport and further south. We are just in Derbyshire near New Mills, which has two train stations serving Manchester, Sheffield and Buxton plus an express bus to Manchester Airport. Fringes of the Peak District and 30 minute train journey into Piccadilly. Stockport is 20 minutes. Outside rush hour I can drive to the Fallowfield campus in about 30 minutes.

There is a fast train from Macclesfield to Manchester that only stops at Stockport and takes 20 mins. The one that stops everywhere takes about 40.

I think macc is a great area to live in, close to manc, on the edge of the Peak District, there are forests and hills and the schools are good.

And you can definitely get a house in your budget.

New Mills looks beautiful! We’ll definitely stop there and take the pooches out for a walk. That’s a good point to mention actually, I won’t be doing any commuting during rush hour.

Stockport looks like it has some nice areas. I’m from a small southern village and so not at all used to looking at places where one street can have very expensive houses and is classed as a nice area but then borders much cheaper areas that are classed as ‘not so desirable’. I guess it’s all about going there and exploring though.

For example

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54186537.html

That would certainly do us, bob. If Macclesfield is back in the running then I’d be very tempted by this place:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63646642.html

Prestwich is nice but tiny tiny gardens.

The Macc house is stunning!

Stockport. Especially Cheadle Hulme/Bramhall and Hazel Grove. I can drive to Manchester Uni outside of rush hour in 20 mins-ish. It's lovely where I live (I say this as a Southener myself). Countryside on the doorstep.

Macc is great that first house link is a stones throw from the bollin valley, perfect for dogs!