First home in Manchester location advice

[Sultanm12]

Hi guys!
So as the subject really. Me and my partner are looking to buy our first home in Manchester and we're looking for some advice on location or any other need to knows when it comes to buying houses or the mortgage process etc. I've read a few threads on here and there's a lot of discussion, which is insightful, but nothing has been cleared up for me to help my search.

So, I'm working from home at the moment but I am expecting to return to my office, which is just south of Knutsford, in March/April. My partner has finished her master's and is looking for a job which we assume to be near Manchester city centre. So, I was thinking if we live in between Knutsford and Manchester the commute for both of us won't be as painful.

We're looking for a 3 (or more) bed, preferably detached, in a quiet, diverse, safe area. And of course reasonable public transport links to Manchester city centre and ease of access to Knutsford by car. For 250k. Too much to ask?

Safety is my main requirement really. We like our own space to ourselves hence why we want a detached house in a quiet area. But I know that might not be possible with our budget.

We're looking at either side of, but not including, Wythenshawe (sale, Altrincham, Stretford - Cheadle, Wilmslow, Heald green, possibly Stockport?).

I know some people suggest renting first to get an idea of different areas and different streets but I feel like that is infeasible in our situation. We did live in Rusholme for 3 years as students and it wasn't amazing haha.

If anyone would like to share their opinions, tips or even an example property on Rightmove or something, it would be greatly appreciated!

@united4ever

I recommend this map to help identify if it is a nice street or not:

vis.oobrien.com/booth/

Always seems pretty accurate in South Manchester. Will struggle to get anything in green for 250 but maybe in the yellow pockets. Avoid the red if possible.

I suggest this is a terrible idea as many areas have changed since then and some areas are nicer than others in real life.

@user81746

*borageforager

Surely you can still buy in Stretford for under £250k*

There seems to be a fair amount. I'm just unsure which areas within Stretford are decent. There's some in Chorlton too near the water park. I'm unsure if that's decent too.

Are you talking about the ex-council houses next to Chorlton water park? Friend had more than one friend who lived there, they bought them as they were very cheap for 3 bed semi with garden in Chorlton. They quickly moved out again as it is quite rough around there. Not saying you shouldn't look at ex-council houses, they are well-built, well-proportioned and have good gardens. I'd just avoid that area.

Ah, thank you for the advice. I'll stay clear of there then.

@user81746

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86323259#/

This is next to Fog Lane Park in Withington/Didsbury border. 3 bed semi, ex-LA, offers over £254,950, just been reduced. You would need to look into the area more, but it is better than near Chorlton water park.

Thanks for the suggestion. It seems a bit too central for me. I'd assume travelling to Knutsford for me would be hard.

@thatcountrylife

Just to say the commute from Stockport to Knutsford by car is not great. That bottom section of the M60 from Denton, past Stockport to the M56 is terrible on a morning and floods all the time. Coming home the M56 is bad from before the airport back to the M60.

Thank you for that information. That is really useful. Would you know what it's like going across the A555 and down the A34?

@united4ever

I recommend this map to help identify if it is a nice street or not:

vis.oobrien.com/booth/

Always seems pretty accurate in South Manchester. Will struggle to get anything in green for 250 but maybe in the yellow pockets. Avoid the red if possible.

@bluecitygirl has a point as it was last updated in 2015. But, I think it is quite useful as a general guide and I will be using it. I also came across niceareas.co.uk which seems very useful. Thank you for the suggestion.

You will ironically get more for your money in Knutsford.

Its not a bad little town. It has a direct train service into Manchester.

If i had to pick between all the places you are suggesting i would still say Knutsford.

Its nightlife is surprisingly giod for somewhere so small.

Dont discount it.

Macclesfield is lovely! It’s an easy commute to the city centre - your dh may well end up WFH anyway. There’s a good vibe, a lovely market, great indie shops and its on the edge of some beautiful countryside.

Barclays by any chance....?

Talk to people you (or your partner) are going to work with. They are very friendly.

Trust me...

South Warrington is good. But you might find your budget is stretched there (primary schools are better though and you can still apply for the greater manchester grammars if that suits your style)

[quote SwedishEdith]I'd be wary of Warrington atm.

Brexit: Concerns over M6 lorry customs queues at new inland border

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-55160499[/quote]
Oh fuck that shit. You'll be fine on the back roads!!!

Seriously. Traffic from Greater Manchester is worse and will continue to be worse. As long as you avoid the worst bits of the A50 it will be fine.

Irlam is 'improving'. It has good up and coming bits. But also some shitty bits. I don't know well enough to know which is which.

Partington i wouldn't touch with a barge pole. Its apparently been 'up and coming' for the last 20 years... And never has.

If you want a curveball. Sandbach.

£250 budget didsbury?

Ok.

Nice postcode. Shame about the pretenious wankers.

@RedToothBrush

You will ironically get more for your money in Knutsford.

Its not a bad little town. It has a direct train service into Manchester.

If i had to pick between all the places you are suggesting i would still say Knutsford.

Its nightlife is surprisingly giod for somewhere so small.

Dont discount it.

I've just been looking at Knutsford coincidentally! I thought the prices would be much higher but there's a few which seem feasible. I think I would have to wait and see for more properties to come available however.

@user81746

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86323259#/

This is next to Fog Lane Park in Withington/Didsbury border. 3 bed semi, ex-LA, offers over £254,950, just been reduced. You would need to look into the area more, but it is better than near Chorlton water park.

I live right by here. Parkville Road is lovely. I was going to suggest Didsbury/Burnage borders area. It’s nice here. My DH works in knutsford, and barring traffic near the airport it’s not too bad a commute.

@Soontobe60

Macclesfield is lovely! It’s an easy commute to the city centre - your dh may well end up WFH anyway. There’s a good vibe, a lovely market, great indie shops and its on the edge of some beautiful countryside.

At the moment Macclesfield is a serious contender. I think we'll be paying a visit to see more of what it's like very soon!

There's no way you'll get a 3 bed detached for your budget in urnston. Maybe stretford but you need to be careful of the Trafford centre traffic. It's horrendous.

A little further south than where you were asking, but Congleton & Kidsgrove has good train links and road links to Knutsford with some houses in your price range.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E355&insId=1&minPrice=220000&maxPrice=260000&primaryDisplayPropertyType=detachedshouses&googleAnalyticsChannel=buying

The train is around 35 min to city centre.

Go over the boarder into Staffordshire (but still only 2 mile from Congleton station) and your prices drop again (as ST postcode).

Our town has become one where people move here, to commute to Manchester City because they want the larger house / cheap house price and sacrifice a slightly longer commute. I can get to Wilmslow in around 30 minutes from Staffs / Cheshire boarder (congleton)

Look up Congleton, Aclid, Kidsgrove, Biddulph, Biddulph Moor, you’ll be surprised at what you can get for your money.

@RedToothBrush

Barclays by any chance....?

Talk to people you (or your partner) are going to work with. They are very friendly.

Trust me...

Hit the nail on the head there haha. The people I have spoke to are renting in Knutsford and don't have to think about their partner commuting to Manchester.

I would say that sandbach is too far south though.

I'd go for location over house, tbh. A detached house for that price is always going to be difficult - just by changing your search to a semi then you'll be able to find something in a much better area.

I'm quite surprised you said the commute isn't too bad considering the location. Would you mind asking you DH how long the commute is?

The problem with Macclesfield is although its nice, its

a) still butt fuck nowhere
b) the locals are lovely but its incestuous. Its very 'local'.
c) snow. winter.
d) gives far less options for future job changes.

I have time for it, but it does feel very backwards at times.

You will struggle to get a detached for that price at any of the places listed in this thread.

If you wanted detached you would need to be looking at a Halton postcode (which is commutable but a bit further out) or somewhere like New Mills.

Depends what your lifestyle is like....

(this maybe my neck of the woods...)

@Nackajory

There's no way you'll get a 3 bed detached for your budget in urnston. Maybe stretford but you need to be careful of the Trafford centre traffic. It's horrendous.

Yea I realise it was really wishful thinking wanting a detached. A semi will still be fine.

@Sultanm12

I'm quite surprised you said the commute isn't too bad considering the location. Would you mind asking you DH how long the commute is?

I’m assuming this was directed at me!

You and my DH are colleagues He says the morning commute is around half an hour. We’re near the motorway (dids/burnage border), and there’s no traffic getting on the motorway. Pleasant drive. He usually arrives at work at either 8 or 9 and no difference when arriving at 9. Occasionally there’ll be an accident on the way back, but alternative routes available. We used to live in Chorlton, which was also good for getting on the motorway (but I’m not a fan of chorlton!)

I live near Wigan which is about a 5 minute drive from the m6. It says 30 min drive to Knutsford and you can get a train to Manchester direct. 4 bed detached houses are going for about 250k and where I am is a nice area. Like a lot of the comments are saying it depends how far you want to travel.