Where’s affordable to buy and decent area to raise a family up North?

[Dippydippydoo]

I live in the South and would like to buy my first house. I don’t mind doing somewhere up at all. I can afford between £64k-£70k max and need a two bedroom house in a decent area for me and my 7 year old. I’m really open to any good areas from the Midlands to the North but have no idea where’s family friendly and decent. I was born in Darlington but lived south for 40 years. Any suggestions please?! TIA

@CremeEggThief I agree! The place I live in has been mentioned on this thread (and not in a positive way!) and do you know what? My kids are in excellent schools and are thriving. The parks are lovely. People will say hello and there are community roots. Good transport links. There’s a swimming pool and a leisure centre all in walking distance.

Do we have a costa? A Starbucks? A Waitrose? No, no we don’t. But that doesn’t mean it’s a dive of a place to live? No, no it doesn’t.

PS - the midlands town where I am is not 'naice' by mumsnet standards but has far better transport links, job opportunities, nearby decent schools than the sourthern countryside where I was raised.

You might find a house for that up north, but not in a decent area.

@Disneyblue I think the point those of us who live in “not decent areas” are trying to make is that you can. It’s just the perceptions of what makes a good area to live in vary wildly.

[quote PotteringAlong]@Disneyblue I think the point those of us who live in “not decent areas” are trying to make is that you can. It’s just the perceptions of what makes a good area to live in vary wildly.[/quote]
I suppose. I'm thinking more crime rates things like that.

I came on to say County Durham. My mil lives there by the sea and we visit regularly as it’s really friendly with lots to do.

My home town is sometimes mentioned on here as somewhere to avoid. I’ve done pretty well coming from there as have others.

You could get a house for that, but it wouldn’t be in the best areas.

Exactly, @PotteringAlong. So many people only hone in on details that matter to them before judging. You have to look at the bigger picture.

In my area there's plenty of low-level antisocial behaviour and my bugbear, mindless vandalism, but 'real crime' is rare. Violent incidents are usually between people who know each other when too much drink and/or drugs have been consumed, so it's not something that particularly affects me. I feel safe for the most part.

@AtlasPine you have no chance of buying in Sheffield for that.

Not unless you’re buying a shared ownership new build or a terraced house in one of the really, really rundown areas where nobody would want to live.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow absolutely. No way OP can find whats she’s looking for in Sheffield

I’m in the North East. There are various areas round here where you’ll get something for £70K but there’s usually a catch (needs significant work, leasehold etc). The areas will definitely be less ‘desirable’ but not necessary awful.

I would agree that there does seem to be a myth that all property in the North is ‘cheap’. It may be cheaper than comparable property in the South, but prices are rising more rapidly up here and areas with good transport/amenities/schools are expensive. A friend has recently moved up here from London and was very surprised that her £600K didn’t go nearly as far as she’d thought it would in the area she wanted.

Nothing in preston unless it's an apartment

Absolutely loads in and around Preston, I checked before recomened upthread.

Someone else suggested Hull, I should have thought of and is another good option IMO.

Willwebuyingnumber1

I know! Madness! Prices are insane at the moment. Even in less desirable areas. Why are people suggesting it? Like it’s a northern outpost where no one wants to live?!

Houses next to me are going up at absurd rates!

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow I have no idea why. It’s clearly from people not living here. My SIL recently put their 3 bed mid terrace ex council house on for £170,000 in S9 and it went for £182,000.

Prices in our area are so high and everything seems to be going over asking.

I love Barrow-really decent people- and I know of a graduate who has just got a great job at BAE there. Not sure of property prices though.
Have you considered Belfast? Good schools etc. Maybe a bit above your price range?
www.propertypal.com/41-silver-birch-courts-north-belfast-belfast/702949

@donquixotedelamancha

Nothing in preston unless it's an apartment

Absolutely loads in and around Preston, I checked before recomened upthread.

Someone else suggested Hull, I should have thought of and is another good option IMO.

Where?! Not in a snippy way but I've put into rightmove within 3 miles of preston, max price 70k and there is apartments, shared ownership and auctions. No houses unless it's an auction which will probably go well over

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1097&insId=1&maxPrice=70000&radius=3.0&googleAnalyticsChannel=buying

I’m In Manchester and you can get a do upper for that price in areas of Preston and Burnley. Would Cumbria work for you at all? I know you can get some good properties there.

Darlington?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77466309#/streetView?channel=RES_BUY

I had a similar low budget and I couldn’t find anything in a decent area so I bought a shared ownership house in a lovely village

My goodness beautiful Beverley is affordable

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108341402#/?channel=RES_BUY

I found these two in Barnsley. Disclaimer: I have no idea whatsoever what the area is like!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/79654239#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110204891#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111164699#/?channel=RES_BUY

Skelmersdale is ok. Nicer in the old town or Ashurst areas.

You won't get anywhere nice in Preston for that range. Two up two down terrace in a rough area needing lots of work at best