Calling all lovely people from Manchester: Longsight? Old Trafford? Victoria Park?

[FelinaDaHousecat]

Hi all, OH got a job offer in Manchester - south Manchester would be best for us.

Are Longsight, Old Trafford and Victoria Park a definite NO?

We could be cash buyers there and buy something really nice, but not if the community is super rough. We live in north London so used to a bit of grit.

PS we don't want to be too far out of town

PS 2 the new post would start in Sept-Oct so we have time to spruce up our property for sale & time to visit Mcr several times to get good feel of where we'd lie to live.

Have you been?

More info needed What’s your budget? How many bedrooms do you want/need?

None are ideal from a commute perspective as they’re not on the tram line apart from Old Trafford.

I wouldn’t class Longsight as south Manchester really.

JayAlfredPrufrock, let us go then you and I... sorry! Reply: I have been to Mcf lots of times as I used to have a work contract there but always stayed in town. So... yes and no? Cannot travel atm so I thought to start my homework by talking to people.

LawnFever - hi :) of course, here is more info: budget is up to 400k as 'cash buyers' but we could get a mortgage of course - in that case I'd like a lowish one, up to 460k - we need 3 double bedrooms and space for a home office. This can be tiny as long as it has plugs and a window. We'd like some outside space but not too fussed on size of it. Don't care about outside parking but need space to store bikes - we cycle.

Longsight not south Mcr? What is south Mcr then?

Could you try firswood/ old Trafford? Both on tramline so easier to get in? I think parts of old Trafford are nice now (the chorlton borders vibe). I think the main issue might be that there aren't loads of amenities, it's mainly housing.
How about Urmston?

Parts of Old Trafford nice. Have you looked at Whalley Range? Firswood?

Longsight and Victoria Park quite studenty areas.

The Heatons closer to Stockport a possibility?

To be honest, these areas are a bit grim. You could get somewhere far nicer with that budget. Have a look at the Heatons, Didsbury, Cheadle. Great communities. Good schools.

With that budget you can look at Didsbury, Chorlton, Sale, Brooklands, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheadle.

Your budget will get you a place in one of these much nicer areas, not sure where your original ideas came from but tbh scrap them completely and look at these places instead.

Don't care about outside parking but need space to store bikes - we cycle.

Think about being near a canal path too then, lots of places are very accessible off road round Manchester via bike routes, will you be cycling on a commute?

If you want more for your budget try Levenshulme - no tram but a frequent train service.

@Luckylau

If you want more for your budget try Levenshulme - no tram but a frequent train service.

Good shout, loads going on in Levenshulme recently, great place to buy right now.

Thank you all for replying. I saw Levenshulme looks great and really vibrant community!

School not a prob as DD will start uni in September.

This is our situation: me, wfh, can be anywhere. Need home office, it can be tiny.
OH: will work at University and wishes to cycle there
DD1: at uni but of course will have a room and a base with us - room does not to be massive
DD2: currently finishing degree course abroad. Will need a room for us when she comes back as looking for jobs/graduate scheme/masters.

Another idea we were toying with is buying a period semi in Levenshulme, which are atm way under our budget and extending so that it fits our way of life, but unsure if I can cope with building work for months on end - especially wfh!

I am on deadline for a big contract atm so cannot travel until January and I am dying to get started but I cannot yet. Hence me trying to follow all possible Mcr insta accounts and reading up in property forums (pl?) I could sent OH on his own to have a look but I don't trust his judgement. I am Chief Property Buyer in the household. :)

@FelinaDaHousecat

Another idea we were toying with is buying a period semi in Levenshulme, which are atm way under our budget and extending so that it fits our way of life, but unsure if I can cope with building work for months on end - especially wfh!

I'd go with this idea.

Longsight/Victoria park would be a definite no from me.

Parts of Old Trafford/Whalley Range/Stretford a better shout perhaps? Parts of Levenshulme/Burnage maybe.

I am from Manchester but moved away 15 years ago, if I was moving back (I haven't thought about budget as this is hypothetical) I'd maybe look at Whalley Range/Chorlton, parts of Davyhulme/Urmston/Trafford but more likely - sale, timperly, the Four Heatons, Didsbury (although even without looking I know I definitely wouldn't have the budget for Dids!).

The only way to know is to go and have a look. Is it just the two of you, or are you thinking about schools etc?

Sorry cross posted - Levenshulme semi sounds like a good shout. Definitely can cycle in to uni from there and sounds like the location will suit you. Some streets with lovely big houses, full of students in my day but it's 20 years ago, so things have changed. Always used to be a good, arty vibe.

I was definitely coming from a 'with small kids' angle (as that's my situation!)

"I think the main issue might be that there aren't loads of amenities, it's mainly housing. " - that's a really good point, thank you.

"I was definitely coming from a 'with small kids' angle (as that's my situation!)" ah yes the good school proximity is of enormous importance in those years, I cannot believe I am going to be finally free from the 'good catchment area' tax :)

On paper I really like this one, all the space we need and potential to make it really special, but I have seen it for sale for a while so I wonder if here is something wrong that I do not see

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/116792927#/?channel=RES_BUY

I know at the moment is a theoretical exercise as not in position to make offers yet

That’s a beautiful house.