Deal or Folkstone? Kent move

[Artygirlghost]

I am in my 40s, moving to Kent, work mostly remotely and want to buy my forever home near the seaside. I have seen several 2/3 beds houses last week and I am still undecided as to whether I should choose Deal or Folkstone. Would you go for:

Folkstone

• pros: more affordable; more houses for sale, so more choice; seems to have more activities going; shorter commute to London when needed (only a couple of times a month); seems to have regenerated quite well; I have stayed in the town quite frequently in the past few years so know where everything is; arty; could buy with a tiny mortgage
• cons: all these hills! It makes me wonder what it will be like as I age and have to go up and down the old High St :); some not so nice areas.

Deal:

• pros: I have friends who are locals so I am not starting a community from scratch and they have given me all the inside knowledge on what builders/tradesmen to go for if the property needs work and what estate agents and surveyor to use; very safe; decent high street with independent shops; weekly market; arty; much smaller than Folkstone; flat! so less issues if I ever develop mobility issues; seems quieter in general
• cons: with my budget I will only afford something on the smaller side that might need work; less properties available for sale so the search might take longer; would mean having a slightly bigger mortgage.

My head tells me to go for the ''buy the worst house in the best street'' thing and go for Deal.

Rent there first and keep an eye on what becomes available. But I also think I am quite conscious that buying in Folkstone would mean less of a mortgage burden and a bit more space and that I am quite fond of the this town too.

What are people's thoughts?

I am not really interested in any other Kent towns and I think I could live happily in either of these places as a slightly ''scruffy artist'' myself...

But it would be great to get feedback from people who live in the area and/or have a good head for making property-related decisions!

Have you looked at Hythe , just down the road from folkestone I think . Relatives live there and has a train station just up the road

Deal is quite a bit nicer than Folkstone in my opinion. I'd always choose a smaller home in a nicer location, especially if on my own.

@Chewbecca Yes I agree that Deal has a very different feel than Folkstone and definitely feels safer and nicer. I think my main requirement was for a safe and quiet location as indeed I will be on my own most of the time with occasional visits from family and friends.

@GodInventedAmazon Hythe is not as convenient in term of transport as I would really want to be from walking distance to a train station.

I'd go for Deal over Folkestone. I really like Deal and although I like Folkestone too, I like it in a different way. I wouldn't want to live in Folkestone, partly because the traffic can be awful and I don't particularly like the High Street. I think Deal has a slower pace and having friends close by in Deal would sway me if I was moving on my own. It's also mostly flat which would be a plus as you get older. The little Victorian terraces near the sea front have gone up massively in the last few years but I'd rather have a smaller house in Deal than a big house in Folkestone.
Alternatively, buy a doer upper in Folkestone in a desirable area, add as much value, for as little outlay, as you can. Sell and move to Deal with a smaller mortgage.

In Deal, How often would you need to go on mainstream shopping trips? To Dover, for example? For shoes, clothes, furniture, household goods not available in Deal?

How convenient do you need to be for people visiting you?

Cinema / Theatre? I like a cinema with a fast changing mixed programme.

Do you like to swim and be within walking distance of the sea?

Well if you have friends in Deal makes sense to go with Deal. I do feel it is slightly more cut off than Folkestone in terms of access to local towns, have just been looking, direct bus to Canterbury seems to have stopped? Whereas Folkestone has the 16 to Canterbury and also easy access to Ashford. And train not direct either. Folkestone has an art scene which is quite protected by our local philanthropist being involved, whereas Deal maybe less so, I am not sure. But you are right the Hills in Folkestone definitely a disadvantage and Deal is nice and flat!

@SuperCamp I am not a big fan of shopping to be honest. I just need a couple of decent supermarkets which both Folkstone and Deal have and a Boots or similar. The towns also seem to have plenty of charity shops, independent shops and markets. Also I will still travel to London a few times a month for work near Liverpool St so I can just get whatever extra I need from the Stratford Westfield shopping centre on my way back. Swimming and sailing are also some of the reasons why I want to move back to a seaside town.

@SheilaWilde I don't think I would have the time or energy to take on two renovation projects. I am happy to buy somewhere that needs some work but it will definitely be for me to live in for good rather than as a way to make a profit by selling again.

I think it will come down to availability as well. I saw two houses in Folkstone that I really liked and could see myself live in but have not yet found something suitable in Deal.

Thanks everyone for the feedback so far. I think I will put Deal as my preferred option and keep Folkstone as a back-up if I am really struggling to find a suitable property in Deal.

I’m in Folkestone, my parents in Deal…based on your pros/cons list, I think Deal sounds like a better fit for your wants and needs. (I think both are great places to live).

And just because it’s MN and I’m an absolute pedant, Folkestone has two ‘E’ s

All the best with your move, whatever you decide.

I think its just good to be aware that Canterbury is a very important hub in Kent. I am not going to London nearly as much as I expected to (that job ended and I can't afford to go much socially), Canterbury tends to have things people need and its not just shops. For example for me my Folkestone church closed so when I go now its the Canterbury one, its the biggest round here so when I had to find a new church I wanted to go to that one to meet a wider circle of people. The vaccination hub is there at the moment. Has an arts cinema and two theatres. There is a lot of work in Canterbury. Just mentioning this because you have to change train to get to Canterbury from Deal. But as you said you have friends in Deal does make sense to move there rather than Folkestone of course.

Definitely buy something small and cute in Deal. Far nicer, lovely shops, good community feel.

Thank you everyone ,and I take the points about Canterbury being a good hub for shopping and employment and Folkstone being easier to travel to and from.

It is interesting that I just heard a 3 bed terrace I saw in Folkstone last week and liked has now been reduced by £25K!

I am seeing more properties in Deal this weekend then I will make a decision.

@NorthernChinchilla
''Definitely buy something small and cute in Deal. Far nicer, lovely shops, good community feel.''

That is my impression of the town as well.

I know that I can afford a bigger home in Folkstone and there is more happening there but I am trying to remember that this is a place that needs to see me into retirement so safety and somewhere quiet and easy to walk around are what I really need.

I am looking at a small cottage this weekend in Deal. It has only one proper bedroom but it also has a small additional room that I could use as an office or art studio so that might be a good compromise.

I think out of the two I prefer Deal.
Just to throw it out there have you looked at Broadstairs or Whitstable? Both lovely seaside towns as well.

Deal definitely. The seafront is lovely. Lots of cool bars and restaurants.

In terms of future proofing, quite a bit of Deal is below sea level and there has been flooding during big storms in the past. Major weather events are becoming more frequent, Deal is lovely but I would definitely think carefully about where to live within the town especially if you are looking for a forever home.

@CheeseMaiden
''In terms of future proofing, quite a bit of Deal is below sea level and there has been flooding during big storms in the past. Major weather events are becoming more frequent, Deal is lovely but I would definitely think carefully about where to live within the town especially if you are looking for a forever home.''

Very good point and something I am looking into as well. I am definitely not going to buy on or close to the seafront and I am instead looking at houses further up.

I suppose that is one positive thing about Folkestone's hills! Much harder for the sea to reach the higher parts of the town.

''@Karmagoat ·
I think out of the two I prefer Deal.
Just to throw it out there have you looked at Broadstairs or Whitstable? Both lovely seaside towns as well.''

I think Whistable is a bit outside my budget for a house but Broadstairs would be of interest. It would give me access to the various art galleries in Margate too. I will definitely have a look at what I could afford there.

I think Folkestone. It's a bit rough in places but has more active things, like cinemas, theatre going for it.

Deal is very naice if you want the organic butcher etc but it's a bit dull. I think you'll just decline there.

@Beanbagtrap ''I think Folkestone. It's a bit rough in places but has more active things, like cinemas, theatre going for it. Deal is very naice if you want the organic butcher etc but it's a bit dull. I think you'll just decline there.''

I know! I am so torn. I keep changing my mind and can't seem to choose between the two. I am seeing various houses this weekend in Deal then I will make another trip to Folkstone during the week to again see more options. Hopefully this will give me more clarity.

I was looking at potential flooding issues in Deal and there also seems to be existing problems in specific streets with flooding from the sewer system and the water company not fixing the issue, so again something to be mindful of.

Folkestone is also better for transport. Faster and more direct commute to my London office, even if I don't need to be there every week that is still something to consider.

I hope I can make a decision soon and find the right home.

Yep don't count on southern water or whatever our water company is called to fix anything. We've had a leak (near Whitstable) for years across a road near our house if just pours down the hill. It gets reported weekly and they just don't care. Was slightly annoying when we had hosepipe ban over summer!

what did you decide in the end Op?!