Moving around Middlesbrough / Durham

[Nicollett]

Hi all,
I'm considering buying a home in Hartlepool TS25 and I was hoping to get some advice from locals on this matter.
I'm originally from Eastern Europe and have been living around London for almost 6 years now. Unfortunately I cannot afford to buy around London or even in Milton Keynes where I currently live.
This would be my first buy and I would afford something up to 100k. Please can you advise on how life is in Hartlepool ? What would be best to describe the local culture ?

Thank you very much 😊

You know into Newcastle from Hartlepool would probably be over an hour in the morning at least. Traffic around Newcastle is terrible sometimes.
I drove Newcastle to just outside Middlesbrough on a Friday afternoon last year and it took me over 3 hours because of crashes. A19 can be a total nightmare sometimes. Just to warn you that’s all.
but I also agree about avoiding Peterlee.

Windermere Road I don't know much about. It doesn't have great road links - you have to loop around to get onto the 689 (the main road through town.) It is close to various shops though.

I live just around the corner from Elgin road (and my auntie lives on it) and while people say the area is rough, we've had no problems. There is the odd stupid teenager on a dirtbike, or petty type crime, it's not too bad. Does seem to be a lot of drug use though (mostly pot smoking)

Close to local shops and schools, including a couple of primaries and a big secondary.

Browning Avenue - no idea, I'm sorry. Can't recall hearing anything bad about it, but equally can't remember anything good.

Lennox walk is near me too, same applies as what I wrote above!

The a19 can be a total nightmare. I went to uni in Sunderland and on a good day, it would take me about 45 minutes door to door.

On a bad day, it could be two hours or more. We had bad snow and it basically became impassable (which meant i got stranded at Sunderland!)

Newcastle is a longer drive, so I'd say an hour each way at least on a good day.

Browning avenue is ok. Near shops and a couple of local primary and secondary schools. However there is a play park not far which attracts a bit of trouble sometimes with teens. Had a friend who lived there and she had no problems, it can get very busy mind dependent on where the house is on the road as parents park there to pick up from the secondary school.

Both have their good and bad spots but I love both towns! Hartlepool near to the sea, Durham.and its history. There are other smaller towns nearby as well, also villages. Hartlepool has much cheaper housing, Durham with its University is more expensive. I would suggest looking into other nearby areas such as Trimdon, Sedgefield, Stockton, Middlesbrough, Redcar, many others as well. Best of luck and please feel free to message me as I work with people who have moved from other countries and can hopefully help. Xx

Hartlepool wouldn't be my first choice in the NE. You could look at Darlington on the main east coast train line, giving you under an hour commute to York or Durham or Newcastle. you could get a terraced house in a nice area for that money, e.g. The Denes (needs work but a lovely area) or Cockerton.

A few of the houses you have linked are tenanted. Nightmare. Avoid.

Keep in mind that a 20+ mile each way commute will cost the best part of a tenner in fuel, each day. We live in Durham city and DH's office is on Teesside and we saved £200pm on fuel when he started to work from home.

I recommend you rent up here before buying but keep in mind the south and west Durham villages. Still a nightmare commute to Newcastle but you're less out on a limb. Still need the ultra local knowledge that I don't have, though, so you would have to do due diligence. Speak to locals, check sites like up my street and so on.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/135583262#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130586552#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127400237#/?channel=RES_BUY

Sedgefield is really expensive @Jeannie88

I work in the durham area and would personally avoid Peterlee an that immediate area although am sure some bits are OK. Where is your companies northern office? I drive a lot for work and Harltepool to durham would be ok but getting in to Newcastle would be a pain. Other places you could look that would probably still be cheapish are Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe and Darlington (that has main line train station)

Yes it's a lovely area, was just thinking if OP was thinking of living in Durham then it would be a bit cheaper. X

however the company I work for have a branch up north

Where is the branch?

I'd look at Middlesbrough too, I like it, lots of nice villages too. My friend lives there and isn't white British, she doesn't have issues

If you’re considering TS25 I’d look at Greatham village, although not always a lot for sale.

I’m not really sure about the areas in Hartlepool. I’d certainly try and research. I don’t think I’d recommend the street in Billingham. There are other areas in Billingham that are nice and could be in your price range.

it would depend on how and where in Newcastle your work would be. If it’s central then you can get the train easily from Billingham or Hartlepool.

Where is the office op? I’m from the NE and have lived in a few different areas over the years so might be able to help if you’re able to say the location of the office

Where is the office?
Factor in the Tyne Tunnel toll if using the A19 to Newcastle.
And ignore the 'Boro and Stockton ideas if they would mean daily use of the flyover and the stretch by Wynard (tho ive not done it at rush hour since they widened it).

Honestly, start with where the office is and work out from there.

You don't use the Tyne Tunnel from Hartlepool to Newcastle.

Depends on which side of the city you work!

For 100k you could get something decent around the Durham villages, though not the city itself. I would avoid Peterlee, I work closely with the police and they consider it to be a problem area. Hartlepool not as bad and fair bit bigger so more variation/options. You need to come and visit op and mooch about these places.

There's at least one two bed Terrace for sale in Greatham at the moment 😂😁😂

Greatham is fab. Dc goes to school there!

I’d have a look at Seaham too. It’s an old mining town but has had a huge amount of development over the last 20 years. It’s on the coast, is on the train line so easy access to Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesbrough, easy drive to Durham, lots of cafes / bars and a lovely community.

I don’t know much about Hartlepool but I’d avoid Peterlee.

I grew up there and went to the school too! Parents put it up for sale recently because my mam was struggling with the stairs. It's a gorgeous village too.

I am from up there originally and visit family regularly. Personally I would rent for a while having got your job sorted and work out where you want to live from there. There are lots of seemingly "cheap" houses but in my experience how nice they are can vary enormously between roads, schools etc in quite a small distance. In terms of diversity it is a lot better than it used to be, and there are some absolutely stunning areas. But it is a big move and purchase if you decide you don't like it.

Remember purchasing a house and moving costs a lot up front anyway, so you might end up being stuck for a while if it doesn't work out.

Slightly over budget but this is a lovely village close to Newcastle with fantastic views www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134111588