Where in England or Wales in budget?

[ThisIsWhyWe]

Before I begin we love Scotland though it's a drive too far if the kids settle in the South.

DH and I are moving, we have £500k and can be mortgage free. Any updating or renovations would need to come out of that money.

Both late 40s, many years to retirement. DCs left home, we have no parents.

He grew up in small Midlands town, me on a farm in the South West.

We are looking for a village or small town with community and preferably some diversity e.g. not a middle class enclave (we live in a middle class enclave now, with a big mortgage).

Ideally we would like views.
Must have 4 beds or more so DCs can stay. We'd prefer not to take on a big project.
DH wants detached, would consider semi detached or end terrace.
It must have parking.

As long as it meets those criteria we can go anywhere.

"Ideally we would like views".

Of what. Herds of majestic wildebeeste, sun setting over mountains, the sea?

What do you do for work? Do you need to be near anything (even good internet!!) for that?

When I wrote views I did wonder whether anyone would ask!
Given that it's England or Wales I'm guessing that the wildebeest are unlikely, I'd be happy to be surprised.

Views of countryside were what I had in mind, there are some stunning sea views to be found, particularly in Wales, though probably not in our price range.
Mountains? Well, there is Snowdonia though there aren't many houses near there, there's the Lake District I'm going to take a punt that it's out of our price range.

Yes, we do need good WiFi, we both WFH.
DH needs a good connection.

At the risk of you rolling your eyes at me... I did have a proper career.
For the past decade I make and sell online, mainly through Etsy and EBay. I am a legit artist and I earn a decent living at it. I do need an internet connection, electricity is more important to me.

The north east? County Durham. Rural area but near the cities with amazing views of the countryside, near the beach, an hours drive from the Lake District.

@wereonthemarket Aren’t the nice parts middle class enclaves which OP says she doesn’t want ? Likewise Harrogate, Ilkley, Hebden bridge.

This might help? https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2015/sep/02/unaffordable-country-where-can-you-afford-to-buy-a-house You could put in a salary that equates to a £500k budget

I have a friend who is looking to down-size from their place but staying local because they love the community.
Five bed, detached, character, just outside an AONB, fantastic views (clue is in my name).
Never mind just 'parking' - it has parking and a triple garage, with a model railway artist's studio in the space above.

PM me if you are interested.

Two problems with that link. It's 9 years out of date so house prices are meaningless and it is entirely based on your income which if you don't have a mortgage or rent to worry about is not the issue.

My bad posted an old link - here’s the recent one https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2023/jun/12/interactive-tool-that-shows-where-you-can-afford-to-buy-or-rent-home-great-britain

As I said in my first post the OP could put in an income so that 4 times = her budget and then use the map to assess affordability - sorry if that was too complicated

Continuing on from your posts re Wales, there are loads of houses in Snowdonia. Conwy is a beautiful town with a castle and marina and lovely views of the Carneddau-good places to eat too. For better connections, NE Wales is fabulous. Look at lovely villages like Cilcain and you’re half an hour to Chester and an hour from Manchester. Views of the Clwydian range and the sea in 20 minutes. We love Wales.

Lincolnshire is always a very good bet. Although the views are often just of farm fields rather than any mountains - the highest point in the county is at an elevation of 550 feet above the sea. There is the Lincolnshire Wolds which is a nice area to live in.

For example, in the small market town of Boston (which is definitely not a "middle class enclave") You can get eg a 4 bed detached on half an acre backing on to open fields:-
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137762756#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or a 19th century farmhouse with 2.3 acres;-
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142650035#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or a 5 bed house on 1.3 acres with a barn overlooking the Humber estuary
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139695872#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or in the centre of Spalding a house dating back to 1700
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121937189#/?channel=RES_BUY

A Grade II listed farmhouse in South Rauceby
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138492452#/?channel=RES_BUY

If you fancy running a post office then there is a quaint post office and tea room for sale (along with a 4 bed house) in the village of Donington-on-Bain
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141846557#/?channel=RES_BUY

Possibly some are. I was thinking rural County Durham. Barnard Castle for example.

Leicestershire? I just did a search on rightmove, 4-bed detached, max £500k, and got over a thousand hits.

Countryside isn't bad either.

When I said middle class enclave I specifically meant where we live now.

Current house could be a TV drama set.
Live in a small development of 18 detached houses, 15 years old.
Semi rural.
It is the definition of a middle class enclave!

Thank you for the ideas. I love County Durham.
When we knew someone living there the population was varied.

I've heard of Hebden Bridge, never been there. Is it arty? Have I got that right?

Somerset? Wells, Bruton, Frome, Shepton Mallet - all quite 'arty', stunning countryside with a wide variety of diffferent topographies and within easy reach of Bath/Bristol. Plenty of rural/semi rural properties within budget and period or more contemporary architectural styles.

@Another2Cats thank you for so many good houses. Going through them, I don't mean to sound negative. Hope my comments are ok.

Like the Boston house, would prefer upstairs to have all 4 beds and 2 bathrooms. Want to replace bathroom though is top of the budget.

Fen Drove is beautiful, odd layout and top of budget for making changes. All that land, wow!

Winteringham house is great, need a floor plan! Top of budget, would have to do something with other barn.

House in Spalding is really good, I'd want to see how busy the road is. Great layout, gardens, house itself is great.

Sleaford could be perfect, wonder how restrictive the Grade II is on this one.

Sadly we don't want to live in a Post Office.

Once more that's a great selection, thank you.

We don't need arty @AsanteSana.
That area is good though spendy.

Forest of Dean has some lovely villages that would meet your criteria. Also some of the villages around Chepstow near the Wales England border.

Malvern. If you buy on the hills the views are far reaching and stunning or buy lower down and enjoy hill views, e.g:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139223132

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140679635

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137544644

South Shropshire?

While now sold here's an example:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/134582060

If you are into gardening, maybe this:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140082605

Maybe a bit small:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132927761

In need of some updating but well within budget:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140925719

Sorry @ThisIsWhyWe, I misunderstood your criteria! Still recommend Somerset though - Quantock Hills, Blackdown Hills, edge of Exmoor, Lynton/Lynmouth, Porlock, Dunster? Plenty of variety, near to a stunning (and quiet!) coastline...

@WaitingfortheTardis I love Chepstow, which place name do you search for when you look at the Forest of Dean?

@barcodey Malvern would be excellent, especially your houses 1 and 3. Unfortunately they are both sold, I would have looked at 3 particularly.

@macshoto would definitely consider South Shropshire, like 1 and 2.
Love Wales, 3 is pretty. Sadly is small and smack on the A road.
Property 4 is a very good find.

You have no need to be sorry @AsanteSana, I agree that The Quantocks are a good call, I went on a few school trips to Kilve Court, that probably ages me. Nether Stowey was very lovely, I hope it still is.

Do posters know about the communities or the areas? We have visited many places, if you are passing through for a few nights you rarely see what a place is like.

Nether Stowey is lovely! 2 miles from my home

With that budget you could go anywhere and do anything! I'd look at Gloucestershire or South Wales (maybe Brecon or Merthyr Tydfil) as they're lovely.

Surrounding Shrewsbury has beautiful views and is well connected. The town feels quite arty. I also like Abergavenny for similar reasons.