Anyone want to be my Phil and Kirstie? (Essex)

[startingoveragainagain]

We've finally gone under offer woo! So now I need to start looking for a home for my dog, my cat and me. I need to be commutable to Chelmsford (max once a week), and I have family and friends in South Essex / London borders so would like to be close to them as they'll be able to help with dog care. I'm currently near Halstead.

I'm sort of thinking Billericay, Rayleigh, and Leigh but I have no clue what these places are actually like

I can probably afford to pay about £420,000, happy to do work - although will need to be liveable, needs to be on a very quiet road as my cat has only lived in the countryside with her own land, needs to be near a good walk for the dog preferably off lead walking as she has never needed to do much lead walking. I need somewhere to work from as I work mostly from home. I'm going to be downsizing and I'm looking for my bachelor pad, which'll be my forever home as I want to grow roots and lick my wounds.

Suggest away :)

Hello- I live in Billericay and have worked in Rayleigh and Leigh on Sea. All nice areas.

Billericay is probably an easier commute to Chelmsford- we are on a good bus route ( 3 an hour.) we also have some beautiful parks and a wood for walking dogs in. It's a lovely town with a real community feel.

There seems to be a fair number of 2/3 bed houses on Rightmove for around your budget. Some of the slightly older properties are quite spacious.

One example is this but there are others. ( This one is in the North end of Billericay- close to the country park and Norsey woods) About 20 min walk into the high st/ station. 5 mins from a bus stop on the Chelmsford route. About a 15 min drive to Chelmsford.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142016492#/?channel=RES_BUY

What sort of place are you looking for?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144330344#/?channel=RES_BUY

Other end of Billericay but near country side- lovely property!

@KnottyKnitting I don't need anywhere very big, as it is just the three of us. I'm chilled about what it looks like, the location is more important than the number of bedrooms or looks.
I'll drive to work, so I don't need to be any buses / train etc. But off street parking is probably important.

I live in Leigh, know all the surrounding areas. If you want to post links or areas I'm very happy to tell you whether it's worth a view or a nice road etc.

@Easterness Thank you! that would be very useful.

How about Manningtree? Gorgeous market town with a train station that gets you to Chelmsford in an instant!

I lived in Rayleigh for 18 years and it is quite honestly the dullest place on earth. It’s “nice” and dull dull dull. Don’t do it.

i strongly suspect Billericay is the same.

leigh is lovely, but more lively. But eye wateringly expensive.

why not consider Chelmsford?

I like Rayleigh. It's safe, nice high street, good community. Rochford is ok, Eastwood, Hockley too

I think it would just feel too built up for me. I'd rather live in a village if I could. I'm in my 50's so I don't mind it being a bit dull - I'm actually considering a bungalow.

Yeah but I mean Rayleigh is dull in a small-minded, nothing going on, suburban, boring and “safe” (like a pp sad) way. Not in a nice village cosy sort of way.

honestly, 50s or not (I am too) then please don’t go for Rayleigh.

My office isn't near the centre, so the station isn't really helpful. Plus Manningtree is about the same / perhaps even further away from my doggy day care / friends / family etc.

Lots of village type places round Chelmsford: baddow, Writtle, Danbury.

I'd heard the high street was nice, which is why it was on my list.

I was really unsure of Eastwood, is it just an extension of Rayleigh?
I'd heard nice things about Hockley but It looked much further out on the map...

Are they nice villages?

Eastwood is nice. Especially if you live close to Cherry orchard country park. Massive dog walking community. It's safe and some nice property.

Hockley and Hawkwell also good areas. Have a look at rightmove. See if there's anything you fancy an opinion on

I've just looked at the map, that looks very close to the airport - wouldn't that be very loud?

Colchester. Wivenhoe

Ongar is lovely and Writtle, lots of charm, older properties, cafes etc. Brentwood has lots of country parks and green space but you’d probably be looking at a flat in that budget. Leigh on Sea is also lovely but a slightly longer drive to chelmsford. Mersea if you don’t mind managing the tides, or Maldon might be worth considering

From your list Leigh and Billericay are both really lovely places to live.

Are you wanting somewhere still town/village-y feeling? I find Rayleigh, Leigh etc very built up tbh ….. if you are looking for something quieter I’d look the other side of Chelmsford towards writtle, the Rodings or Ongar

Oooh yes, chloeR81 makes a good suggestion, maldon is lovely

Or Coggeshall! Such a beautiful village

This looks like it's j in a j juice area for dog walks but still close to amenities.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132127730?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

Sorry, looks like a nice area with green but not too rural.