FTB: Where should I buy a house in Wirral? (Or nice liverpool area)

[Liam2024]

Hi all,

First time buyer here,
I'm looking to purchase a house preferably no more than £250,000. I would prefer to pay closer to £200,000 But I understand what I want will make it difficult too especially in market.

I understand for that price its not going to be the BEST area possible or some luxury place and i will have to be flexible.
I just would like to know any safe areas to buy minimum a 3 bedroom house in the likes of the Wirral or Liverpool. Found some nice properties in Leasowe/Moreton, Prenton, Pensby and Ellesmere port, Thornton/Litherland, just not sure where is safe as tried checking crime reports and reddit and mum's net but nothing with recent threads. I want to start a family so I'd rather not be living in an area of crime, drugs, violence etc..

I have tried to look up areas and I understand I'm most likely priced out of west kirby, Heswall etc.. but i want to avoid bad areas in Birkenhead, Seacombe etc..

Pref: semi or detached, 3 beds, decent size back garden, garage/driveway, missus wants 2 toilets

Also any advice or tips for a new buyer would greatly be appreciated thanks.

Hi OP. I have friends who live in the Whitby part of Ellesmere Port (right near Chester Zoo) and really like it. If your search area includes Southport and your mrs works in Walton have you considered somewhere like Ormskirk, Lydiate or Burscough? Even around Parbold (cousin lives there and commutes into L'pool). How about Rainford? I've friends there too and it seems really nice, safe, quite big for a village but has a bit of a villagey vibe and has excellent road links.

Ormskirk is pricey ime. A very cute town, though.

@Liam2024 Walton is a horrible bottle-neck at all times of the day and best avoided

It’s not so much whether you can drive as whether it’s a good idea to do so. The traffic is bad and if you do end up on the Wirral, if something happens to a tunnel the entire city gridlocks.

It once took me 4 1/2 hours to get through a tunnel when the other was closed due to an accident. You can get a bus if the trains go off - if you have your car somewhere, you are stuck.

What's wrong with Litherland and North Liverpool?

By North Liverpool I'm looking at:
• Maghull
• Melling
• Crosby
• Thornton
• Litherland
Or beyond such as Ormskirk, Lydiate, Southport but pricey in places.

I like the looks of Woolton village but no never thought about Aigburth before I will have to look into that.

My partner also mentioned how she no longer wants to live in the wirral and to stay on this side of the mersey. Which now means I need to apologise to all those contributing for the wirral side and thank you for the help. Guess I'll need to rename the thread 😅

I will have to check it out next time I'm around there. I had a colleague who uses to live in Maghull I can always ask him what its like too.

I currently work in the wirral but likely to change soon so I know what the tunnel is like driving back and forth can literally take like 15-20 mins on a good day but with her work being in Walton makes no sense to move across just to drive back everyday especially when planning to have a family. Also she's a teacher so can't afford to be late or leave early etc..

Formby is lovely! Thriving 'village' street with a lovely cafe culture, fab schools, the wonderful beach and pinewoods and under half hr into Liverpool on the train.

Just avoid the new estate on the edge of town which is on a flood plain!

It's a fairly pricey area but there are still a couple of pretty decent looking 3 beds for your budget:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145898159#/?channel=RES_BUY

Forget the Wirral and stick to South Liverpool - Cressington, Mossley Hill and Calderstones are all good areas.

North Liverpool / Litherland/Bootle don't have as a good reputation as slightly further north into Waterloo/Crosby area. These area generally is poorer with higher unemployment. Large amounts of the housing is small Victorian terraced or similar so you might struggle finding the garage/garden you want
But housing will be cheaper and I'm sure there will be roads/areas within these areas though which are a better fit to your criteria.
South Liverpool to Walton is likely to be a difficult drive in rush hour times

I’ve moved from Cressington to Waterloo (can see that marine lake from the house) in the last year and Southport is a good 30-35mins drive and Cressington is a bit more - got a DS in Yr6 so didn’t bother to move schools and just sucking up the school run.
It’s easier to get to the Wirral from this side of the city centre - no having to fight through town, you’re straight away.

I’d say you won’t get much for your money in a pleasant area in the South of the city, 3 bed terraces are going for 200k in Garston atm which seems madness!