Manchester Area - Advice Please

[CobblesBeach]

Evening everyone,
My daughter and her partner (25 and 26) are taking the plunge this year to buy a property in Manchester, moving from the South-West.
They have visited several times and fallen in love with city life, they have a mortgage approved for £180-200k.
What areas on the outskirts would people recommend for them to start looking to live? Any areas to avoid? Tram access to the city would be an advantage; they would ideally like a house not flat.
Any advice would be appreciated

Are they aware it rains constantly? 152 days per year

And? Your point being?

My daughter lives in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester - it's very quick to get into Manchester from Stalybridge, about 20 minutes on the train. You could easily buy a terraced house there with their budget.

My point being a lot of people move there for the house prices from the south and don’t realise it’s a bit miserable if you don’t like rain???

Chorlton is out of their budget but chorlton borders might be doable and is a great location

Oh what a load of codswallop. This old chestnut again. Have you ever ventured north of the M25? It may rain slightly more but a far more decent city with more soul and character than many Southern ones.

Are they thinking about family soon? Might be worth considering primary schools.

I’m from Manchester, but been living down south for many years now (for work).
It’s definitely greyer up there than down here. My default expectation of the sky is whitey grey, rather than blue. The rain isn’t a particular issue - the weather is pretty mild in Manchester, the big storms tend to get caught by the Pennines. Obv there are storms and exceptions. But it’s not like eg Yorkshire.

I adore the place. Would absolutely live there again were it not for work. But I do think my OH who grew up right on the south coast in a v sunny spot, and tends to assume if it’s not a blue sky it’s a bad weather day, would struggle a bit.

I moved up north from the south decades ago. Still have family down south. It really doesn't rain a whole lot more than down south. Quite often when I speak to family the suns out here and it's raining there.

Anyway, if they'll be wanting to visit family regularly South Manchester is probably the area they want to look out to save travel time.

If they want to be in the city itself then their budget won't go far. It's quick to get into Didsbury from the M56. I'd look along the tram network in the South. Im just outside the m60

Well I’ve lived many years both “up north” and “down south” and give me the south any day. Definitely better climate, brighter and generally less gloomy. And I’m from “up north”.

The weather is why Manchester is where it is!
For example - Cotton was imported via the waterways & processed in mills that required damp weather to keep the floating fibres down. Admittedly a few other industrial bits & bobs too, but much of it was linked to waterways including links across the country.

It's a great place for younger people, the city is vibrant, diverse & has such a rich cultural history; we have easily accessible countryside that's absolutely beautiful, and all in all I think a move up here could be a really positive step (I'm not totally biased - I lived in the south west for a few years too.)

For property, I recommend looking at the north & east of the city for better property prices but do factor in the often poor performance of train travel up here. There will eventually be a decent road network past the M67 & Stalybridge but it's been promised for many decades, so commuting into the city can be a chore.
Currently, the west & south of Manchester are more expensive & often over developed versus infrastructure (eg Warrington).
That said, Andy Burnham has some great plans for the city so I'm pretty confident that there's a bright future for Manchester.

I wasn’t being rude just factually it does rain a lot more than down south! Of my friends have moved up there are lots of benefits but they’ve all mentioned the weather as getting them down (being Southerners).

If you are from a rainy city (Northern and western) then you are used to it so it’s a non-issue and no need to jump to defend!!

Yes there are rainier places (mountains) but for a city it’s high up there.

I didn’t mean to highjack OPs thread so let’s please give her recommendations.

Thanks everyone, some great suggestions and advice will start having a look.
They are going to visit areas in a week off later this month so this is really helpful.
I think they are accepting of the weather! The South Coast has its benefits but they love Manchester.
Might have some more questions soon!

Try the Penske areas...easy access to Manchester, beautiful location and they would get a decent house for their budget.

Edit: Pendle!

ROFLMAO.

I dislike Manchester (worked there for a while) and wouldn't move there at all, but so far as I can see the one place to avoid is Wythenshaw.

I mean it’s not untrue. I live here. It rains more than the average to be honest. It’s definitely a factor to consider if you don’t like the rain

If the weather was good, everyone would want to live here. Manchester is a great city.

I'm a southerner who moved up decades ago and fell in love with the place. I do have lots of 'big coats'.

It really depends what they're into. If they're outdoorsy there are nice spots on the outskirts near the peaks and the forest of bowland way. I live on the doorstep of the peaks and you can just about get a stone terraced mill cottage for that budget. Train is twenty something minutes into manchester.

Their budget is rather low, might get a flat in Didsbury, Chorlton or Stretford, or a little house somewhere decent but not on the tram line. Somewhere like Reddish (direct bus line to town) or Heaton Chapel (overland train) might be worth a look.

On that budget I'd look at Whitefield - definitely could get an apartment, or possibly a small terrace. On the metrolink line and straight onto the motorway if needed.
Radcliffe they'd definitely get a 2 bed terrace but you need to pick your area carefully to get it right for public transport.

Where are they commuting to? By car or public transport?

What are they expecting their money to buy a one bed flat or a 3 bed semi?

The answers will be quite different depending on their requirements.

I'd have a really good look at tram times, last trains etc if they plan to make the most of the city centre.

Prestwich/Whitefield. Lovely area and a huge park on the tram line. Loads of investment at the moment trying to turn it into the 'Didsbury' of Nirth Manchester so good area it invest in.

I'd look for something on the tram line. Bury they'd get something for that budget, prestwich or Whitefield might be worth a look.

Manchester is a great city, although a lot more expensive than it used to be!

In terms of rainfall, the difference between Manchester and the south east is pretty stark. But OP said her daughter lives in the south west, much of which is also wetter than average.