Small house 150,000 budget - where to look?

[Winterjoy]

Recommendations please for areas where 150,000 is a realistic budget for a small house (pref 2 bed). Need to stay in England for work but otherwise open to anywhere (although would prefer south out of familiarity!).

Only stipulation is not too built up (some green space, e.g. nature reserve, within short driving distance at a minimum but preferably walkable) and somewhere relatively safe as I'll be living in/moving around the area alone.

I've done a nationwide search on rightmove and filtered by price but I've no idea where to start with narrowing down areas for the shortlist!

You'd get a place towards the eastern side of Lincolnshire or the Northern end of Nottinghamshire.

Yes you could look at some parts of north Nottinghamshire. It’s tricky though since there are very nice expensive villages close to much cheaper areas.

Lancaster & Morecambe

Cleethorpes Lincolnshire, this property is a few minutes walk away from a country park, and about ten minutes walk to the beach.

The wider area is not very multi cultural if that's an issue

Norwich?

Mid Devon, 10 miles outside of Exeter eg. Crediton or North Devon, Tiverton.

The North East.

I moved to NW Lake District, near Whitehaven.
for £150k I bought a Victorian 5 bed huge terrace house overlooking the sea!!
Im on the Trainline to Carlise amd west coast of Cumbria, 20 mins to lakes and fells, 30 mins to Keswick.
lovely locals, very friendly, it’s amazing here!

Would Wales be possible?

Are you willing to name the specific area @Largestlegocollectionever? I'm struggling because I know the areas in my current location that look great in photos but aren't safe to live in/are generally a bit rough, but would have no idea where to avoid in NW Lake District.

No unfortunately not, my job can be done from home but I have to be residing in England

Thank you I'll take a look

I doubt I'll be getting out much except for walks tbh so the local demographic isn't a huge concern to me

South Yorkshire/west Yorkshire borders.
So stocksbridge/deepcar edge of Sheffield, villages around edge of Barnsley, penistone market town, denby Dale, skelmenthorpe etc. Lots with train stations. Lots on the trans pennine trail. Could get a reasonable 2 bed (depending on village/area).

You’d get a two bed in parts of Wiltshire for 150K.

Chippenham, Westbury, Trowbridge, etc.

In Lancaster & Morecambe if you stick to a minimum of £135k for a 2 bed then the area will be decent.

Again close to the sea and Lake District plus quick access to London by train 2.5 hours and the M6

I would avoid the west Cumbrian coast because the transport links are poor. The trains are so unreliable unfortunately and the it's a long drive off the motorway.

Morecambe will be revitalised by new Eden project. Good arts scene and schools.

Littleborough, Greater Manchester. On the edge of the Pennines, nice and green. Quiet and safe. 20ish mins into Manchester by train, same to Hebden Bridge, which is a really pretty, bohemian town that's good for evenings out.

Would you look at flats OP - both of these are in nice places, look in nice condition and 'southern'

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/153672665

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/156567041#/?channel=RES_BUY

Penrith is lovely and not as isolated as the west coast of Cumbria. Great transport links. Beautiful setting, nice people, plenty of shops and facilities. Lots of houses in your budget.

County Durham is beautiful and you could get a wonderful freshly renovated 2-3 semi, or a new build. Lots of wonderful countryside and coast.

A nice town or village near Durham might suit you - Lanchester maybe, or parts of Durham itself like Newton Hall.

I hear Sedgefield is nice too but I don't know it. The schools are apparently excellent.

Shipley near Bradford. Beautiful green spaces all round plus lovely community feel. Good train links too.

Lots of places in the NE would have houses for that. You say you want to be near to nature but what about a beach.
Any other requirements, transport links, hospitals, particular hobbies?

You’d definitely get something south or south east of Doncaster. Lovely countryside.

Cottage in Cononley
This area is very close to countryside & has great transport links too. I love perusing rightmove !

Also OP - any reason you can't look at shared ownership- still working? Can you get a mortgage? Some fab options at the50% level on houses at that level ( and quite low rent) or did you only want to buy outright

Being able to get onto a main railway would be helpful as I travel for work a few times a year and would be wanting to visit family in the south a few times a year also.

Most of my hobbies interests are relatively mainstream so would be doable anywhere that isn't extremely remote! My main concern is getting an affordable roof over my head and I will build up my life in whatever location that needs to be.

Not keen on seaside because I imagine it's hellish/mad busy during summer months if you do want to get out and about.