Where should I live?

[droif]

I live in SE London Zone 2/3 and have all my life. I am increasingly struggling to pay the mortgage on my Victorian terrace and really need to be mortgage free.

I want to live somewhere with a good inclusive vibe, similar to here in Brockley.
I need a 3 bedroom house, would absolutely love a detached, but know that could be difficult on my budget of £475k.

Areas I've considered are Faversham, Canterbury, Whitstable, Bath, Bristol. I don't need to worry about schools as children are older at uni. I'm 51.

I'm single, so want to be in a nice community where I can make friends and build a life. I work in education, and in my field, it shouldn't be too difficult to find a job.

Any suggestions would be very welcomed. Thank you

I'm not hippy at all really. I don't think I'd fit in in Frome, it's a nice town, but it's not for me. And my ex lives there. Its a definite no

Did you move as a family perhaps? I know of a number of people who moved solo for work and have found it very difficult.

Do you have friends where you are? I don't think leaving London is the best idea. Could you rent for a little bit first?

Yes my friends are all mostly in SE London and I have lovely colleagues. No family here really, just an aunt in Chislehurst and my brother in Sutton, which is an hour drive anyway.
I've been in the borough of Lewisham my whole life and don't want to not ever have experienced living anywhere else. And I really need to get rid of this crippling mortgage! It's so stressful having so little money left after bills each month.

That's a nice house, but I find Sidcup depressing. It's just not for me

Skipton is the happiest place to live… maybe worth a try?

Not Liverpool I hope- we don't want you here. Manchester is crawling with MC southerners, so stick to there and leave us in peace thanks

@droif I'm single late 50s, Londoner. I moved to Oxford seven years ago, because I was fed up with living in flats (the last one was Battersea) and could get a good two bed terrace house for less than the flat. Having said that, property prices are high, here, but it's worth a look since it's a city which might fit with your work and also easy transport access to friends back in London. I can tell you which areas might suit, if you're interested. Also note, the Littlemore area, just outside the Oxford ringroad, is soon getting a new rail station and link to London, and Littlemore house prices are lower.

I am actually a northerner myself actually, just been living down south. Newsflash, you don’t own the country.

I will be based in Liverpool as that’s where my office will be, but probably the Wirral as I have family 20 mine from there. So I do know people, but didn’t know a soul when I moved down south but soon made friends.

Oh if you like newbuilds here's a couple. Buses into town from round the corner on Bishopsworth Road. Again, a tad further south than Southville but nice area. We actually looked at the cheaper one of these newbuilds, very nice but not for us, we wanted (and got!) a bigger garden.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150923153#/?channel=RES_NEW

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170030315#/?channel=RES_NEW

Oh if you like newbuilds here's a couple. Buses into town from round the corner on Bishopsworth Road. Again, a tad further south than Southville but nice area. We actually looked at the cheaper one of these newbuilds, very nice but not for us, we wanted (and got!) a bigger garden.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/150923153#/?channel=RES_NEW

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170030315#/?channel=RES_NEW

Oops posted twice!

Have you been job hunting recently? It’s brutal out there at the moment. I’d get some job offers lined up before you decide 100% on an area, then work out the commute you’re willing to do and take it from there.
Loads of great house options on here, and a good budget. Good luck!

Lee, SE12, is a nice little community the other side of Lewisham. This one is not too far from the station and, a bit further in, Hither Green. Or you could definitely get a two bed flat in places like Hither Green (even Blackheath) for your budget if you wanted to stay in London. Places like Sidcup are changing and attracting younger people due to being priced out of the trendier areas. They’re very close to the more chi chi areas, have a good amount of green space, coffee shops etc and good transport links so you can easily get to central London or wherever.

Itvwill be difficult to find that London vibe elsewhere. Little pockets maybe in Manchester, or some university towns like Brighton but, even then, I find the diversity range is different.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/169321283

Nope. Full up.
And can we stop the whole 'little pockets of Manchester with the London vibe' rubbish. If you mean affluent middle class areas, yup plenty of southerners have homed in on these places sending prices ballistic. Often they're the only locations mentioned on MN and acceptable.

Yes - me H and at the time 17 year old son - I have got several quite a bit younger single friends here though and actually very few couple friends -I can accept that makes it a bit different - we were also early 50s at the time. As you say I think circumstances can make a big difference - there are tons of meet up groups here though for all ages and the big difference I found was because it’s smaller it was quick and easy to get around.

Oh wow, lovely house! Why is it so cheap though? Seems very under priced for the area

It’s over the main south circular rd from the station (but not near the road so no noise) but it’s not in the Lee conservation area so cheaper. It’s a much quieter area than Brockley but there’s a lot going on locally in Lee and Blackheath and very easy to get to Lewisham, Catford, Bromley. There are some nice little parks in the area too.

I don’t live too far away and often go to Brockley for the Rivoli - it’s my old stomping ground from many, many years ago! Farmers market, cafes etc at Blackheath and also some nice little cafes around Manor Park/Hither Green. With your budget, it’s probably the best nicest area you could get in London to be able to afford a decent house. A lot of people buy a 2 bed then develop the loft to make it a 3 bed. Maybe pay the area a visit and look on the local pages for a flavour of what it’s like.

You could also pick up a small house in East Ham which is getting a lot trendier but, in my opinion, is a lot grittier than Lee and not as safe.

Could I ask where you found meet up groups? DD has lived in central Bath for years and although she has made friends it was a slow process and there’s always room for more!

Thank you! I will most definitely visit the area and may view the house, although I won't be ready to sell my house until about March. I can't believe how much cheaper it is there. That house would be so more, just a few hundred metres north!

Yawn. People move, get over it. And a lot of Londoners are pushed out of London because of the house prices. They have to live somewhere!

We moved to just outside Poole a few years ago - same time of life as you. I spend my mornings walking the dog amongst the pine trees and can be down on the beach in about 15 minutes. We both still work but it’s made such a difference to life.

Meet up have an app, put Bath in and you will get all the groups . Everything from board games to ones for younger folks to older ones to tech heads !! They come and go but there’s always various ones - I met people like this

Meet up have an app, put Bath in and you will get all the groups . Everything from board games to ones for younger folks to older ones to tech heads !! They come and go but there’s always various ones - I met people like this