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Original poster

Where to buy a house near Birmingham?

592 replies

FreddoBaggyMac · 04/09/2009 15:27

We have just found out that DH's job is moving to Birmingham and the likelihood is we're going to have to move pretty quickly - before the end of the year. It's going to be hard for us as we have four small children (all under 6)and no family or friends around there and we don't know the area at all, and also DD1 is really settled at her primary school here which is just a few minutes walk from our house...

Anyway, we need to look to the future and I'd be really grateful for any advice anyone can give me about buying a house in that area. Which areas are good, which to avoid etc... we have no idea at all as we've never even been there.

We basically want to be in a nice area for our DCs to grow up in and as short a commute to Birmingham as possible for DH. We need three bedrooms and a study and would like a garden. Most important, we need to be walking distance to a good Catholic primary school. We prefer older style properties (Victorian or earlier) but we need somewhere that doesn't require any renovation (or preferably even decorating!) as we just won't have the time for at least five years! Our budget is going to be around £250k.

Have heard that Bournville is nice - but there seems to be lots of areas within Bournville, I think Bournville village is going to be too expensive for us. Have also heard good things about Edgbaston, Harborne and Moseley - but again I suppose all of these places have good and bad areas within them... Have also thought about living further out (Whitwick, Malvern?) but perhaps the commuting time would be too long?

I'd be completely grateful for any advice from anyone as we're really stuck - we're not even going to have much opportunity to go and look at houses as we'll need to move quickly and have our DCs to consider (not easy to househunt trailing 4 DCs behind you!)
If anyone could provide me with links to houses for sale that might be suitable for us I'd be eternally grateful!!

Thank you in advance.

OP posts:
Tillyscoutsmum · 30/09/2009 13:29

Freddo - I'm curious as to how you got on as well [nosey bint emoticon] You haven't been kidnapped in any drive by shootings have you ?!

ohnoherewego · 13/10/2009 21:37

Bump. Please tell us how you got on freddo

Original poster
FreddoBaggyMac · 15/10/2009 16:31

Sorry everyone - no the shooters didn't get me I've only been looking at the 'threads I'm on' page lately (I've been busy with other things and as a consequence my mumsnet browsing habits have suffered) and for some reason this thread hasn't appeared as having new posts...

ANYWAY, back to the important matters, yes we all loved the scarecrows!! Weirdly we didn't have to queue at all to get into Belbroughton, which is the most lovely place, but had to queue for about an hour to get a sausage sandwich when we got there...

On the houses front, Stourbridge was great and the school lovely. We saw a house right next to the school which we were all set to put an offer in for initially but then decided it was too expensive and that we'd be over stretching ourselves and it was alos not the older-styled house that we truly want.

We saw a few in the old quarter, none completely perfect for us (too small/ too expensive/ just not right). There was one that could be perfect for us but it needs a fair bit of work doing on it - mainly cosmetic I think and the price is still a bit on the high side.

Anyway, we found out this week that in order to get DD's name down to start Reception in Dudley we really need to have an address there by 11th December (we could make an appeal after that but apparently we would not be in as strong a position as we would have been if we'd applied before the closing date). The thing I want LEAST is my children going to different schools and that seems to be a very real possibility if we don't get there by December, and there is also the ever present threat of DD1 losing her place if we don't get there soon! We've decided therefore that our only option is to rent for a while.

Our plan is to rent somewhere from mid November, once DH has heard about yet more stuff we are waiting for from his work. There are two rental possibilities at the mo - one in Norton and one in Old Swinford. We'll look around for something when we're there, there have already been about five houses put up for sale that we might be interested in since we got back. We may put a low offer in on the one we've seen in the old quarter and if we manage to get it have some time to do it up a bit while we're renting.

The £250k stamp duty issue is our big headache at the moment, really do not want to pay all that extra money in tax particularly if we're going to have to spend more doing the place up but we're struggling to find something that's big enough below the £250k mark. The one we like is just under £280k and what we're really hoping is to be in a position where we've sold ours and can offer £249k plus about £6k for leaving the oven, curtains etc plus the bonus that we have the cash available to move quickly (the selling of our house is presently going OK thankfully). However I know there is a BIG chance we won't get it for that... but there is a small chance we will as it's a real mess and that might put other people off and I know the vendor wants to be out quickly!!
Also there are at least four similar houses which have come up for sale in the past few weeks including this which is similar but a bit smaller and all done up posh! Also this and this are extremely similar houses up for a tiny bit cheaper than the one we like best and they're semi's rather than terraced (which that one is) - indicating that it is overpriced and we might might might (everything crossed!) get it for less. Also the vendor liked my DD and gave her a huge stuffed elephant which was just what we needed to fill up the car further on the way home... so that has to be a good sign

Thanks again everyone for all your help - I doubt we'd ever have found Stourbridge without you

OP posts:
ohnoherewego · 15/10/2009 19:51

Glad to hear you got on well. I saw that two of the houses in the old quarter had parking which I'd definately go for. Parking there is a real mare. I know all those streets really well so if you're moving forward and want the complete lowdown ask me.

Original poster
FreddoBaggyMac · 15/10/2009 20:56

Thanks Ohno - that would be really helpful. We definitely want to go for one with parking. The one we like is on Heath Street, which we thought seemed not quite as nice as South Ave, but still nice! We liked the little park at the end of it

OP posts:
ohnoherewego · 16/10/2009 14:06

Yep South Ave is nice but completely congested with parked cars. Only thing you need to watch on Heath Street is noise from the pub round the corner but not sure how near the house is to South Road.

Tillyscoutsmum · 16/10/2009 15:50

Oooh - glad you updated Freddo. Hope you get your rental sorted in time. CAT me if/when you want - I'd be happy to meet up for a coffee and give you a local guided tour

Original poster
FreddoBaggyMac · 16/10/2009 16:28

Thanks again everyone! will definitely keep that in mind about the noisy pub, thanks ohno.

OP posts:
Heated · 16/10/2009 16:37

Thanks for the update; love looking at houses.

cat64 · 16/10/2009 16:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
FreddoBaggyMac · 27/07/2010 21:13

Have been meaning for ages to put a last posting on here just to say a big THANKYOU! I am now settled into a lovely house in the Stourbridge area and couldn't be happier with the DC's school and the area we live in. I really am so grateful to all you good people who gave me advice at what was a very difficult and scary time! Thanks to you lot (particularly Tilly) life has turned out very well for us. So sincere thanks once more. xx

OP posts:
Littlefish · 04/08/2010 14:21

Hi Freddo - just found this again!

Do you fancy meeting up for coffee one day? I've got one dd, aged 5.

We could meet at chilly kiddies in Stourbridge so that the dc can all play and we can chat.

Anyone else from this thread fancy it too?

Tillyscoutsmum · 09/11/2010 21:00

Awwww - just found this thread again (after it was linked to from another one). I never got to see your last update Freddo but I'm so glad you're all settled and happy.

If you see this and want to CAT me to meet up, then it would be lovely to meet you Smile

rjdarcy · 01/05/2011 11:22

Hi All,

My husband is being re-located to Birmingham with his job .... we live in Kent and move to Stourbridge next week. I used to live there so am familiar with the area but wanted to say how helpful I have found this thread. I am new to the area as a parent...we have a 15mth old little boy. Any tips re: groups to join and pre-schools to view would be appreciated.

Thanks :-)

caramelgirl · 04/05/2011 19:10

Move to Dorridge- St. George & St. Teresa's catholic primary. Near lovely countryside, good train service (to B'ham but also to London and to Solihull for catholic secondary school). Quite old fashioned in some ways, bit new money in others (lots of v dressed up people in 4x4s on school run etc., nail parlours, fake tan specialists in nearby villages). But quite unifrom, no bad areas. Lots of greenery, decent sized gardens.
Big victorian houses, or some squishy newbuilds popping up in gardens! New big Sainsbury's mooted for shopping centre, but Tesco metro at moment and plenty shops in nearby Knowle.

caramelgirl · 04/05/2011 19:13

haha, sorry, that was super late. I was really enjoying wisdom on Sussex thread and thought I'd spread the love, ooops two years too late

Parker11212 · 11/07/2013 19:58

Just seen this thread and in exactly same position! With the same short list! Daunting task!

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