Where to buy a house near Birmingham?

[FreddoBaggyMac]

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.

this looks lovely in Leamington.
Why is such a great house within my budget?! Is there something wrong with the area??

Could just have been on the market a long time so they've reduced the price?

Have a look on Fish 4 homes/right move - there's plenty around for your price range.

Generally speaking, if you stick to roads off/around the Norton Road, then its really lovely. There is one on Fish 4 homes on Racecourse Lane which is the little lane linking Norton and Hagley but its slightly over budget (£275k). Its a beautiful road though - nice views over countryside/golf course and mahoosive £1million + houses at the Hagley end of Racecourse Lane.

Ooh - how exciting. We could meet for coffee . I go to a music class thingy with dd at the catholic church in Norton

Perhaps - just need some more affirmation that Leamington is a good place before I write it in pen on my list

Is that with Rachel French?

Thanks Tilly - and would love to meet for coffee

I don't know Leamington that well (only the town centre really). Hopefully someone will be along shortly who does. It will be a much longer commute though if your dh is going in by car. I'd be surprised if he could do it in less than 1 hr 15 in rush hour.

This thread is amusing with everyone slagging off everyone else's choice of where to live.

I'm still sticking up for Bromsgrove. It is an 'everyone knows everyone' sort of place. Admittedly the High St is a bit dire but that is only because we are in the middle of, and cannot compete with, several excellent shopping centres (Bham, Redditch, Worcester, Merry Hill).
Bizarre fact: Bromsgrove's population has one of the highest percentages in the country of Graduates (although Malvern probably beats it!)

Sutton / Four Oaks is Hyacinth Bucket country.

I see that the conversation has moved on ...

I would second Norton (as a district, don't know the school), it is part of Stourbridge which is nice.
The commute by car to Bham central in rush-hour is dire but the train is v. quick.

Warwick and Leamington are essentially one big town now. Nothing separates them and it all comes under Warwick District Council. I have friends in both areas.

Leamington is great for shopping and has a great mix of independent shops and chains. Kenilworth is just down the road and has a Waitrose. North Leamington is sought after the and the area around the train station is a bit nasty but really there aren't any really bad areas. Its all leafy and lovely really.

Come and have a look. The centre of Leamington has green spaces and you're never far from the countryside. I think the Catholic High School is called Trinity and children from Leamington and Warwick go there.

I love it here. You need to check for flood history around Leamington though, so beware.

I say really really a lot.

I grew up in Harborne & my dad still lives there. still has that lovely village feel to it & always bump into people who knew me when I was small when walking to local shops! very quiet too, you would never know you are only 3 miles from city centre!

Harborne high street isn't as nice as it used to be though - except for Waitrose, which is lovely. Valentino's restaurant is quite nice too.

yes sutton is very nouveau
but hey it has lots of things there

Sutton and Solihull - lots of the Harry Enfield "I am considerably richer than you" types about..
Most people from Sutton would by now be shrieking "We're not from Birmingham, it's a completely different place.."

Hi back again. Norton and surrounding area (Oldswinford)is really nice. Quite close to Stourbridge and Kidderminster for shopping (and Merry Hill) but easily commutable to Birm. There are quite a lot of period (Victorian) houses as well. I am fairly sure that the primary is a feeder to Hagley Catholic which is an excellent school.

Oh ifwe are going to talk restuarants in Harborne Turners is by far and away the best

If I was forced to move back (I went the other way to oneofakind, Oop North) I would also look at Warwick, but also Hagley/Clent/Belbrougton areas, don't know Norton but sounds lovely.
I wouldn't move to Bromsgrove purely because there was always rivalry between Bromsgrove and The Ditch at my Catholic High School! I would be forced to eat my words. Bromsgrove isn't a new town though, far from it, A E Housman and all that.

Have you thought about Lickey End?

Not serious just wanted an excuse to mention it!

Not been to Turners - they don't seem to like veggies much!

Agree with those who have said that neither Harborne nor Bournville feel like you're in a city.

I'm not sure llareggub, some of north leam really isn't very nice. Although the Cubbington road area where the highlighted house is situated is fine. Some of south is also ropey and DH used to (although years ago I don't think anything has changed) live in the old town part of the centre and it wasn't great.

It isn't true that Leamington is cheaper than Warwick, if anything the opposite is true.

In terms of Coventry joking apart it has an extremely high Catholic population. The more desirable parts would be within your budget and it really isn't that bad (as long as you stick to the west side) Personally I would rather live in the nice parts of Cov than the ropier parts of Leamington

Stourbridge is ok. Norton is deffo one of the nicer parts and close to train station too.

On the edge of the West Mids conurbation so close to countryside, especially Norton area. Trains to B'ham every 10 mins ish, takes 23 minutes. Good Catholic primary in Norton (St Josephs) and secondary + 6th form in Hagley which is 10 mins by train.

Stourbridge town centre is not so great tho. You have to go to Mery Hill for anything really.

brettgirl2, I wonder if we've chatted at a toddler group in Warwick?

Maybe not as dd is not quite 5 months but maybe in the future

I really like boldmere. Yeah there's many wankers in sutton (hyacinth nouveau types) but that don't make the whole place wanky

leonie hijack - was looking forward to chatting with you at planned meet up t'other day. If you fancy meeting up some other time - schmoo_76 @ hotmail. com