House hunting in Sussex

[MrsDermotOleary]

We are currently renting in Hove, E Sussex. Would love to buy but around us the houses all have tiny patio gardens and we'd like to have a larger garden with a lawn for the dc to play on.
Given that the houses with proper gardens round here start at £500,000 we would need to move away to get something more affordable.
Can anyone recommend anywhere further inland, maybe Ditchling, Lewes, Upper/Lower Beeding where we could buy somewhere for around £300-£350,000? Have 2 dc, eldest at school and would like a villagey type setting.
Be grateful for any advice.

How about looking around Hassocks, Lindfield and Cuckfield?

Ditchling and Hurstpierpoint, although pretty, are a nightmare with traffic trying to get through the villages particularly at rush hour times.

Many thanks for your help captainpig, will bear that in mind. Have no idea where to start...

Is there a workplace you or other half need to get to easily?

Best to visit on a weekend and see if you can get a "feel" for different villages.

DH works in Portslade and sometimes London so would want to be near a station. I work in central Brighton and usually get the train in.

Weekend visit is an idea we've discussed, I work Saturdays and DH is not always around on Sundays but we'll try to plan something.

Are you local captainpig?

Why don't you try Shoreham? You get more for your money there and you've still got the train links.

Yes, am local, and would be happy to live in any of the areas I mentioned.

Parts of Lindfield and Hassocks are easy walking distance to station (Lindfield is fairly close to Haywards Heath station). Hassocks is also very good for getting onto the A23 if driving to Portslade. There is also a bus service from Hassocks into Brighton.

You say you have 2 DCs and you work, does one child need full day nursery care? If so you may want to check if there is provision nearby.

Cuckfield, although pretty, is not walking distance to a station, but has good accessibility to the A23.

If your DH drives into work, maybe he could do a test run on a weekeday to see what the traffic levels are like.

You could always try renting in the area first, bear in mind also that the popular primary schools round here are quite full. All the places I mentioned ie Hassocks, Lindfield and Cuckfield all have a secondary school.

That's really helpful, thank you. Our youngest does go to a nursery so that (along with infant/primary schools) is on the list of things to look for. DH usually cycles to work locally and gets the train to London. His work may be flexible though. There are a lot of things we need to work out before we start looking properly.

Pesto, what is Shoreham like? I don't know it at all. DH isn't keen on Portslade so not sure he'd go for Shoreham. Is it nice?

Well, it's not 'villagey', but there is the beach and access to Brighton is good. Shoreham beach has some nice individual houses.

You could always consider Woodingdean just along from the Racecourse, where you get a lot more for your money and you have very good bus service which your DH could use to get to the station. T'is rural with lovely views and property tons cheaper than Hove or some of those inland commuter villages.

Shoreham is lovely and the village bit is getting better and better wrt cafes shops bars etc.Some lovely houses esp opn the village green and prices are great

Thanks for all the info on here. I'm looking into this too ATM.

i grew up in Handcross which is ok. not as picturesque as Lindfield, Cuckfield etc etc thpoupgh!

but handy as is right on the A23 so easy access to London/Brighton and close to Crawley (where I live now) which has decent shops