Property

Where is there good, cheap property in the UK? I've been looking around my old hunting ground of Darwen and discovered that i could buy a retired gentleman's mansion with mini bar, stables and 89 acres of rolling pastures, for the price of a modest 3 bed semi in need of extensive renovation, along the M4 corridor.

So where does one get most bricks per buck? Anywhere in the UK.
And without wishing to sound too middle class, preferably somewhere 'decent'.

I'm resisting with all my might, having to part with any cash in my current environs.

Went to look at a house yesterday in Reading. Needless to say, the best thing about it was the melancholy goat wandering aimlessly in the rear garden. The price they wanted was just incomprehensible, with or without the goat.

 

There isn't.

The nearest you'll get is Cornwall or the Outer Hebredies - and places there are cheap for a reason (isolation, weather etc).

Of course - we don't know your definition of cheap - if you're looking at Reading prices (I'm soooo glad I left that place) you can afford something decent somewhere else surely?

 

Well the weather i couldn't care less about, and isolation i would pay extra for. So neither is a problem.

And i was thinking more along the lines of better value, rather than cheapness per se

And in case the post was misleading, i have no desire for a large mansion, just a modest house for less money.

I've travelled the country quite a bit, but only have any real knowledge of property in the Lancashire area.

I think realistically i would still live down here in the short term (renting) but buy something somewhere else as well, do it up a bit, and live in it permanently down the line at some point.

cheers

 

You are right about Darwen and Lancs. We toyed with the idea last year.
Cheapest huge houses was Birkenhead, but it's now "City of scousers" or whatever, so mega Euro-bucks will make it a yuppiefest marina this year. You can buy a hole in Stoke or the NE for under 20K still. Cheapest decentish place? Northamptonshire/Leicestershire,
Retford,
Worksop,
Lincolnshire [but no work there],
Barton on Humber [opposite side from Hull - a toll-free 1 mile cycle acrosss the Humber bridge for work]
any others??

 

You don't usually have to pay extra for isolation, it's usually cheaper to live in an isolated area. The only issues for those who haven't yet retired tend to be employment opportunities and commuting.

Unfortunately, areas with the best employment opportunities and best transport infrastructure command ever increasing property prices (and hence also poorer value for money). Look at areas where there is next to no employment opportunities (due to its isolated location from nearby metropolisis) and you'll be getting plenty of value for money and choice.

So where? Probably Cornwall, Wales and Scotland (goes without saying only in areas well out of reach of the major metropolitan centres of course).

 

Central Somerset is pretty much on a par with what I saw recently in Leicestershire (except Wells which is always dearer than surrounding towns like Glastonbury).

Heading further west into Devon, the prices are a law unto themselves. I suspect employment opportunities may have something to so with it. I can't figure out why, for example, Honiton is more expensive (by a far margin) than Chard or Axminster, or for that matter Glastonbury. Exmouth seems to offer good value. Exeter is getting expensive and so is Taunton. Yeovil is still fair value. Torquay is a little pricey but is capped by the fact that most of the property there is not very inspired. The decent property in Torquay is extortionate.

Some parts of Gloucestershire still offer fair value, the western parts mainly.

 

You must be talking about Stroud, the place is full of tree hugging lefties

 

Have a look at UpMyStreet using postcode or name (defaults to main postoffice in location).

From the main page;
(1) Click on Property Prices.
(2) Click on Acorn Profil then Full Profile for a detailed analysis of neighbourhood.
(3) Buy a Lotto ticket and keep your fingers crossed!

Auric

 

My area is Arcon pofile 28 is that good?

 

As someone who lives in Devon, yes undoubtedly proximity to employment hotspots, namely the two big metropoli(sis?) of Exeter and Plymouth have a major effect on property prices. But also, south Devon, in particular Totnes and surrounding areas are an extremely popular with location for second/holiday homes for the well heeled home counties investors looking to escape city life due to the locations comibined scenic beauty and proximity to amenities - a few years back the properties were also very affordable in relation to south east England prices so it's obvious to see why second home ownership in Devon has become so popular. North Devon is very rural and has minimal transport links, so that's probably the place to find cheaper property.

Exmouth isn't as reasonably priced as it use to be. Due to Exeter becoming less affordable now, people are spreading their search and looking towards to next nearest town wiith good transport links, etc. Exmouth and Honiton are two of those locations IMO i.e. attracting those who can't afford their required housing in Exeter. Honiton also has a good public transport link in the form of its main line train station which links it up with Exeter in one direction and London in the opposite direction.

As an aside and rant, I'm increasingly scratching my head as to how people in this county, and especially in Exeter can afford to buy property due to the traditionally low wages around here (compared to most other areas of the country). Most of the mid to higher end properties seem to be being bought up by people/families from outside of county, mainly people from London say (I was one of those people). I'm sure most employers here are carrying on paying the bare minimum of wages that they can get away with, because they can get away with it and also from the lack of competion from higher paying bigger corporate employers (of which there aren't many in this county - Reuters and The Met Office are the only really *big* name employers I can think of). The employee has a choice between that job, another (low paid job), or being on the dole IMNSHO. The salaries and housing prices around here are so improportinately out of step with each other I'd like to know how the average person can afford to live in this county.

 

Lancashire is definitely a possibility. We bought a large farmhouse for what one of my friends paid for a 1 bed flat in Penge. If you go 20 miles north of Manchester there are some nice houses to be had that won't set you back the enormous amount they would down south. Have you thought of around Burnley, lovely countryside and houses even cheaper than Rochdale where we are

 

Went to look at another one in Reading last night. I am not exagerating when i say the locality resembled that of war torn Baghdad. I wouldn't have given them 50 dinar for it though.

Viewing one in Robbo's neck of the woods today hopefully. What's Birch Hill like? That UpMyStreet is ok, but the percentage of ITV viewers in the area doesn't really give me much assistance when purchasing a property - as much as i am put off by ITV, i doubt it would be a 'deal breaker'.

I've lived here for nearly 3 years, and it's all too apparent that i am unfamiliar with anywhere other than my place of work, home address, and the local chinese restaurant, which isn't helping much now.

Here's hoping for a sudden 15% increase in interest rates Monday morning . Bring property prices crashing down My early retirement plans are not looking good at the moment.

Whoever mentioned Cornwall, thats out of the question, due to the potential close proximity of the in laws.

 

I believe that the percentage of ITV viewers is supposed to give you some idea as to how educated, or otherwise the residents in a certain area are. It would appear that ITV viewer = numpty

 

Good grief, looking at property prices in the UK I reckon you'd all be better off buying a place in Tokyo!
THe UK is totally outrageous.
You lot need "generational" mortgages, no?

 

I saw a panorama (or similar) programme on this.

They point the finger at self-certification mortgages.

For those unaware, this is where you stipulate your own income on your mortgage application form yourself, and 'self certificate' its accuracy.

For example a London mortgage of 350,000. Mortgage companies typically provide up to 3.5 x your income - so you would need an income of 100,000 p/a for that size of mortgage - this salary is therefore what you would put on your mortgage application.

This ''lying'' has enabled people to obtain mortgages they otherwise would not be able to obtain from a lender.

The programme indicated that should a future substantial increase in interest rates occur, then the expense of mortgages would lead to defaults in payment/repossession.

This in turn would provide a crash in the housing market and negative equity for some.

Personally I think this scenario is quite likely, and I would never self-certify a morgage as described for fear of losing my home.

NB
Henry - I totally agree about cheap housing being related to inaccessability. Parts of Norfolk as an example can provide incredible value for money.

chris

 

What i don't understand about those type of mortgages though Chris, is this - even if my friendly bank manager walked up to me tomorrow and quite jovially encouraged me to take out any mortgage i cared to mention, i would not be in a position to do so. Even if i was able to take out a massive mortagage, i would not be able to make the repayments. The level of the banks lending is probably about right for affordability puposes, hence how is anybody financially able to borrow more even if it were possible. Are they all drug dealers or something. On another note though, i hope the trend continues I will quite happily pick up a repossessed home at a reduced rate

 

Yes I don't understand how people can go on buying houses, in our area Exeter, its not exactly the highest paid, but the average house price here now is about £150k, err right, so how is anyone going to be able to afford that? It'll come crashing down on its arse one day soon, something has to give.

We've just moved house, and had to take out a mortagage thankfully not for very much but still its a huge dent in my earnings now, so that's hifi upgrades out the window for the next 15 years. Still can't beleive we've moved to a smaller house, but it cost more than what we sold, just down to the area, it sucks.

Better idea, buy a plot of land and build your own house, it "has" to be cheaper than buying one. Mad World!

 

Carmarthenshire IMO the best by far, good prices (although now people are cottoning on it's changing fast) lowest crime rate in the uk.

I've lived in Carms for over 12yrs and moved from west London, here's some pic's of my place, it stands in ten acres.

http://www.barnies-place.co.uk/barn.htm

Cheers

Barnie.

 

Compared to many places I've seen in England, Wales seems a fair bit cheaper. A friend of a friend who was in here said "half price" recently. He was from the Leeds area. And compared to prices around where my girlfriend lives (east london), half price seems about right...... maybe 1/3 even!

Prices are rising as with everywhere. We sold our last place for over double what we payed for it. That was living there for about 8 years.

If isolation isn't an issue then I'm sure the further North you head the MOre you'll get for your MOney. Before spending out on anything though I'd do quite a bit of "scoping out" if MOving to quite a isolated area. A few drinks in a few *holes* to find out how friendly the locals are

And MOst importantly, will the chinese deliver to your new address!!!

 

"And MOst importantly, will the chinese deliver to your new address!!!" MO!

Nope! but you can always learn to cook

The locals are the most friendly bunch I've come across, not like the big smoke :MILD:

If you want to build yourself as I have done, there's some nice building plots in scenic locations, they are being snapped up fast now though and local UDP (Unitary development plans) are changing and will be finalised some time this year.

Best regards

Barnie.
http://www.barnies-place.co.uk/