Moving to the North

[timmothy]

Personally, rent in Bristol, aquire good jobs, buy a more expensive house locally and enjoy the southern life.

Not so easy to just aquire good jobs. My mum is fairly high up in the job centre and my one brother has a pretty decent role in IT and they still don't live in decent houses and areas.

 

[timmothy]

Even rent in Brizzle isn't cheap. Probably more than a mortgage up norf.

£1250 for a decent area flat in Bristol. Up north you can get a decent area detached house from what little we have seen

 

[timmothy]

Spennymoor, Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland - all dumps.

But cheap housing and you can't get more friendly than people oop North.

This was 30 years ago, but keep in touch with school friends from there and on VERY rare occasions i have re-visited - and can't wait to get out

Grew up around BA, went to school in Spenny and dad lived in NA.

Where do you live now for reference? Where else can I actually move and have a decent work life balance with a small mortgage. It seems impossible other than choosing a small deprived town up north.

 

[timmothy]

Really surprised to see you found Consett so bad tbh.

This for example needs modernising like you said you would be up for, is in your budget. Northumberland is 5 mins round corner for countryside, Durham is 20 mins away, metro centre and Newcastle 20 mins the other way.

Decent area with great views too.

Check out this 3 bedroom detached house for sale on Rightmove

3 bedroom detached house for sale in Alston Road, Consett, Durham, DH8 for £160,000. Marketed by Reeds Rains, Consett

www.rightmove.co.uk

I did see that house actually and like you say it's exactly what we are looking for. Not sure why we didn't like it so much. Just had a general feeling of deprivation and also seemed isolated even though it is close to things. The people didn't seem as nice that we spoke to compared to other places as well.

Also the issue with Consett is all the rentals are in terrible parts of town or not suitable. We would ideally like to live in the place we ultimately buy first.

 

[timmothy]

1 bed bungalow for sale in Little Horton Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD5 - Zoopla

1 bed bungalow for sale in Little Horton Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD5, selling for £10,000 from Auction House West Yorkshire. See property details on Zoopla or browse all our range of properties in Little Horton Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD5.

www.zoopla.co.uk

Looks awesome. Unfortunately with our lifetime Isa we have to be able to get a mortgage and don't think we would get one on that

 

[timmothy]

maybe i'm missing something, but you say you want to live there because it's cheap, but it's cheap because there are very few job opportunities. I assume you have a lump of cash for whatever house you're considering, but then also say you need a mortgage, but don't even have a job in mind?

This is all quite confusing!

We have a lump sum for a mortgage deposit. Can't buy straight away as would need an approved mortgage in order to use our lifetime ISA. Basing how much we could borrow and afford on minimum wage jobs.

We would like to move to an area to rent where we could actually afford to buy a house in the near future. Settle down and make a life is our aim.

Rent is very high considering how cheap it is to purchase a house. Rent is almost double what our mortgage would be.

 

[timmothy]

That depends on what area you want and how nice of a house you want.

We would ideally want to rent into something similar to what we buy. At least 1/2 bedroom end of terrace, semi detached bungalow or detached house/bungalow. Can't find anything for under 850 that seems decent.

Mortgage on a similar house at 150000 works out just under 500 according to calculators.

 

[timmothy]

We will probably end up in Durham. Loved Scotland but can't really get much for our money and also far from family. Was thinking about Rugby and Barnsley but haven't even seen those yet and getting overwhelmed with looking at towns to live now. Looking at a house to rent today near Durham. £1000 a month plus band e council tax means while we rent we won't be left with hardly any money for nice things. Hopefully only have to do it for 6-12 months until we can buy something.

For buying we are thinking of Hexham, Rowlands Gill or possibly Pity Me near Durham

 

[timmothy]

Just to update. I got a job offer in Ashington so we will be trying to find something in commuting distance to there. Looking at a caravan rental for a month and then try and find something more long term.

If anyone is up that way and knows of a decent rental please let me know.

Thanks