Longer Commute - Lower House Prices

Rochdale_Pioneers

I live in Stockton on Tees and work in York. Its a 48 mile drive each way and thanks to good roads I can do it door to door in just under an hour. Its not ideal but when i used to live in London it took my 45 minutes to drive and an hour 15 by foot/walk to do my 7 mile commute. This is much less stressful.

Ideally I'd live closer to give more time with the family, but can't afford York house prices (even if there was a market working enabling transactions to go through) and York traffic is abysmal so I wouldn't save that much (and would probably end up working longer hours).

Mini_Bear

I used to live in stockton-on-tees, our 7 bedroom 4 storey victorian house cost just over 100k 5 yrs ago. That size house anywhere in london would be 600k minimum. Just wish i could commute from stockton to london - now that would be amazing!
I think as far as commuting goes as a whole some people can and some people cant. i accept that in order to have the life we do my partner and i commute from chelmsford where we have a decent size property. my twin sister on the other hand also commutes a similar distance to the city and moans contantly. i tell her to get a local job and she says they dont pay enough, so she cant win!

lostinrates

Another point which has not been suggested so far, that I can see, is the possibilty of future environment taxes/tax breaks around commuting distance. I don't think its coming any time soon, but then I personally wouldn't buy a house with the short term in mind either.

Something thats intrigued me in the last week the MPs seeming belief they are the only people who HAVE to work in London with other responsibilities elsewhere. In my particular case, for DH to work in his field he MUST be in London, if I return to mine I MUST be outside London. Not a common occurance, but surely not a unique one.

whathavewedone

No way would you get a 7 bedroom Victorian house in London for 600k - unless it was completely derelict or in an awful area which also had bad transport links.

mustrum_ridcully

Mr_Matey wrote: »

I still don't understand why trains/tubes are so expensive in the UK.

It's a *lot* cheaper for me and OH to drive places than get the train. Now that we have a car, I wouldn't consider taking public transport to travel to other cities/towns.

The tube I do get, but I need to for work.

If it's just one person travelling it's not always cheaper going by car. Was wondering whether to travel by car or train last weekend, train ticket was £12 return (turn up and buy not an advance ticket). By car petrol and parking would of cost that if not a bit more (plus a little for wear and tear). Finally if I drove I'd have to put up with the some of the idiots that call themselves drivers and driving around a town I don't know.

chewmylegoff

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

Finally if I drove I'd have to put up with the some of the idiots that call themselves drivers.

at least they're not in you car with them. can't stand the other people that use the trains - always drunk football hooligans everywhere, or chavs who think you want to listen to awful music from their tinny mobile phone speaker.

i find myself using those £10 weekend upgrades to first class more and more these days.

mustrum_ridcully

chewmylegoff wrote: »

at least they're not in you car with them. can't stand the other people that use the trains - always drunk football hooligans everywhere, or chavs who think you want to listen to awful music from their tinny mobile phone speaker.

i find myself using those £10 weekend upgrades to first class more and more these days.

True, but at least I can just turn up the volume of mp3 player and drown them out.

Interesting thing about first class I remember buying a first class ticket to London at the weekend for less than a standard. What made smile was the pay £ to upgrade announcements.

Mr_Matey

mustrum_ridcully wrote: »

True, but at least I can just turn up the volume of mp3 player and drown them out.

So you're the chav with the loud mp3 player. And to think you will be in my first class carriage now.
:mad:

Just kidding.

Seriously though why is there such animosity towards chavs. It seems to be more than a joke put-down.

Mini_Bear

Thats true Whathavewedone - ive been looking at houses that size in Hackney with squatters and all! I guess a squatterless house with a roof in london would be 900k+

chambta

Reading this thread I've never felt so lucky to have my seven minute walk from my front door to my workplace.

My regional managers wonder why I just smile and shake my head when other offers are made to me!