Manchester Based - To Rent or Buy?

bitsandpieces

Definitely rent at least 6 months. Flat rents in Manchester are very reasonable at the moment - worth seeing whether you like an area and property style (not to mention that living away from home might be fun). I'd rent a 2 bed place to see if you do like the extra space: even if it's an extra £150/month on the rent, that's not a big hit given your salary.

Could be well worth looking at a house (even if 10mins walk further out) over a flat: more space and no problems with service changes. Likely to be freehold not leasehold, too. Lots of blocks of flats have a good number of empty properties and rented properties (sometimes people can't sell). You will have lots of flats around you - all it takes is 1 of them to have someone very loud in and they could make your life hard. Of course, if you prefer something that looks like a 'luxury' flat that's your call. It may limit what you can get, though. Make sure that the build quality is decent in new build places (some 'luxury' blocks have had horrific build quality, to the extent that you'd do far far better buying ex-council :rotfl:)

poppysarah

Person_one wrote: »

'up and coming'

You get U&C in a rising market.

In a falling one it is possible that places will become less desirable. The higher the % of rented can often lower appeal for OO.

Person_one

poppysarah wrote: »

You get U&C in a rising market.

In a falling one it is possible that places will become less desirable. The higher the % of rented can often lower appeal for OO.

That's why its so rare, and why I said in my post that I thought this particular area was the only bit of Manchester that stood a chance of becoming a desirable, trendy bit.

Do you know Manchester at all?

poppysarah

Person_one wrote: »

That's why its so rare, and why I said in my post that I thought this particular area was the only bit of Manchester that stood a chance of becoming a desirable, trendy bit.

Do you know Manchester at all?

Only a little bit. Lived here for nearly 20 years in various bits of it.

I'm not sure anywhere is an U&C area in a recession. Areas full of new builds will all have similar problems.

New Islington is probably one of the most horrendously over built areas in Manchester. Is it all finished - last time I went through it still looked quite like it was a ghost town.


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=New+Islington&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=&hnear=New+Islington,+Manchester+M4+6HF,+United+Kingdom&ll=53.479695,-2.218745&spn=0.008479,0.01929&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.478413,-2.218193&panoid=ory4gNsmOrS2HQGZ8AxVeQ&cbp=12,14.78,,0,3
These are some of the most miserable dwellings I've seen! They are the slums of the future.

Person_one

poppysarah wrote: »

Only a little bit. Lived here for nearly 20 years in various bits of it.

I'm not sure anywhere is an U&C area in a recession. Areas full of new builds will all have similar problems.

New Islington is probably one of the most horrendously over built areas in Manchester. Is it all finished - last time I went through it still looked quite like it was a ghost town.


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=New+Islington&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=&hnear=New+Islington,+Manchester+M4+6HF,+United+Kingdom&ll=53.479695,-2.218745&spn=0.008479,0.01929&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=53.478413,-2.218193&panoid=ory4gNsmOrS2HQGZ8AxVeQ&cbp=12,14.78,,0,3
These are some of the most miserable dwellings I've seen! They are the slums of the future.

Beat you, lived here all my life, coming up on 26 years. Admittedly I wasn't paying much attention to the property market for the forst 16 or so.

I think the Metrolink extension which will run through New Islington (also known as Ancoats! ) will make it a better prospect than areas like the Green Quarter, and the Southern Gateway and the bits to the south of the Mancunian Way that are trying to pretend they're Castelefield.

There are plans for amenities like a Tesco Express, great public transport links and some green space which is sadly lacking in much of the city centre. Its also close enough to the trendy Northern Quarter that a bit of the image should rub off.

Having said that, I'm not buying there!

Rainmaker_uk

mlc2009 wrote: »

Im very new to this market, I have no idea about climates etc so any help would be appreciated, is it worth paying for a 2 bedroom flat even if it's just me living there?

In this market with a little haggling I would expect that you could drive a good deal on a 2 bed. This would probably be worth it as it give you options to either live in it longer or rent a room out if ytou ever need to.

Person_one

What's your budget mlc2009?

poppysarah

Person_one wrote: »

There are plans for amenities like a Tesco Express, great public transport links and some green space which is sadly lacking in much of the city centre. Its also close enough to the trendy Northern Quarter that a bit of the image should rub off.

Having said that, I'm not buying there!

Yeah it'll always be Ancoats to me with the Argos. The only thing it lacks is a McDs...

It strikes me as being a bit close to be bothered waiting for a tram (especially rush hour when they're busy)

I don't think acres of green space could make up for the way the buildings have been thrown up so close to each other.

There's a bit nearer the town centre opposite the retail park that wasn't finished last time we went by - lots has been mothballed so even if the bit you're in is finished you walk past large segments that aren't.

mlc2009

luvthecity wrote: »

Ha ha - you're a cynical old miser

We have GoogleAlert at Luvthecity and we get 24-hour updates of mentions of Luvthecity, so we registered and gave this guy some advice. Maybe we shouldn't try so hard to help people!!!

Anyway, yes, service charges. 1-beds in Beetham are @ £1750per annum + the rooms are small. We advised about smaller blocks because if it's your first place you won't want to be wasting it all on service charges. Have you tried Chimney Pot Park, it's outside of the city centre but you can get a 2-bed house there for about the same as a 1-bed in the CC.

Hope that helps.

David

wow 1750 service charge for beetham, thats way too much. Their rooms are tiny. I suppose no1 deansgate isnt much better?

any info on smithfield buildings in northern quarter or 22 church street?