Best place to rent/buy in my situation?

The_Maestro

Hi,

I currently live in Preston Lancashire and am considering moving for a variety of reasons. I have just started a new job and the main office is in Stokenchurch near Higher Wycombe/Oxford. I don't need to move because the job is working from home and travelling internationally. Some reasons I want to move are:

- Career prospects are better further south - more jobs should I become unemployed or want to change jobs in future. I was just made redundant and I was lucky this time to have found this job that didn't require me to move but I noticed 90% of jobs in IT are in the south and they pay much more than the north.

- It would be useful to live closer to the office for those days when I need to go there.

- Preston is a shithole. Lived here for 8 years and bored of it

So I'm really looking for recommendations on the best places to live with reasonable rents given that I can move anywhere in the country (budget dependant). I envisage moving further south - possibly somewhere within 1 hour from London, or maybe just a little further south live midlands or south of Manchester. Transport links are not vitally important although they are somewhat important and near a nice town with things to do and some culture would be nice. I earn 50K and looking to rent initially. What do you all think?

Dave

Gwhiz

How long is a piece of string?

YOU need to work out what's important to you (bars, walks, water, mountains, roads, clubs, museums etc etc) and then find somewhere that offers that.

I've been living in Poole, Dorset for last 8 years but my family are just North of High Wycombe and my g/f has family in Leeds. We are now looking to move somewhere in between both parents. After doing lots of online research and getting recommendations I have parts of Leicestershire, South Peak District and possibly Worcestershire to consider. I'm going to do some trips in January to check out the areas to see if they really are places I could live.

That's what you need to do,

The_Maestro

Gwhiz wrote: »

How long is a piece of string?

YOU need to work out what's important to you (bars, walks, water, mountains, roads, clubs, museums etc etc) and then find somewhere that offers that.

I've been living in Poole, Dorset for last 8 years but my family are just North of High Wycombe and my g/f has family in Leeds. We are now looking to move somewhere in between both parents. After doing lots of online research and getting recommendations I have parts of Leicestershire, South Peak District and possibly Worcestershire to consider. I'm going to do some trips in January to check out the areas to see if they really are places I could live.

That's what you need to do,

I've worked out what's important to some extent and said a number of things in my post. So I'm just looking for people's opinions of where is good value as a starting point.

Most important is best house for the rental price. All the other normal factors such as low crime are important.

Gwhiz

The_Maestro wrote: »

I've worked out what's important to some extent and said a number of things in my post. So I'm just looking for people's opinions of where is good value as a starting point.

Most important is best house for the rental price. All the other normal factors such as low crime are important.

I'd get on RightMove and see what your money gets you as only you know what you want, property wise.

Hippychick

Northamptonshire/Milton Keynes might suit, good location. MK has loads to do, nightlife, shops etc.

Northampton is cheap rent wise, we used to rent a 3 bed house in a good part of town for £650 pcm. Only an hour or so from London/Oxford etc and M1 is close if you ever wanted to go to Preston for a visit.

getmore4less

There are a few in the thames valley marlow henley and nice places like those.
High wycombe is not too bad for links into london and down to the M4 corridor where there are IT jobs. But is a bit of a dump nice areas close by but expensive.
Further north Thame is an OK small town handy for the M40
Further round is Aylesbury at the limit as an hour into london
Further Over the A40 M1 area you have some larger towns like St Albans

Milton keynes has a lively center good train links and loads of housing all all levels


For jobs I would also look over Cambridge way and north of Cambridge is relatively cheaper.

geoffky

go for it m8..and dont look back...i wish you well

greenmoneysaver_2

Even Swindon would be better than Preston. Have been twice, and after living in London, Dublin and Glasgow, have never been as scared as in Preston!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Give us an idea of budget/needs and we will argue among ourselves about where is best, and you can take the info you need!