Looking for a nice market town recommendation for BTL property

pootleflump

My husband is in the forces and we're looking to buy a 3 bed house as an investment but that we'd also be happy to live in should we have to, as he nears the end of his career.

Our budget is around £200k.

We're both northerners but don't feel tied to anywhere. So far we've centred our search on Harrogate but just can't find the right property.

Ideally we'd like either a village location or market town. We'd go anywhere except the north west, south east or deep south west (cornwall).

We're currently near Hitchin in Hertfordshire which is perfect but way out of our price range. It would be great to be commutable to London though.

thegirlintheattic

I was going to suggest Lancaster, particularly because it has a big and growing student population, however as you've ruled out the North-West, Bishop Auckland is in the North-East and is a nice little town.

pootleflump

Thanks, thegirlintheattic. I'm not looking for somewhere with loads of students as I wouldn't be looking to let to them. Will take a look at Bishop Auckland, although my husband is from the NE so may be a little too close to home!

SUESMITH_2

pocklington? driffield? beverley? malton? wetherby?

Snazzy

SUESMITH wrote: »

pocklington? driffield? beverley? malton? wetherby?

I was just going to suggest Beverley as well. Lovely place and good rental market.

split_second

shame you have ruled out the north west, my place of birth is a market town and you get loads for 200k, its cheaper than other places around cos they are closer to manchester than us (we are 10 miles north)

bury

200k round here would be best spent in the greenmount/affetside/ holcombe area, i used to go drinking round there in my younger days (i wasnt a typical 20's male) and it really is nice, a friend of mine bought a really nice 3 bed semi up there, and some of my family have lived up there for decades. not sure if you get 3 beds for 200k if you want something special, brandolsholme will spoil you with choice though

i visited skipton recently and that was nice, not sure if it classes as big enough for what you want though

RAS

Harrogate property is a lot more expansive that other towns in the area. Check place on the East Coast Main line.

rich11

Had a look at Ilkley/Addingham/Burley in Wharfedale?

pootleflump

Thanks all. Definitely not anywhere around the area that includes Bury, sorry split second!

Have also ruled out West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire so I think that's your recommendations out rich11!

RAS; I'll have a look at that, thanks.

Just to clarify: Ideally it would be a village location but close to a good market town- so if I get the market town recommendations I can then look at the villages surrounding.

Also, just because I've been looking in Harrogate it doesn't mean any recommendations have to be in Yorkshire- we could go anywhere (except for where I've already stated!).

Thanks everyone so far.

pootleflump

SueSmith and Snazzy, I've heard Beverley recommended a few times- will take a look at that.

hazyjo

Newark on Trent? Had a friend there for years - her sister commuted to London for a few years. Horribly long journey, but doable, maybe not ideal for 5 days a week though.

Some of the areas around Ipswich are okay (out towards Kesgrave, to the best of my knowledge). A few other Suffolk market towns are quite popular too, but I don't know them well enough to comment. We looked at houses in Kesgrave and Bixley before.

Jx