How to know that you are buying in a good area?

rammster

Hi there
Being a junior doctor, I keep on changing contracts every 2 years or so. Now I have a 3 year rotation , and it has occurred to me to buy a house.

I have been living about 1 year in this town (Dorchester, Dorset), and now keep looking for properties. The housing prices in Dorchester are high as it is a countryside market town with a lot of heritage thrown in.

To my knowledge , the council dwellings are only in Victoria Park area here. My question is how do I get to know the other rough areas in Dorchester. Is there a reliable internet resource. I have tried https://www.upmystreet.co.uk and it classifies areas on some key parameters. But I recently went to a property I liked in a quiet area with good country views , but it has classified it as Low income and Poorly educated area. (the type of area I wouldn't buy in as such areas have poor capital growth later)

Is there a private / government internet resource that can help me at it, that simply lists the council areas / or areas with higher crime in a town/city.

WillB

There's no substitute to talking to friends/colleagues, people you meet who know the area..some estate agents may be trustworthy enough to give you honest answers about what some areas are really like.
Go and visit the area - at different times of the day. When the schools finish, weekends, evenings are a must. Often what looks quite in the daytime can seem completely different at night.
As to you specific inquiries about Dorchester - I've lived in the area for 25+ years.
If you want some unbiased advice about specific areas email me - williambarnes05@yahoo.co.uk

Compared to most parts of the country virtually nowhere in or around Dorchester is what you might describe as rough!

albacore1854

rammster wrote:

Hi there
Being a junior doctor, I keep on changing contracts every 2 years or so. Now I have a 3 year rotation , and it has occurred to me to buy a house.

I have been living about 1 year in this town (Dorchester, Dorset), and now keep looking for properties. The housing prices in Dorchester are high as it is a countryside market town with a lot of heritage thrown in.

To my knowledge , the council dwellings are only in Victoria Park area here. My question is how do I get to know the other rough areas in Dorchester. Is there a reliable internet resource. I have tried https://www.upmystreet.co.uk and it classifies areas on some key parameters. But I recently went to a property I liked in a quiet area with good country views , but it has classified it as Low income and Poorly educated area. (the type of area I wouldn't buy in as such areas have poor capital growth later)


Is there a private / government internet resource that can help me at it, that simply lists the council areas / or areas with higher crime in a town/city.

So you're not going to buy a house you liked, in what sounds to be a fantastic location, because people who have never been there say its a poor area, with dinlows.

First thing tomorrow, why not ask one of you colleagues to feel your bumps!

[Deleted User]

You could always check out government statistics:

http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/

Probably the source upmystreet uses, but it's got a lot of info and you can change the 'resolution' by selecting SOA/ward etc

lynzpower

I often look at thelocal schools ofsted reports, I dont have kids but its an OK start.

local papers often talk of crime hot spots.

As your hospital based, a quick word with someone in your social work team ( partnerships are built this way after all! ) should give you an idea where not to live

rammster

thanks a lot guys. I agree that even low run down areas of dorchester are nowhere as rough as the rest of the country , but I was looking for a cleverer way of doing it. But I am very thankful for all the advice that I am getting.