So confused! Where on earth do we live?

BigAunty

NomadAmber wrote: »

I don't like the house prices. I don't like how busy it's becoming with summer fast approaching. I don't like the litter - it's a dirty place. I don't like the homeless problem (it's worse than I thought) and I just feel cut off from everywhere. Plus it's too crowded, the roads are too blocked up.

...

Yes, I never liked the density of population - lots of people squeezed into tiny flats. It has a very transient population - students, migrants, language students and is a magnet for the dispossessed.

My experience of living in a building full of passing tenants was one of the worst ones I'd experienced - stolen mail, noise nuisance, attempted theft of my bike, dumped rubbish in common areas (and my garden), people running businesses on site, resident alcoholic, stereotypical fag smoking screaming lone parent, etc.

I agree on the dirtiness - like a lot of tourist places, masses of investment gets put into the tiny area of attractions, such as the Lanes, but as soon as you leave it, you are straight into cracked paving slabs and overflowing bins. It's actually fairly shabby.

richardw

I'd just look North, there are some lovely places to live in Shropshire.

movilogo

Start from London. Then plot locations on your map where you think you can buy a house at your budget.

Then shortlist from there.

NomadAmber

BigAunty wrote: »

Yes, I never liked the density of population - lots of people squeezed into tiny flats. It has a very transient population - students, migrants, language students and is a magnet for the dispossessed.

My experience of living in a building full of passing tenants was one of the worst ones I'd experienced - stolen mail, noise nuisance, attempted theft of my bike, dumped rubbish in common areas (and my garden), people running businesses on site, resident alcoholic, stereotypical fag smoking screaming lone parent, etc.

I agree on the dirtiness - like a lot of tourist places, masses of investment gets put into the tiny area of attractions, such as the Lanes, but as soon as you leave it, you are straight into cracked paving slabs and overflowing bins. It's actually fairly shabby.

So true. I think that's why we're craving something semi-rural and close to what we know, i.e. family and the place we grew up. The more I talk through this, the more I realise I'm not going mad.

Everyone keeps saying 'Leave Brighton and go back North? Are you mad?!!?' But they don't understand. I moved to Brighton because I thought we'd be happier. But actually, it's not great at all. For all the reasons you've described.

Thanks for coming back to me and helping me to bash this out. I'm starting to realise so many things. Plus it's a good way to tackle things - figure out what we DON'T like and then work towards what we DO like.

Thanks again

pmlindyloo

If I were you I would spend some weekends exploring different areas.

Stay overnight and have a drive round to see if the area gives you what you want.

Buying a house is a huge step and spending time in different places would at least give you some idea.

Spend a few hours on Rightmove as well (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I would also consider renting to begin with. A bit of a pain but can prevent you from making a mistake which you might regret later.

Don't know if this is possible with your work committments but could be a plan which has the added bonus of having mini holidays at the same time!

Good luck!

namecheck

Am I the only person wondering if there's some dissatisfaction with "life" that's also contributing to this dilemma? (Sorry to OP if I am wrong here)

You haven't said where you need to go for the occasional meetings, but presumably you don't want to be the other end of the country.

Personally I prefer Cambridge to Oxford, but both are very busy with tourists. Sounds as if looking further north would be best for you. Hope you find the ideal place.

elvis86

What a weird (but exciting!) way to be making such a massive decision. I envy the freedom you seem to have, though I see that it perhaps leaves you with too much choice!

I moved from my hometown in the midlands to Manchester 4 years ago. Mainly because I was sick of 50 minute train journeys to and £60 taxis home from a decent city, and also for the gay scene. I've loved every minute and am still here. I can't quite imagine living back home again (though I miss it in some ways), but then as I move towards an age where kids are on the (distant) horizon, I'm not sure that Manchester will be the place I bring them up?

If I was in your shoes and had free reign, I'd be tempted to go pretty rural in a slightly cheaper area but within half an hour of a city, leaving me with more disposable income for weekends away etc?

NomadAmber

namecheck wrote: »

Am I the only person wondering if there's some dissatisfaction with "life" that's also contributing to this dilemma? (Sorry to OP if I am wrong here)

You haven't said where you need to go for the occasional meetings, but presumably you don't want to be the other end of the country.

Personally I prefer Cambridge to Oxford, but both are very busy with tourists. Sounds as if looking further north would be best for you. Hope you find the ideal place.

No you're absolutely right. We are both incredibly fed up. We've been working for ourselves for the past eight years and it's stressful, exhausting and perhaps all of this reflects a need to escape. Plus it doesn't help that I can't seem to have children. Hence, the desperation to find somewhere 'nice' and make a home. Somewhere we can be happy. We are lucky in that we love each other to bits.. it's just the rest of our lives that needs addressing

NomadAmber

elvis86 wrote: »

What a weird (but exciting!) way to be making such a massive decision. I envy the freedom you seem to have, though I see that it perhaps leaves you with too much choice!

I moved from my hometown in the midlands to Manchester 4 years ago. Mainly because I was sick of 50 minute train journeys to and £60 taxis home from a decent city, and also for the gay scene. I've loved every minute and am still here. I can't quite imagine living back home again (though I miss it in some ways), but then as I move towards an age where kids are on the (distant) horizon, I'm not sure that Manchester will be the place I bring them up?

If I was in your shoes and had free reign, I'd be tempted to go pretty rural in a slightly cheaper area but within half an hour of a city, leaving me with more disposable income for weekends away etc?

Thanks for your feedback. And someone after my own heart! You didn't happen to live in Stoke-on-trent did you? I know that area very well.

Love Manchester! We considered living there as well but I think after Brighton - city life isn't doing it for us anymore. But I do like the idea of being on the outskirts.

We're currently thinking Macclesfield/Prestbury area. Lovely part of the world. 20 minutes on the train to Manchester, less than 90 minutes to London. Peak District right there. Amenities all close by. Hmmm.. I think you've helped me loads!

NomadAmber

pmlindyloo wrote: »

If I were you I would spend some weekends exploring different areas.

Stay overnight and have a drive round to see if the area gives you what you want.

Buying a house is a huge step and spending time in different places would at least give you some idea.

Spend a few hours on Rightmove as well (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I would also consider renting to begin with. A bit of a pain but can prevent you from making a mistake which you might regret later.

Don't know if this is possible with your work committments but could be a plan which has the added bonus of having mini holidays at the same time!

Good luck!

Thank you so much. Yes we're doing all of those things. I think we're narrowing it down now. Oh and we'll always rent first. Not in a position to buy as yet. Nowhere near!

I love the idea of living close to Manchester but in the Peak District. So we're going to explore that option I think. We know the area pretty well and already have friends around there. So maybe that would be the way to go.

Whoever said 'choice' was a good thing was wrong!!