Best Area to live in NI (Property Value vs. General Quality of Life)?

GlynD

lazer wrote: »

OP - it you are looking around the Newry area,

I would look at Newcastle (very mixed area, pleasant town), although busy in the summer with lots of Belfast people on their summer holidays.
There are also a number of good primary and secondary schools in the area, included an integrated primary and secondary school, as while as various catholic primarys, grammars and secondary, and of course the state (or so called Protestant) schools as well.
You could also look into the sorrounding areas, Castlewellan, Dundrum etc.

Banbridge isn't a bad area, but personally I wouldn't choose to live in it.

I would tend to stay away from the following areas, South Armagh, Kilkeel, Lurgan, Portadown.

If you look further afield, try Fermanagh for cheaper house prices, or the North West (Derry etc - although I would consider what particular area of Derry). South Derry would be preferable to the city - Maghera, Magherafelt etc.

Good luck in the search

I think there are some very good areas in Portadown, Lurgan and South Armagh. We're not advocating estate living here, we're talking about good middle class areas. I wouldn't touch Derry with a bargepole however some of the outlying villages are ok as you say.

GlynD

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

I don't think anyone could be that nasty !! :rotfl::rotfl:
Mind you they could try Parkmore or even Burnside with all that nice open space there :-)

Or Legahorey

Mind you nearby Bleary, Gilford, Tullylish and Lawrencetown are all excellent villages to live in and very close to the main shopping areas without being in walking distance.

Then there's Moira! If you can afford what you want.

lazer

GlynD wrote: »

I think there are some very good areas in Portadown, Lurgan and South Armagh. We're not advocating estate living here, we're talking about good middle class areas. I wouldn't touch Derry with a bargepole however some of the outlying villages are ok as you say.

There may be some good middle class areas in these places, but the schools tend to me pretty mixed with people from the dodgier parts of the area and people from the better parts all in class together - thats why I would tend to stay away the whole area, same goes for Derry City really - although there is more schools to choose from at least.

GlynD

lazer wrote: »

There may be some good middle class areas in these places, but the schools tend to me pretty mixed with people from the dodgier parts of the area and people from the better parts all in class together - thats why I would tend to stay away the whole area, same goes for Derry City really - although there is more schools to choose from at least.

You're going to find that in any area however unless you pay for private schooling. I think the Banbridge schools would come out a lot better though. There are some super developments on the outskirts of Banbridge which I think would be great places to live. I've even noticed the same around Portadown. There's one lovely active development in that area of pricing near the hospital at Lisniskey. I'm not sure who the agent is but I'd always recommend giving Michael Hannath's office a ring - very up front guys in there.

HeadAboveWater

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

Yeah but it's Derry !!!! OK if you want your kids growing up with a speech impediment and looking like an Umpa Lumpa when they go out on a saturday night !! Come on you know what I mean !! :rotfl:

:rotfl:

Couldn't have said it better myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

leftieM

OP - can you list some areas that you thought were interesting and we can suggest based on that?

GlynD

leftieM wrote: »

OP - can you list some areas that you thought were interesting and we can suggest based on that?

I'll tell you where I thought was lovely. Aghagallon. Out in the lovely countryside between Lurgan and Moira. I was in Newcastle yesterday though and it was mobbed. I like going there but I'd hate to live there: it's like God's waiting room lol.

GlynD

Somewhere else I spotted over the last two days was the little village of Magheralin, between Dollingstown and Moira. Smashing little place. Lots of new builds going on too. I'll bet my pension there's a few turnkey deals too.

motorguy

Try the townlands around Clare / Tandragee / Markethill - some good value property and decent schools.

The Primary School in Clare is very highly rated and you're 15 mins from Newry, 10 mins from Banbridge, 15 mins from Armagh and 15 mins from Portadown.

quintwins

I live in the country inbetween portadown and armagh and as were not in an esate we never seee any trouble (not that theres much trouble in portadown anyway compared to years ago i do think it's mostly hype) i wouldn't move to a different area, i do have family ties but schools here are pretty good, we have plenty of decent shops and are just up the northway from rushmere and banbridge is a short drive away. You can easily get a 4-5 bedroom house for under £200k here but we i hadn't lived here all my life i would find the reputation daunting.