Is Blackley in Manchester a good place?

Max_Al

Hello Everyone,

I am looking into buying my first house and I am already nervous. I am 30, single with no dependants. Just like everyone else, I do dream of my ideal home but I am trying to be patient because I can't afford it so want to start small. My main purpose is to buy a small place that I can easily afford and then sell it 3-4 years later to buy something better.

As I am clueless and reading online about the mortgage process only makes me stressed, I am really hoping someone can help me here with their advice.

The first step is looking for a house and there is a two bedroom house in Blackley which looks nice on the pictures and its for under 60K. I have about 20% deposit for this price so I think securing a loan from the bank should not be a problem, I am in full time employment.

I am just confused about the area. I tried to do some research online and even though there is lots of information about Manchester, I couldn't find anything specific about Blackley. I have lived in south Manchester for years but know nothing about the northern parts of the city. I would have preferred somewhere in south Manchester but I can't afford it.

A 2 bedroom house for 60K sounds cheap to me which worries me that the area might not be nice, and that I won't be able to sell the house later. I do plan to go there and see around the area but just seeing the area once wouldn't make me feel any better.

I have never had any loans, credit cards or overdraft so have never been in debt and it will be the first time I will be making a financial arrangement which only adds to my being nervous.

There is another two bedroom new built house in Rusholme as well, not far from Didsbury where I live, and I would prefer this area but its for 110K which is almost double the price of the one in Blackley. Its a lot more than what I would like to commit to for my first buy, and even if I go for this one, I am not sure if I would be able to sell it in 3-4 years time.

I am sorry if I am sounding silly but just damn confused and nervous

Does anyone know about the Blackley area? or perhaps some other tips anyone can share?

Many thanks in advance for your help.

ging84

forget looking online and asking for opinions of an area
go and have a look

I_have_spoken

http://www.police.uk/greater-manchester/A2/crime/

when_will_it_end

hi I work in this area and my brother, who was single at the time, bought a house there.


there are some nice areas an some not so nice as with all areas, my brother has never had a problem in almost 10 years


you have higher, lower, and blackely village, me personally would choose blackely over rusholme as I worked in that area for many years


good luck, but as others said go visit at various times of the day and week

Money_Bunny

Its a general rule that 'desirable' areas cost more than less desirable ones. So if a house is nearly half the price of a similar one in another area its probably because the cheaper house is in a less desirable area.

I don't know Blackley but I've never heard it described as a desirable area. Two bedroomed houses in North Manchester's desirable areas - eg Prestwich - are more than £60K.

You sound quite unfocussed and - bearing in mind you aren't going to get nice house plus desirable area for £60K - you need to think about what is most important to you in both the house and the area and what compromises you are prepared to make.

Estate agent's photos aren't a substitute for seeing a place. I once drove 200 miles to view a house that looked perfect in the photos and I knew was totally wrong the minute I saw it.

And if you are interested in a particular area, why not just book into a Travelodge there for a couple of nights and have a really good look around?

LandyAndy

I worked in Blackley about 30 years ago (at the ICI Organics plant). Back then it was a proper dump. That probably means it is very much 'up and coming' now.;)

Max_Al

Thanks very much for your replies everyone, its very much appreciated.

@I have spoken - thanks for that link to 'crime map', I didn't know such a thing existed ! Looking at that map, there have been about 9 crimes right on the street where my potential buy was located which did give me an idea of why would be a two bedroom house for 60K.

I went to Blackley today to walk around the area and yesterday I spoke to the estate agent as well (by phone). None of these left a good impression. The houses on the street were all new and looked nice (even though I didn't arrange a view of the particular house) but they were surrounded by what looked Council homes, teenagers around on the bikes, swearing :S

I also spoke to a few people I know and they all didn't like the idea of Blackley so I think I would give Blackley a miss.

@Moneybunny - unfocussed is a small word to describe :undecided I have never been so confused and its even turning into frustration. One guy I know who owns 3 houses said I should rather opt for a house than a flat because flats are not easy to sell if I plan to sell a few years later.

On one hand I think I should maybe wait a bit longer, save more towards deposit and keep looking for houses, but on the other, I am paying 450 GBP a month for a room which is more than I would be happy to pay for a room.

@when will it end - Rusholme indeed doesn't have a good reputation but its the closes to where I live and I feel comfortable in the areas of M14, M16, M20, M21 as I have lived here for years (without any problems). The only problem I have experienced has turned up now i.e. the house prices

Next week I am going to see the 2 bed flat and a 2 bed house in M14, both new built, one of the agents (Edward Miller) who I called for the viewing also arranged a free meeting with their mortgage adviser. I did ask again if its free and they said yes.

The house is the same price as this flat and comes with a garden too but they don't have any shared ownership. I have to speak the agent (Bridgfords) further about the money matters so don't know yet.

I will post as soon as I know more for further guidance

Many thanks again. Your comments did help me feel better :cool:

newbutold

Depending on whereabouts in South Manchester you have lived, you will not like Blackley, in fact I don't think you'll like many places in North Manchester.

newbutold

Actually I see you have lived in M16 & M14 which both cover Moss Side, so there are parts of North Manchester that you may like. M14 also covers Fallowfield and if you can live with the students you surely can live anywhere! Lol M20 covers both Burnage & Didsbury and there is a vast difference between these to areas.

Avoid the estate agents mortgage broker. It isn't a good idea for the Estate agent to know exactly how much you can afford, especially when bidding on one of their houses, remember they work for the vendor not you.

drdpj

Most of Burnage is M19 That said, it's worth looking there as you can still find some of the 3 bed ex-council homes for under £130k if they need a bit of work doing and, depending on which end of Burnage you pick, it's not too sketchy and you can be a 10-15 minute walk from Didsbury Village.

Rusholme can be incredibly sketchy at times. It's probably 12 years ago now, but I think the final straw for me when I was living there was seeing a kid who couldn't have been more that 14 stuffing what *looked* like a gun into the back of his trousers.

What's your actual budget?

I'd echo the advice about not seeing the estate agent's mortgage advisor (or using their conveyancing service when it comes to that). Agents have admitted to me that the broker will tell them exactly what they buyer can afford.

Chez88_2

I live in Chadderton which is round the corner, like people have said there are nice parts and there are rough parts and a house for 60K sounds like it could be an ex council house?