where to buy in the Midlands...

totallybonkers

You're more likely to get more for your money in the north midlands - Long Eaton, Alfreton, Ripley, Mansfield, Chesterfield etc. All on the M1 Corridor with decent public transport links. Easy to access Nottingham and Derby.

[Deleted User]

There are good and bad areas in every town. I said Leamington and Warwick are expensive (which they generally are), but saying that you would probably be able to buy a 2 or even 3 bed house in Lillington which is in the north of Leamington Spa for 180k, but it is cheap for a reason! (has higher than average crime, unemployment and a well known drug problem).

I guess what I am trying to say is your budget will either get you a house in the better areas of the less desirable towns (Nuneaton and Bedworth), or a place in the crap areas of the more desirable towns (Warwick and Leamington).

Nickilin66

Hi

I live in south Leicester near Blaby near the M1 junction 21 but the traffic here is a pig, would suggest Groby, (more expensive than the others) Anstey, Markfield, Ratby near junction 21a/22 and if in the south Blaby, Narborough, Enderby (all around the same price but my 3 bed semi with 3 reception rooms was 124k)

Public transport not fabulous, lots of bus lanes, not many buses and they only seem to go into Leicester then out again and trains in a few villages. (Syston, Narborough, Leicester centre (and South Wigston, but do not buy there)

Ofsted outstanding junior school in Glen Parva, and Senior school in Countesthorpe, good schools in Groby too

My sister Lives in Lutterworth and it's ok, bit cut off though and guess you'd get one bus an hour, either to rugby or to Leicester!

LisaLou1982

Hi OP

Another Midlander here

Derby/Nottingham border and the areas surrounding it are pretty good. Easy access to the M1 from Sandiacre, Borrowash, Stapleford, Spondon, Shardlow, Alvaston, Boulton Moor, Chellaston, Castle Donington should all find you something within your budget.

Personally as you have such a wide criteria, id visit the local cities, see what you think about those and then go from there. Theres a wealth of difference between Chesterfield, Derby, NOttingham and Leicester

easilydistracted

I'd agree with the posters who are suggesting that your budget is too small for any areas that meet all your criteria near Coventry and that Warwick and Leamington are way out. I recently relocated to the Coventry area from the south west and realised my idea of prices was really unrealistic. Rugby is ok and definitely better than Nuneaton or Bedworth where houses can get stuck on the market. The poster who suggested heading to the north midlands and around Nottingham is probably offering the best advice in terms of value for money. If you do go for some of the areas mentioned in Coventry, two beds seem a lot less desirable than three beds and go for a lot less. So much so that it was worth us buying a two bed and doing an attic conversion.

HappyMJ

I would suggest the town I live in Burton on Trent.

A38 is quite good.

My 3 bedroom property is worth £145,000 and it's in a quiet area in Branston. Public transport is good. It's £3.50 to get a taxi to town then buses or trains can take you to lots of places.

It's a commutable distance to Derby, Nottingham and Birmingham. I used to work in Wolverhampton and that wasn't too bad.

There is lots of work available for your wife. Anyone can get work if they are willing to work. It may not be the best paid but it's work.

Negatives...it can get a bit smelly. The Marmite factory is nearby and the breweries do have the smell of hops and brewing. You get used to it.

hottdang1

Hi all

Thanks for so much advice -

I am going to get out on the road and start checking places out - as I said earlier - a fascinating thread

I would imagine this will prove quite useful to other prospective buyers also

Will feed back in due course but if anyone has any other areas or advice to add, please chip in!

All the best

hottdang1

Hi

I'm going to take a look at rugby but agree the budget may not get us what we want

The Nottingham Derby corridor is looking very good and also button on Trent

Question on burton - does it suffer from small town syndrome? I don't meN that to be flippant but how I mean that Is it one of hose places where newcomers are viewed as outsiders?

Thanks

hottdang1

Hi All,

Any recommended areas on the M1 side of Nottingham ?

I'm looking from this Rea across south of Derby to button on Trent
There's plenty of choice for sure but difficult to ascertain on the area

The obvious ones to avoid are known drug and crime hotspots
Also those that are frequently gridlocked

Burton looks good but I hope it isn't too small - don't want to be the outsiders On the block

Thx

HappyMJ

hottdang1 wrote: »

Hi

I'm going to take a look at rugby but agree the budget may not get us what we want

The Nottingham Derby corridor is looking very good and also button on Trent

Question on burton - does it suffer from small town syndrome? I don't meN that to be flippant but how I mean that Is it one of hose places where newcomers are viewed as outsiders?

Thanks

Only for a few weeks. Once you're settled in you'll be welcomed every time you visit the pub by name. It's big enough to not be a small town.

Me personally I would avoid some parts of Horninglow, Winshill and Stapenhill. Drive around you'll figure them out. Most of those parts are fine though. Same with any town really. Look at the area before you move in.

Gridlocked is a concern. I live just off St. Peters Bridge and that bridge is gridlocked every evening from 4 till 6. If you need access to the A38 then I'd move to Branston or Stretton and definitely avoid Winshill and Stapenhill. If you would prefer better access to the M1 then Swadlincote would be better.

There's some nice houses going up on Wetmore road if you're looking for new housing.