Haverfordwest

Dan-Dan

Morning All

It’s probably unlikely but is any of the contributors here familiar with Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire ?
We are considering relocating here, or the near area, obviously lots of research to do first but was hoping for any inside info from anyone on MSE

Thanks

TheLuckiest

I grew up in haverfordwest and still have family and friends in the area. I was living there till 3 years ago but still go back there a lot. Feel free to ask anything you like, either here or by PM.

Dan-Dan

Thanks, thats very kind
I think if i ask on here , then anyone else in the same boat will be able to find it in the future?

What are the areas to avoid, some 3 bed semis (our budget would be about £150-180k maximum , after the sale of ours minus the mortgage outstanding) are coming up at a difference between £130 and up to £170, i am no snob but a bit of inside info where is not the place to end up would be great

We like the area heading out of Havofordwest, porterfield gate?, but we did start investigating a village called Johnston? is that an area to look into?

We are about 250 miles away in the home counties, so we plan to visit the area in May and do some serious looking about then, we have two young children so any school info would be good?

Davesnave

It would have been a likely centre for us when we decided to relocate to Wales, but something else came up.

Like my car, it isn't terribly pretty, but it's functional and cheap.. Narberth is nicer.

Anywhere south of the A40 is vast majority English-speaking.

Some great beaches and countryside within easy striking distance. People living in the area generally rate it as a good place to live in these survey things, but it depends what you're after, I suppose.

Dan-Dan

Davesnave wrote: »

It would have been a likely centre for us when we decided to relocate to Wales, but something else came up.

Like my car, it isn't terribly pretty, but it's functional and cheap.. Narberth is nicer.

Anywhere south of the A40 is majority English-speaking.

Some great beaches and countryside within easy striking distance. People living in the area generally rate it as a good place to live in these survey things, but it depends what you're after, I suppose.

Hi Dave

We head to Broad Haven 2-3 times a year, we are realistic and know that it isnt all `holidays` and beaches, but there is something very enticing to be within striking distance of natural beauty, and to be mortgage free (we would need to be because i would have to job hunt if we moved)

We are both just under 40 and its always been a goal to head somewhere with a better quality of life (to us) with walks, beaches and a slower pace of life, for us we arent worried about shopping and nights out in trendy places

Our house is likely to fetch 250k or a little less and i owe 60k on the mortgage so the aim is to move debt free but of course if we do take the plunge we would be very unlikely to be able to buy back where we would have just left which is a very scary thought if we end up buying in the wrong area

TheLuckiest

I know Johnston very well. It's a relatively large village and so doesn't have a very "villagey" feel. The main road between haverfordwest and Milford haven runs through it which is a very busy road. That said, there are some nice areas off the main road, mainly on the edges of the village, and it does have good public transport links to the larger towns.

If you're after a more tranquil villagey feel then areas like Llangwm/burton/Rosemarket might be worth looking at.

Haverfordwest itself, like anywhere, has its nice and not so nice areaa. Portfield gate is a good place to look if you're wanting to be close to both town and the coast and I'm sure you'd find some lovely houses around there.

As davesnave says, narberth is lovely but property prices will reflect this. You'll also be much further from the west pembs coastline which seems to be the area you're most familiar with.

martindow

Dan-Dan wrote: »

(we would need to be because i would have to job hunt if we moved)

I would investigate the work situation thoroughly as well as houses. In many areas work is not easy to come by, jobs are likely to be on the minimum wage and possibly seasonal.

Perhaps TheLuckiest can advise on job prospects in Haverfordwest?

Davesnave

Dan-Dan wrote: »

....the aim is to move debt free but of course if we do take the plunge we would be very unlikely to be able to buy back where we would have just left which is a very scary thought if we end up buying in the wrong area.

For the sort of activities you value, the area isn't wrong, but I understand about the huge decision when it comes to employment.

That wasn't a consideration for us. Our biggest worry was distance from family and friends, but if you are near holiday country they tend to find you! :rotfl:

We rented a cottage near Whitland for 3 winter periods rather than in the summer, thinking if we liked it during the worst months, the summer would take care of itself. We visited in summer too, just to check out the tourist impact, but it was OK outside Tenby and all the usual magnets.

Dan-Dan

Thanks all

Lots of food for thought i know

Job wise i think as i am not a contractor or a qualified engineer of any sort, i would not likely to be able to line anything up prior to a move, i think i would probably have to sell myself hard to a prospective employer once there

I am a manager in a small retail (warehouse) business at present so do have some employability (i hope!)

Renting first would be the correct thing to do, but doesnt really change the effect of selling and uprooting where we are now and eating into much needed capital whilst we live

TheLuckiest

Job prospects aren't the best in that part of the world. Not to say you won't find one, just that you should expect a lot of competition for jobs and a relative scarcity of jobs to start with.

Most people I grew up with have moved away for job opportunities. I moved back after uni but subsequently moved further east again for the kind of opportunity that would never have come up in Pembrokeshire.

House prices are also pretty high given income levels, especially in the nicer areas.

Dan-Dan

TheLuckiest wrote: »

Job prospects aren't the best in that part of the world. Not to say you won't find one, just that you should expect a lot of competition for jobs and a relative scarcity of jobs to start with.

Most people I grew up with have moved away for job opportunities. I moved back after uni but subsequently moved further east again for the kind of opportunity that would never have come up in Pembrokeshire.

House prices are also pretty high given income levels, especially in the nicer areas.

Thats interesting
I agree,looking through the house sales alongside the current job vacancies i can see, they dont tally so well