Best places to buy in Manchester for a first-timer (that isn't Didsbury)

MissMarble

alchemist.1 wrote: »

Don't forget that next to Urmston there are sewage works which have caused issues in summer with the smell.

You need to provide a likely budget and whether you are looking to buy a house /flat etc.

Prestwich is getting better and better.

I also suggest Cheadle Village and Cheadle Hulme in addition to what has been listed.

Avoid Fallowfield/most parts of Withington unless you want to be surrounded by Students (which might sound okay now but in a few years might not be).

I've heard about the sewage works - is there a sewage plant around the area? Just thinking so I can look on google maps! We liked Prestwich and how there was Heaton Park nearby plus all the amenities and nice community. We've also driven through Cheadle Village which looked lovely so hopefully more properties will spring up there too.

Ideally, we'd be looking at a Victorian terrace of 1920/30s houses. We live in a modern flat (built around 10-15 years ago) on the Fallowfield/Rusholme border and it's really turned us off the modern housing. Even though we may get more space, I feel it's just a bit characterless and even with putting our own stamp on things I feel it would remind me too much of where we currently live.

I believe we could probably go up to £250K maximum and now with the stamp to buy news, hopefully we'd be in a good position.

Wherever we end up, I'm hoping it isn't in a student area! There are quite a lot of students which have recently moved into our block of flats which is something I thought I said goodbye to 6 years ago - clearly not! Thanks for your reply.

haf1

Cakeguts wrote: »

I would live near here. http://www.littleboroughlocal.co.uk/ It is a little village. There is a train station with a service that goes from Manchester to Leeds and stops here. So you can get to Manchester and Leeds. There are a few restaurants the village is only small. A canal which has canal boats on it from time to time. It is right on the edge of the countryside. Close by is a large lake called Hollingworth Lake. It is becoming more popular/ getting more expensive.

I second that, and taking the train into Manchester. Currently not very practical for Oxford Road, but that might get better soon now the Ordsall Chord is open. Littleborough is lovely and free use of trams in Manchester City Centre is included with the train ticket.

bubblerawk

Im bias but Rochdale, there are some lovely villages around, obv some areas are better than others. Great links to Manchester, buses, trains, tram and close to other towns too. Id move back tomorrow if i could.

Red-Squirrel_2

Help1234 wrote: »

I listed Worsley as somewhere nice in my original post.

Monton isn't in Worsley. Worsley and Monton are both in Salford.


I get the feeling you don't really know these areas, get out of Cheshire from time to time, you might be pleasantly surprised!

Littleborough is nice, it does flood though and some houses are uninsurable for it, check the Environment Agency flood maps for anywhere you're interested in.

alchemist.1

MissMarble wrote: »

I've heard about the sewage works - is there a sewage plant around the area? Just thinking so I can look on google maps! We liked Prestwich and how there was Heaton Park nearby plus all the amenities and nice community. We've also driven through Cheadle Village which looked lovely so hopefully more properties will spring up there too.

Ideally, we'd be looking at a Victorian terrace of 1920/30s houses. We live in a modern flat (built around 10-15 years ago) on the Fallowfield/Rusholme border and it's really turned us off the modern housing. Even though we may get more space, I feel it's just a bit characterless and even with putting our own stamp on things I feel it would remind me too much of where we currently live.

I believe we could probably go up to £250K maximum and now with the stamp to buy news, hopefully we'd be in a good position.

Wherever we end up, I'm hoping it isn't in a student area! There are quite a lot of students which have recently moved into our block of flats which is something I thought I said goodbye to 6 years ago - clearly not! Thanks for your reply.

The sewage works is right next to Urmston. Might be worth a visit during summer months if you are going to wait around that long?

Prestwich is nice and you should get what you're looking for around there. Just watch out for neighbouring areas though (especially travelling towards city centre which arent as nice and sometimes described as Prestwich).

Definitely have a look at Cheadle Village.

Doesnt have a tram but has everything else i.e schools, green spaces etc. One of those places which will probably be getting all the independent shops etc soon enough.

Rambosmum

Yes, when it comes to Prestwich I'd stay above scholes lane (i.e between the M60 and scholes lane) and with Urmston, the sewage works is behind the retail park that the McDonalds is on near the motorway but the small travels as far as Bedford road on a bad day in the summer. On a really really bad day (after lots of heat) it can be smelt s far as Monton though though so it's hard to avoid if its really really bad!

I know the areas really well so if you wanted advice on particular properties just ask.

elliemet23

Have you looked at Heald Green? Very close to train stations/the airport and also great village feel.
My sister moved to Heald Green 5 years ago, is moving again soon but staying within the area. Great schools around there and close enough to the big Sainsbury's and John Lewis. Prices are a little higher as you are in the SK9 area but still not bad!

MissMarble

Hi everyone,

Sorry for such a late reply. Thank you all so much for your help and suggestions - I feel like I've definitely learnt a lot and will make some time early next year to start exploring those areas we are quite unfamiliar with.

Initial thoughts are Prestwich seems to be a place to focus heavily on, but we will also look at the other places mentioned! I'm also thinking it would be worth getting a map of Manchester and highlighting our favourite, potential favourites and areas to avoid just so it helps us get our heads around things - we may even be able to predict the next up and coming parts!

Thank you once again

phoebeannel

Hi, i just wanted to share my experience!

I was born and raised in Urmston, and my partner and I rent here now-it has changed massively, the restaurants and bars are great & has an artisan market. As a teenager I referred to here as as Manchester's dullest suburb! I can personally attest to the very good local schools. However I would say that the train connection to the city centre is not reliable-my partner who uses it has flexi-time to account for the fact that it is constantly late and cancelled, especially in the winter months. The M60 here also goes to pot at Christmas and you have to queue for an hour to get off at Junction 9 or 10 because of the Trafford Centre. And in summer the whole place reeks of sewage. The only real pull for us to stay was our parents both living here.

We began our house hunt in August with a budget of £200k. One rightmove search will tell you that gets you a 1 bed here now! We decided we wanted to move area and scouted other places.

We quickly ruled out Salford. I have lived in less desirable areas before in Manchester and Leeds, so it wasn't that I'm mega fussy in that regard. There was a house very near Monton that we went to see and all the houses had union jacks hanging out the window and people sitting in the street drinking in the middle of the day. It's ok when you're younger but not when you're buying. We also thought about Chimney pot Park but there isn't much in the way of nice bars or restaurants near there to wander to on an evening, you'd have to go to town.

I booked a viewing in Prestwich and we knew that was it straight away. It was a Thursday evening and all the bars and restaurants were packed out, it had such a great vibe. We had so much choice for our money too. When viewing properties it was all young professionals and when speaking to neighbours they said it was a great community, lots to do etc. We are now waiting to exchange on our house- a 3 bed semi under £180k! Prices are rising rapidly there though, in line with Urmston but obviously still cheaper. We got such a good price as it requires work but the terraces that are nicely done go in 48 hours flat with multiple offers. No one property hung around for long (unless there was something seriously wrong with it).

So there you go! Come be my neighbour!

kingstreet

Rambosmum wrote: »

the sewage works is behind the retail park that the McDonalds is on near the motorway but the small travels as far as Bedford road on a bad day in the summer. On a really really bad day (after lots of heat) it can be smelt s far as Monton though though so it's hard to avoid if its really really bad!

Don't forget you have Davyhulme sewage works on one side of the canal and Peel Green sewage works on the other.

When I was a kid living on Peel Green Road, you got the stink from both if the wind was blowing the wrong way.

Still, after a while you just don't notice it.