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

MissMarble

phoebeannel wrote: »

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!

Hi phoebeannel!

Thank you so much for your reply and apologies for the delay in getting back to you - I've been meaning to write as your message did make me smile!
I just wanted to say thank you for your message and it's great to hear your story. I really like Prestwich so I'm hoping in the new year/spring time there will be some properties out there which we can look at and hopefully buy!

When we escape Rusholme and pop down to Didsbury the one thing I love is seeing everyone out - whether it's shopping or having some food - and I think I picked up a similar vibe from Prestwich even though we were just driving around!

How did you find the whole process? I'm just so amazed at how quickly properties come and go. I doubt before putting an offer in we would even get time for a second viewing which is pretty scary. Any thoughts you have or even recommendations of an estate agent would be awesome to hear!

Thank you!

MissMarble

Out of curiosity, I know Cheadle Hulme has been mentioned (thank you) but can anyone shed some light on Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme & Cheadle Heath and whether or not its basically the same area or if each has their own character? I keep seeing properties ping up from these areas and while I can see they are a bit spread out on the map, I'm not sure about how each of them actually are.

I think we did drive through Cheadle Village last Christmas and it reminded me so much of my hometown!

wantonnoodle

I would recommend somewhere around Sale or Altrincham. They're both on the Metrolink, have direct bus links to the city centre on the 263, and Altrincham is also on the Piccadilly to Chester rail line, so they are well connected for commuting.

Altrincham town centre has a great vibe with loads of great restaurants, cafes and bars if you enjoy getting out and about.

We bought in West Timperley at the start of the year, having lived in the Broadheath and Sale areas in rentals for years and haven't regretted a thing. Granted, Broadheath is not the most desirable area of Altrincham, but it is still a pleasant area nonetheless (notwithstanding a few less salubrious streets of social housing, but if you avoid them you'll be fine), and there is a Waitrose close by. There are some newish houses on the Stamford Brook development coming on the market now, originally built about 5 years ago, though I think there is another phase under development a bit further out from the main road if you're interested in brand new build.

KTD10

If you want to be walking distance to Dids Village there is this one...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63102481.html

It's so hard trying to pick an area! We are in the process of buying a house in Manchester and I think we went round and round in circles before we decided on an area we were both happy with!

Barter

Help1234 wrote: »

Altrincham
Hale
Sale
Worsley
Chorlton
Wilmslow
Alderley Edge
Knutsford
Cheadle Hulme
Dunham Massay
Timperley

NO TO SALFORD

So what's wrong with Lymm?

ACG

My office is in Urmston, the area there just seems to be getting better and better, I have noticed a lot of changes over the last couple of years.

Didsbury is nice, but it is over rated. I used to spend a lot of time round there drinking and growing up, but it is not all it is cracked up to be.

I live on the border of Cheadle Hulme/Bramhall, both nice areas in the main. Although if you like German cars then I would probably stay away, they all seem to be getting nicked. Bramhall might be a little out of the budget, but Cheadle hulme should be fine.

MissMarble

Thanks AGC!

Can you shed some light on Cheadle Heath for me? I can see it's a bit further down from the village - but is it a nice area? I've seen a few properties around this area but I'm a bit worried as some of them are near the Cheadle Heath sewage works! We viewed a lovely property near to the village on Saturday which we loved but there has been an offer and we're just waiting for an updated MIP appointment!

Thanks again for your reply.

Smevchenko

ACG wrote: »

I live on the border of Cheadle Hulme/Bramhall, both nice areas in the main. Although if you like German cars then I would probably stay away, they all seem to be getting nicked. Bramhall might be a little out of the budget, but Cheadle hulme should be fine.

£250,000 will not buy you very much in Cheadle Hulme........ there are certainly some available for that price, but not attractive houses and not in the best locations of Cheadle Hulme. The house i grew up in is in a desirable location, very near to excellent schools, 3-4 bed, but with fairly small rooms, and you would need £325k plus for that.

Cheadle Heath is easily affordable, but certainly not as desirable/ up and coming like Monton, Prestwich, Urmston etc. You are near to Cheadle, but Cheadle misses on some key points, no train station, 15-20 min walk from metrolink at Parrs Wood, high street is lacking some nice independent restaurants and bars etc. That being said, There are some nice houses on Stockport Road and the roads off there such as Elm Road South.

ACG

Here are 5 I found.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62881234.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51283287.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60836470.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70150319.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51923841.html

Smevchenko is right, you are not going to get the best houses in Cheadle Hulme for £250k, but there is always going to be a toss up between the property or the location. Personally I would rather have the cheapest house in the best area I can afford. I can do the house up and add value to the house. I cant do that to the area.

If you can afford £250k, I am not sure I would be moving to Cheadle Heath personally, that being said I do not know the area that well. I just remember going to view a house there 5 years ago and it reminded me of Shameless. A bloke sat on the pavement with cans of Stella, kids stood on street corner watching everywhere I go...I only have 5 fingers on each hand so obviously stood out like a sore thumb.

Just to add, I grew up in Burnage, so I am not a snob or anything like that. I just think if I am spending £200k plus on something, I want it to be in as nice an area as possible.

On a side note, I used to live in Heaton Mersey (not a million miles from Didsbury) and my car and home insurance are massively lower in Cheadle Hulme than they were in Heaton Mersey.

Smevchenko

ACG wrote: »

Here are 5 I found.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62881234.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51283287.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60836470.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70150319.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51923841.html

House number 2:

Great location, 2 pubs within 30 metres, great schools within 5 mins walking, Cheadle Hulme village only 10-15 min walk....... but £255,000! I couldn't part with that much money for something that looks like that! Horrible.

Love the area, but so expensive now. 4 bed round the corner on Vicarage Ave would now be £425k plus i reckon. Madness