Where to live?

mark5

Maybe look at Swansea Marina if you don't mind apartments. Mumbles is expensive. You would also be in walking distance of shops then. You can cycle from Swansea Marina to Mumbles without crossing a road. You would also have other cycle routes available to you from the Marina.

quantumlobster

You can get a nice 3-bed 30s semi in any number of pleasant coastal areas of the North East and have change for decoration etc. for your £160k.

Redcar east: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36329901.html
Seaton Carew: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64625059.html
Scarborough: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74484206.html

etc etc etc

motherofstudents

I should think moving away from Harpurhey will help with your anxiety. I used to work there and it's not very nice. Sorry about your mum and dad but I think they'd be pleased to know the money they have left you will help you make a fresh start.

HollySocks_2

Just want to say thank you for all the comments.

I've only looked at Cleveleys so far as it was easy to get to and its all a bit scary going too far away. But thats no excuse not to try.

New Brighton looks great, lots of regeneration there. Never somewhere i'd have considered for a second.

North East has some great seafronts too. Had to go there last year as it's where mum and dad wanted to be laid to rest. Been looking on Google Maps at South/North Shields/Roker, but lots of places i dont know, and look a bit rough in parts, Byker, Gateshead? I dunno, so many places ha.

I followed some cycle videos on Youtube all along Swansea seafront to Mumbles, only prob is finding a 3 bed house in that area, theres nice apartments, but apartments are a bit tricky with wanting to get a dog. And theres a cat to consider, who might not do too well on a 9th floor apartment balcony.

I think after doing 15 years on a Harpurhey housing estate literally everywhere is seeming utterly wonderful ha.

davemorton

Lots available in and around Sunderland for between 140-160.
For a lovely village right next to the coast, and much nicer than Seaburn/Roker, look at the ones in Boldon. I have just been shocked myself at how reasonable they are.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=POSTCODE%5E1704494&maxPrice=160000&minPrice=140000&radius=5.0&index=24&includeSSTC=false

ginger_chocolate

I live near Cardiff Bay at the moment. If you're interested in the convenience of city life (i.e having everything you need available without needing a car) then I think Cardiff is a very approachable city - the people are friendlier and the atmosphere more supportive than places like Birmingham and London. There is a good cycling network - for the first few years I lived here I didn't own a car and had no issues getting wherever I wanted to be (even now, I only use it if I'm travelling outside the city). That said, there are some rough areas (Butetown, I'm looking at you...), and some areas that are basically fine but possibly a bit intimidating to outsiders (Cathays, Splott...), the Bay is nice enough, but anything you buy there on your budget will be small. As an alternative, you may prefer to look further west. I lived in Aberystwyth for years and loved it - probably ticks all your boxes too. Why not spend a bit of time visiting a few places to try scope them out a bit?

Bass_9

The North East is lovely- we have decent areas, are close to the sea, the surrounding countryside is beautiful, and we're generally pretty friendly too.

Once you have decided on an area you want to go for, it might be a good idea to start another thread to ask about specific areas to target, or avoid.

Hope this is the start of something exciting/positive for you.

HollySocks_2

Thnks Bass9. I took mum and dad up for a week staying at Souter Lighthouse when they were ill. They were both from that area, many happy memories as a kid having holidays in Sunderland, South Shields, Marsden. Great Metro system for getting around..
The only problem with the North East is theres actually too many places. Tynemouth looks great, but house prices are horrific there. North Shields, or is South side better? Nr a Metro, but pay more for a house, or somewhere like Washington where its cheaper but transport maybe not so good. Seafront at Sunderland/Seaburn is great for cycling, but then do i want to be more Newcastle way? But then parts of Newcastle are pricey and some parts look a bit rough...
Some nice places on the riverside at North Shields but again, prices are a bit higher there.



I only really know the bits we went to as a kid, but things have changed. Fellgate seems cheap, but then street views remind me of the estates in Manchester :-(


I just dont know where to start with that area ha. I tried to narrow it down to the seafront, maybe Sunderland way, for thr cycling, but then i think, nope, maybe north of the river. And i just go round in circles lol..


But it is a lovely area, great people, lots of happy memories

HollySocks_2

Ginger, Cardiff had pretty much been top of my list for the last few months, until i went to look at Blackpool.



But its quite difficult to find a nice 3 bed within walking distance of the cycle routes in my price range. It can be done, but often they are really cramped or look a bit run down..i think compared to places like Sunderland, Blackpool, its a lot more expensive property wise.



Thanks for the tip about Splott and Cathays Those were the 2 areas i was looking at, they seemed to be pretty hip and trendy now by the sounds of it. But i guess thats why the prices are so high i guess..Those terraced house there often ahve such wierd layouts, like the bathroom downstairs at the back of the kitchen, some tiny tiny back yard...
Cardiff Bay would be ideal, but i just dont want to do the whle apartment thing, all the leashold charges, not able to have pets, tiny balconies..I dont really get why apartments are quite so popular, theyre pretty cramped it seems, often a lounge, kitchen, dining room all combined..
Are there any areas a bit further out that are still on the cycle trails? I think there was a river i saw? North and East of Cardiff? Had traffic free cycle routes along it?



If i knew these places or had visited them a bit in my life it would make it so much easier. Not really knowing anywhere or anyone now, i'm getting all a bit lost with it all...

HollySocks_2

So i think price wise, i've narrowed the entire UK down to
1. Cardiff
2. Swansea
3. Blackpool
4. North/South Tyneside
5. New Brighton

Perhaps i just now need to stop sitting in looking at Google Maps, Youtube videos and get on a train to these places lol.

And today i got the cheque in the post for the estate, from the solicitors. Time to get moving i think.

Thanks to everyone for all your help though.Sorry for waffling. I've just had literally no one to talk to about where to go to, or what i should do. Entire month will go by without having a conversation, so it's really helped. Just such a shame mum and dad arnt here to chat to about it all. And now thats set me off haha.