Where to live in Northern Ireland?

Max0010

Apologies to BigAl.
I was of course taking anecdotally.
In my own experience and in those of my family, we've all been pretty lucky for the most part in remaining mostly healthy and when we needed it, having some money tucked away for private treatment, when it was badly needed. Because, as you say, some waiting times here are excessive.
Sugarfree.
I'm very glad that I was able to add something. Like another poster said. I'm a huge advocate for N.I. wherever I go.
Based on what you've said, I believe you'd both make a big success of it here. If you like being out in the elements and / or having a drink, you know these are things that are well catered for here
On the politics here. If you look at other societies that have had a similar recent history, like Sri Lanka.
It does take generations for divisions to heal. We're stuck in a rights based conflict at the moment.
When that plays out, we'll move to an interests based society, where it's in all of our interests to work together to make this province the best it can be. When we all stop talking about rights and talk more about our shared interests, that will demonstrate real progress.
I might remember going to the Rope Bridge over a muddy field. I drove down during the summer, out of curiosity and there were over a hundred cars parked. It was almost gridlocked. Interestingly, it was staffed mostly by an eclectic and very friendly mix of volunteers.

Oliviasmom

Waterfoot, about 17 miles from Ballycastle. My parents have a caravan in Ballycastle thought.

cliffsgirl

I live in Portrush and it’s lovely. Lovey beaches. Trains to Belfast every hour and the people are friendly too.

Miss_Floopster

Hi Sugarfree, sorry for late response, we were away to Northern Ireland for a bit of craic :beer:

We're in the Castleview area, which is on the other side of the Antrim Road from the Cavehill area. We have a good view of Napoleon's Nose from the side of our house :-)

We're short on pubs and cafes on that part of the Antrim Road unfortunately, but it's only about 15 mins on the bus to the city center. Shop wise, there's a reasonably stocked Spar (Madigan's Court) around there on the Antrim Road and the Abbeycentre is only 10 minutes away by car (lots of shops around there, including a Tesco Superstore, Lidle, M&S and tons of other shops. Check out BT37 9UH on Google maps.

sugarfree

Sorry for not replying earlier Miss Floopster. Thanks for the info.

In the meantime we’ve narrowed our search area down to Helens Bay/Crawfordsburn/Bangor West.
They’re building 40 new homes in Crawfordsburn and I’m interested to see what they’ll be like. There seem to be so many problems with shoddily built new homes these days that it’s made me a bit paranoid.
Anybody know who the builder is?
The village seems a bit livelier now that the Loaf pottery/caf! has opened.

Sambella

Would it be these?

https://www.templetonrobinson.com/development/crawfordsburn-village-brow/485/

sugarfree

Yes, those are the ones.
Although my husband has just seen the marketing guff and thinks they’re hideous.
Sigh.

qwert_yuiop

Sambella wrote: »

Would it be these?

https://www.templetonrobinson.com/development/crawfordsburn-village-brow/485/

These are quite like the coastguard cottages at helens bay. I remember a work colleague paying £125,000 for one way back in the early 90s. I see they’re now pitched at £250,000.
Not much of a rise in 25 years, a full mortgage later? Around 2.5% per year, much less than the interest paid in that time.

Just an observation.

JackKols

as for me, it is very suspicious ..

sugarfree

qwert_yuiop wrote: »

These are quite like the coastguard cottages at helens bay. I remember a work colleague paying £125,000 for one way back in the early 90s. I see they’re now pitched at £250,000.
Not much of a rise in 25 years, a full mortgage later? Around 2.5% per year, much less than the interest paid in that time.

Just an observation.

Husband thinks these newbuilds are overpriced rabbit hutches which, once their shiny newness has worn off, will look like crap.
Much as it pains me to admit it, I suspect he’s right.
Ideally he’d like a site somewhere between Bangor and Holywood where he could put up a very small but beautifully designed open-plan energy-efficient pre-fab house. Which he could heat with his own farts.

Getting an affordable site in that area + permission for something that doesn’t “blend in” visually is probably going to be very difficult, though.
Plan B therefore might be to find a slightly worn little bungalow on a great site so that we could gut / reconfigure / extend it if necessary.

I also see there’s a housing cooperative in NI called Proper Tea. Am curious to see what their plans are. It’s a form of housing that’s growing in popularity here in France. And not just among the quinoa-munching open-weave sandals brigade.