Advise need pls . FTB perfect house not so perfect area

ACG

It probably needs to be put in to context.
I grew up on a council estate in Manchester. It was rough and it has only got worse.

I bought a house 5 years ago on a council estate in Cheshire and it was rough for the area but compared to what I was used to growing up, it was lovely. There was a drug dealer who parked in the car park during the day and a kid on a BMX who was his little runner, but there were no issues and you could walk to the shops at night without any real risk of being mugged.

As it happens, we moved about 3 miles away 2 years ago into a nice area and more houses and cars get broken into than ever did on the council estate.

Is it rough or is it rough for the area?

Davesnave

ACG wrote: »

It probably needs to be put in to context.

Exactly, which is why knee-jerk reactions need treating with caution, whichever way they go.

Price is a usually good indicator of desirability, but buyers should remember that local areas may change over quite short periods when there's a good reason for it. Assessing reasons for improvement, or the potential for things to go the other way, must be based on more than sentiment.


'Buy the worst house on the best street' is sound advice if you have the skills and/or prospect of a rising income to change that. If not, you might find yourself and your children living in considerable chaos for some time, as you battle to hold down the day job and sort out the property's shortcomings with limited personal competence.

KatieDee

I was in this exact situation - lovely house, detached (which we could never have afforded in a better area), much lower than we had budgeted for. It was in a lovely tiny estate, but this was a new build estate only about 400m from a pub and a very large council estate.

We loved the house but we knew the area wasn't fantastic. We came away, looked at some websites in regards to crime and although it was still relatively low, you could see the difference in things such as "Anti social behaviour", as they were much higher. This also made me worry about what would happen if the general area got worse - I'd hate to be stuck with a nice house that I couldn't sell unless I took a massive loss. I imagine a lot of people who have money, probably wouldn't want to buy near a "rough estate", which massively reduces your potential buyers when you come to move on.

Everything else, such as the schools, will change over time anyway. What is outstanding today might be poor by the time your children attend.

I honestly believe in buying the worst house in the best area you can afford, especially if you have children. Perhaps go back at different times of the day (the sun seems to be out today, so it may be a good time?) and see what it is like. Different people have different opinions of what is acceptable. If you truly get a good feeling for the house and the area then go for it - but if you have any doubts then I'd probably hold off.

csgohan4

check the local crime reports from police data which is widely available. personally agree with above and buy in the best area.


My parents still live opposite a council estate and they use BB guns to shoot holes in their window for fun and throw beer cans in our back garden, they are teenagers.


If you can control the area you live in, go for it if you can afford it. Because once you live near a rough area, you won't be able to control who lives near you.


This is coming from someone who grew up in Moss Side, Manchester in the 80's-90's, the roughest part of Manchester back then, got burgled twice too, wasn't pleasant

babymama89

Thanks all for your advice

Sorry I don’t know how to reply to individual messages
But some responses

1. I think the consensus is to buy an average house in a good area
2. The house is good in terms of being very spacious. 4 bedrooms 3toilets 2 large gardens and good parking spaces . Currently renting but those features have been a nightmare in our current flat
3. It’s not actually an eyesore but there is no overlooking the more than 9 council flats around . There are some new build around there but I don’t see any regeneration happening any time soon to be honest
3. I have been to the view the area again around midday and again at 5pm . It’s relatively quiet and doesn’t feel dangerous . However I don’t see my children playing around there . There are no play facilities nearby
4. We can potentially afford houses in better areas but it doesn’t give us the same luxury -space ( from the above I think we’d have to compromise on the space )
5. I’ll check the crime and police statistics

Otherwise it’s back to house hunting 🙈🙈😬😬

James_Green_1982

I would say the schools with the worst ''league table'' results are probably those where the teachers focus on pupils rather than targets.
Likewise police / crime stats are often dependent on insurance claims - so again rather meaningless.

I'm still surprised how many otherwise intelligent people, are completely taken in by government statistics and ''targets'' etc. Biggest load of nonsense ever.

Beware school catchment area boundaries. They are not always drawn in a logical diameter from the school.

Cakeguts

Midday and 5pm isn't the time to visit. You want to start at midnight and then go again at about 3am. Some people don't get up until lunchtime so they haven't really got going at 5pm.

Lurkingtoposting17

Fwiw I almost purchased the best house in a bad street last year.
I had a few sleepless nights worrying about the area though I loved the house and it was far more space than most others in my budget, perfect layout and zero work required decor wise. But the area bothered me.
My parents hated it and there were some structure concerns so I pulled out. Bought an average house in a lovely street in an area that the wider area is currently being regenerated.
Much happier with my average house on a lovely street. I never had a sleepless night from the moment I offered here. Now I live here I don’t have sleepless nights either because the area is so nice and quiet :rotfl: