How to research up and coming residential areas?

youth_leader

Evening all.  I have just sold my house at auction and exchanged last Friday, hopefully will complete in eight weeks dependant on restrictions.  
I'm a widow on my own, and could move anywhere in the country.  As it is my final move and I hope to be able to leave the house to my children, I want to choose wisely.
Any pointers/suggestions on locations to research would be appreciated, I'm currently in the NE..  
Thank you.

Thrugelmir

Always struck me that Staffordshire as an area offers good property for ones £. Not far from the Peak District either. 
Not clear if you'll be seeking employment when you move. 

youth_leader

Thank you - I should have said I'm retired, apologies.  I will have a look, I don't think I've ever been there.  We moved from Twickenham to Northumberland, and I have only ever holidayed on the east/south coast.  

[Deleted User]

From a purely financial perspective wait 6 to 12 months and step in (if/when) property prices decrease. 
Northern cities such as Manchester and Leeds were projected to see house prices increases in the next 5 years.

phoebe1989seb

I've nothing useful to contribute, but remember your previous thread about struggling to sell your lovely period home and just wanted to say congratulations on getting it sold! Good luck with your onward move wherever it may be 

youth_leader

Thank you, my daughter went to Leeds Uni, it's near enough for me to explore easily.  My late husband was from Manchester, some of his family are still there.  
Thank you so much for the congratulations phoebe1989seb.  I accepted a huge loss in the end, and just let it go.  With the virus having such an effect on everything and everyone, I was worried it wouldn't sell this year and I'd have to face another winter there alone.  My kids aren't happy with my decision but I'm 63, and have had enough after eighteen months of constant cleaning and gardening, and having to go off somewhere on odd days/at odd times with my dog whilst the viewings took place.  I had about 35 viewings with two estate agents, three offers that went nowhere.  Feedback became repetitive - 'beautiful house, too large a project'.  I had 33 viewings with the auction house, one viewer commissioned a survey and didn't bid.  Only two bidders on the day, one had been to view. 
I am looking forward to a small manageable house, with gas! 

Davesnave

youth_leader said:

I am looking forward to a small manageable house, with gas! 

....And possibly feeling guilty, having sold too cheaply in your children's eyes?

While there's nothing wrong with buying with an eye to the future housing market, you're only 63, so the probate value of your next house ought to be well down the list of your priorities. Above all, please yourself  first, which might still include a location that makes your next property accessible for family visits.

Its very difficult to predict up-coming residential areas and much easier to see where people like living and work out why. For example, proximity to a National Park is something that's been mentioned and unlikely to change.

Predictions don't always turn out correct either. You mention mains gas as a priority. Eleven years ago the experts were predicting exciting things for wood pellet boilers in gas-less locations like ours, so we considered going that way. Now I'm very happy that we didn't!

RelievedSheff

I think in your situation I would be looking for an area already well established rather than an up and coming area. Up anc coming areas can take years to really establish and some never do and fail. With an already well established and popular area your money will be a bit safer.

youth_leader

Thank you Davesnave, I do feel guilty, I had hoped to be able to help them onto the housing ladder.  

AdrianC

youth_leader said:

Evening all.  I have just sold my house at auction and exchanged last Friday, hopefully will complete in eight weeks dependant on restrictions.  
I'm a widow on my own, and could move anywhere in the country.  As it is my final move and I hope to be able to leave the house to my children, I want to choose wisely.
Any pointers/suggestions on locations to research would be appreciated, I'm currently in the NE..

"Up and coming areas" is guesswork, no more, no less. By the time it's obvious which they are, you've missed the boat.

Don't focus on anything but where YOU WANT to live. You've got years of living there ahead of you. Would you really choose to live in a hole, optimistically hoping that your suffering will increase your kids' inheritance? Remember - they may end up not inheriting anything, because your assets are to be used for your care during your lifetime, since the taxpayer shouldn't and doesn't subsidise inheritances...

Davesnave

youth_leader said:

Thank you Davesnave, I do feel guilty, I had hoped to be able to help them onto the housing ladder. 

Don't we all, but if there's more than one child and differing times/circumstances, the problem of being fair also becomes an issue.

Neither of ours expected anything, so they weren't disappointed!