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Looking for ideas on where to buy... freehold

Options
I have a very modest amount of money and am thinking of investing it in a property (under 90k) and thinking of ideas. 
Ideally, it could be somewhere I could move to so a bit of closeness to a city would be nice - I'm still youngish, mid 30s, so could rent for a few years while I continue to think this through or I could buy something small to have as my own and actually move in straight away. My partner is in the NHS so would easily relocate. 
I don't like the idea of leasehold and don't see the point of buying a flat and paying ground rent - not English originally so I struggle to get my head around this concept and what the benefits or drawbacks of a leasehold property would be - hence I just think a freehold (ideally two bedrooms) in any part of the UK would be worth considering (not too far north so a commute to London isn't out of the question and to allow for my own career prospects if remote working doesn't always work). 
Thanks

Comments

  • Grumpy_chap
    Grumpy_chap Posts: 18,162 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 19 July 2020 at 10:42PM
    How many hours are you willing to commute to London?  Train or car?

    Is £90k your deposit or total budget?
  • OliverNW3
    OliverNW3 Posts: 29 Forumite
    10 Posts
    edited 19 July 2020 at 10:57PM
    90 is my deposit but my dream is to just be a cash buyer - but I would consider going to a bank for mortgage help if I could get the right property. For example, if I found a place in Liverpool, I'd aim to find a job there too, so the commute to London isn't really a big deal. I did spend a bit of time in Newcastle before and just found it "felt" too far away. 

    By the way I don't drive hence I don't want to be anywhere too far away from amenities etc. Just looking for rough ideas and suggestions - doesn't necessarily have to be an investment, it would be my first property and I'd like to happily live there for however many years. 
  • davidmcn
    davidmcn Posts: 23,596 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Nothing in Scotland is leasehold, if that helps you any. 
  • Doozergirl
    Doozergirl Posts: 34,074 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 20 July 2020 at 5:35AM
    Living without a mortgage is the dream of most of us.  Living in an area where a house costs £90k is, sadly, not.  

    It's either going to be missing the transport links you want (out in the middle of nowhere) or it's going to be in an area of deprivation.  Or both.  

    Most of the country is a lot cheaper than London but none of it is connected in the same way that London is.  I have several friends in London that don't drive. I don't know anyone outside London that doesn't.  You would need to be close to a city centre.   

    I think you're better off speaking to a mortgage broker and deciding on what level of mortgage repayment feels comfortable to you and then asking the same question with a higher budget.  
    Everything that is supposed to be in heaven is already here on earth.
  • getmore4less
    getmore4less Posts: 46,882 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper I've helped Parliament
    With lack of driving you need  town with decent public transport system and mainline train if London(or other major employment centre is needed.

    What line of work are you in that may suggest options as some areas may not have that type of work.

    £90k won't get you much but why not consider a mortgage at the size you currently pay rent as that will open up a lot more options.

    if you look at the mainlines out of London you can see what places sit on those and get an ideas of housing and infrastructure.

    maybe narrow those places to only the ones that have suitable NHS operations for the OH. 
    can your line of work be done in the NHS that might simplify options.


    looking further Scotland has been mentioned.
    As a city Glasgow has a lot to offer, good public transport, compact centre easy to get around with everything you need, and a variety of properties and areas(from very good to bad) withing sensible distances of everything you could ever want.
    there was a thread not so long ago that had this property mentioned
    .https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71747619.html
    up the budget with a modest £60k mortgage £300pm over 20y you can get a 3bed house
    The city is more expensive and looking at apartments but super handy for everything a lot walkable.

  • RelievedSheff
    RelievedSheff Posts: 12,690 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper Photogenic
    £90k would get you a freehold house in Sheffield. It won't be in the most desirable area of the city admittedly but it should be possible.

    We moved out of Sheffield to Worksop last year and you get a lot more house for your money. £90k would get you a nice house here and there are good transport links. You would have to be quick off the mark though as property in that price category does not hang around for long.

    https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1486&maxPrice=100000&index=48&propertyTypes=&includeSSTC=true&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=
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