Safe places to live in Birmingham

Doozergirl

LittleMax said:

Falafels said:

Doozergirl said:

anedu said:

Makes sense to consider commute time instead of the number of miles. I heard Bromsgrove is a rough place, isn't it?
I don't work at the hospital but we do have a subsidised parking. 

You're the only person I've ever heard refer to Bromsgrove as rough.  It's nothing of the sort!   

Far from being rough, Bromsgrove’s a gentle market town! Catshill’s right on top of the M5 and the M42.

Bromsgrove would be on my list over and above Coventry.  But depends on the time needing to travel to Leicester - in a pre-covid rush hour I would not want to be doing Bromsgrove - Leicester on a regular basis.

I agree.  

I'd be less keen on doing Coventry to Harborne though.     

Living in Harborne and commuting to Coventry is against traffic and Harborne is varied in terms of amenity.  The other way would be painful.  

Scotbot

Deleted_User said:

Scotbot said:

Deleted_User said:

Scotbot said:

Deleted_User said:

Scotbot said:

Deleted_User said:

Scotbot said:

Deleted_User said:

Scotbot said:

Deleted_User said:

I don't know Birmingham that well to advise but I am from the Warwickshire area. Have you considered the outskirts of B'Ham, like Solihull? And some outer parts of Coventry like Meriden, Balsall common are quite nice, although maybe a bit far out? 

You can forget a house in Solihull for less than 250k.  

I think you're mistaken 

theres 192 results for 3 bed detached/semi/terraced houses for under 250k in Solihull

If you stick Solihull into rightmove it appears to pick up anwhere covered by the council including Chelnsley Wood, Acocks Green and Marston Green. None of which would be considered  Solihull by locals.

What locals perceive to be part of their Borough and what technically is, can differ somewhat  

Which is presumably why the OP is asking for advice!

Yes, presumably, which is why I feel that comments such as "You can forget a house in Solihull for less than 250k." are not overly helpful, and quite incorrect. 

Ok to be specific the town of Solihull ( postcode B91) is a pleasant  affluent area considered upmarket by many. A 3 bed house will cost you more than 250k.The town of Solihull should not be confused with the borough of Solihull which is a much wider area and in many cases nowhere near as desirable. Although Hampton in Arden  B92 is lovely but even  500 k won't go very far there

The OP's not after an affluent/ upmarket area and i'm sure is well aware that they would struggle for that with their budget. 

They specifically said they want somewhere safe with a nice community. You don't need to be in the most affluent/upmarket areas to get that. 

Which is why I recommended looking at Coventry

But I don't understand how you can recommend Coventry and in the same thread disregard a large majority of Solihull on the basis its not as upmarket or affluent as the small area that makes up the town. 

Because I think Coventry offers better value. It's not under the flight path either which much of Marston Green is.  It's the OPs choice they can go and look and decide, ultimately it will be a trade off between commute time and budget.
This article gives an indication of why I would not want to live in Chelmsley Wood

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/living-chelmsley-wood-could-knock-14264217

missdzhang

Hi. I can highly recommend Moseley, a very nice suburb south of the city.

Sphynx

I wouldn’t live in Chelmsley either. You have to be careful with Coventry. Allesley Park is nice and there is a newish development near there which is also fine. It’s right on the A45 as well which helps with commuting and not far from Tile Hill for trains. 

You are pretty ok with that side of the city in general, so Coundon, Chapelfields and Earlsdon (though Earlsdon is pricy). DM me if you need help with Coventry OP

Flo87

I wouldn`t recommend Coleshill at the moment because it became a little more posh Chelmsley Wood, I`m living in Coleshill for 5 years and day by day it`s getting more worse.  

krusty101

anedu said:

Doozergirl said:

Deleted_User said:

Scotbot said:

Deleted_User said:

I don't know Birmingham that well to advise but I am from the Warwickshire area. Have you considered the outskirts of B'Ham, like Solihull? And some outer parts of Coventry like Meriden, Balsall common are quite nice, although maybe a bit far out? 

You can forget a house in Solihull for less than 250k.  

I think you're mistaken 

theres 192 results for 3 bed detached/semi/terraced houses for under 250k in Solihull

There's some pretty riffy areas that fall under Solihull. 

OP, just looking at commute times, I think you're better off looking at commuting time rather than the number of miles from Leicester. The closer you get to the motorway, even going South, there's little impact on travel times.  

I was thinking of Stirchley & Cotteridge but also of Longbridge or even Catshill in Bromsgrove as it's bang next to the motorway.  

Harborne is an interesting place to have to commute to.  Parking is a pig.  Are you at the hospital? 

Makes sense to consider commute time instead of the number of miles. I heard Bromsgrove is a rough place, isn't it?
I don't work at the hospital but we do have a subsidised parking. 

Aargh Bromsgrove isn’t rough! I’m biased as I grew up there. Boring but not rough. Decent transport links with the motorway and now more frequent trains (pre COVID anyway). 

My partner is about to put his 3 bed on the market in Bournville. Nice area, leafy. I’m not trying to flog it - he’s currently buying his lease from Bournville Village Trust. 

krusty101

krusty101 said:

anedu said:

Doozergirl said:

Deleted_User said:

Scotbot said:

Deleted_User said:

I don't know Birmingham that well to advise but I am from the Warwickshire area. Have you considered the outskirts of B'Ham, like Solihull? And some outer parts of Coventry like Meriden, Balsall common are quite nice, although maybe a bit far out? 

You can forget a house in Solihull for less than 250k.  

I think you're mistaken 

theres 192 results for 3 bed detached/semi/terraced houses for under 250k in Solihull

There's some pretty riffy areas that fall under Solihull. 

OP, just looking at commute times, I think you're better off looking at commuting time rather than the number of miles from Leicester. The closer you get to the motorway, even going South, there's little impact on travel times.  

I was thinking of Stirchley & Cotteridge but also of Longbridge or even Catshill in Bromsgrove as it's bang next to the motorway.  

Harborne is an interesting place to have to commute to.  Parking is a pig.  Are you at the hospital? 

Makes sense to consider commute time instead of the number of miles. I heard Bromsgrove is a rough place, isn't it?
I don't work at the hospital but we do have a subsidised parking. 

Aargh Bromsgrove isn’t rough! I’m biased as I grew up there. Boring but not rough. Decent transport links with the motorway and now more frequent trains (pre COVID anyway). 

My partner is about to put his 3 bed on the market in Bournville. Nice area, leafy. I’m not trying to flog it - he’s currently buying his lease from Bournville Village Trust. 

For about £200 I should have said. 

krusty101

krusty101 said:

krusty101 said:

anedu said:

Doozergirl said:

Deleted_User said:

Scotbot said:

Deleted_User said:

I don't know Birmingham that well to advise but I am from the Warwickshire area. Have you considered the outskirts of B'Ham, like Solihull? And some outer parts of Coventry like Meriden, Balsall common are quite nice, although maybe a bit far out? 

You can forget a house in Solihull for less than 250k.  

I think you're mistaken 

theres 192 results for 3 bed detached/semi/terraced houses for under 250k in Solihull

There's some pretty riffy areas that fall under Solihull. 

OP, just looking at commute times, I think you're better off looking at commuting time rather than the number of miles from Leicester. The closer you get to the motorway, even going South, there's little impact on travel times.  

I was thinking of Stirchley & Cotteridge but also of Longbridge or even Catshill in Bromsgrove as it's bang next to the motorway.  

Harborne is an interesting place to have to commute to.  Parking is a pig.  Are you at the hospital? 

Makes sense to consider commute time instead of the number of miles. I heard Bromsgrove is a rough place, isn't it?
I don't work at the hospital but we do have a subsidised parking. 

Aargh Bromsgrove isn’t rough! I’m biased as I grew up there. Boring but not rough. Decent transport links with the motorway and now more frequent trains (pre COVID anyway). 

My partner is about to put his 3 bed on the market in Bournville. Nice area, leafy. I’m not trying to flog it - he’s currently buying his lease from Bournville Village Trust. 

For about £200 I should have said. 

£200k I should have said!

NaughtiusMaximus

JonMitchell said:

This website will give you an indication of area to stay clear or live in - the depreviation index goes from super red (avoid) to super green (nice places but likely more expensive properties)
https://vis.oobrien.com/booth/  

Grumpelstiltskin said:

Be a little bit wary of that.
Zooming right in my little cul de sac is bright orange, I don't think so. Detached with at least 2 cars on every drive, don't know how they came by bright orange.

I would be VERY wary of that to the point of ignoring it.

Both the area we used to live in (big problems with antisocial behaviour and petty crime, house prices well below the average for Birmingham) and the area my MiL lives, (quiet neighbourhood with no trouble at all in the 30+ years she's lived there and house prices slightly above average) are showing as being in the 2nd worst decile. Where we we live now which I would rate as similar to MiL's area is in the 7th decile.

Back to the original question, house prices are generally cheaper in the Black Country than in Brum for equivalent areas, although it would be longer commute to Leicester. Halesowen would be a good option, the nice parts outnumber the bad and it's convenient for the M5.

leonj

Tamworth is the place for you