Property situation in North & Central Devon/North Somerset

martindow

Davesnave said:

I offered my card to pay for fish & chips in Bampton last Friday and they looked at me like I was from the Moon.

"Cash only" the girl said, and then added "we're very backward here!"

That's Bampton for you - traditional compared with hoity-toity Dulverton up the road.

Davesnave

martindow said:

Davesnave said:

I offered my card to pay for fish & chips in Bampton last Friday and they looked at me like I was from the Moon.

"Cash only" the girl said, and then added "we're very backward here!"

That's Bampton for you - traditional compared with hoity-toity Dulverton up the road.

Kirton's (Crediton) quite workaday and we pay for fish & chips there by card because they encourage it. Mind you, the owners are very Covid-conscious. They wear full face visors and it's all decked out with yellow and black tape like a nuclear facility. The built in seats have been cordoned off and patrons have to wait outside until called.

It's a measure of how good the product is that they're still busy....well, that and the temper of the lady in the Chinese across the road, who apparently rages if you don't have the right money!

Murphybear

There’s lots of useful advice here.

If you really want to be rural you have to accept the downside.  Long journey to shops and Drs/hospitals, other facilities.  You won’t find many houses in rural areas have gas central heating and oil is more expensive plus you have to keep a strict eye in the levels.  It does snow in Devon although not as much as the rest of the country.  We have friends who live in the back of beyond and were marooned for 2 weeks.  

we lived on the outskirts of Tiverton for years, a small town in central Devon.  Because it is not touristy it is a lot more reasonably priced.  Has reasonable facilities, excellent GPs good leisure centre and supermarkets.  There’s lots of villages in the surrounding areas.

martindow

I agree with murphy that mid-Devon has a lot going for it.  It is places on or near the coast that have increased prices compared to moving inland.  You also tend to avoid the crowds and traffic that blight some touristy places in the summer.

Davesnave

martindow said:

I agree with murphy that mid-Devon has a lot going for it.  It is places on or near the coast that have increased prices compared to moving inland.  You also tend to avoid the crowds and traffic that blight some touristy places in the summer.

Yes, it's a little wild and woolly in winter, but there are compensations. This is an evening view near our place, and we don't qualify as an AONB, National Park or anything fancy; we're just 'normal.'

carolbee

I’m following this, as would like to move nearer family, who have just relocated to Devizes. We don't need to be in same town, but have visited, and liked places mentioned. Would like to be able to access Tarka Trail without driving to it, can’t do anything fo various reasons until 2022.

Murphybear

thriftytracey said:

I don't want to live next door to the sea but can't believe the prices 

https://www.onthemarket.com/details/10343512/?r-alert-email-id=215b8b2e-6fab-4b66-88ea-0c8fd5af822e&r-saved-search-id=sbLl8PxO79/tCfjBUHPhrUczjcv4+WTjuZux51OHH+U=&r-user-id=4KEYfHdfb8EBh4miow0Ci0gVcn1ubZfb7j3CQJMALxg=&utm_campaign=property_alert&utm_content=20210425&utm_medium=email&utm_source=property_alert&utm_term=r0m

£425,000 in Appledore for a bungalow that would need complete renovation including a new boiler by the look of it.

Appledore is expensive.  Bideford is usually more reasonable.  North Devon  is cheaper than South Devon.  Mid Devon is usually cheaper than both.

Few tips.  You said the more rural the better.  This sounds fine but you need to be aware of a few things.  You won’t find gas central heating in rural areas unless you want Calor gas and that is expensive and can be a pain in the wotsit.  Most Properties will have oil central heating which can also be a pain.  You may find mobile reception patchy and broadband can be difficult.  We lived for 6 months on a farm close to Dartmoor.  The walls were 3 ft thick and no mobile reception.  Only BT would offer broadband which was patchy.  We had a log burner which is often on top of everyone’s “must have” list but it can be a bit of a hassle.  Nearest shops and Drs can be a bit of a drive.

Sorry if I sound a bit negative but living in the wilds is not always what it’s cracked up to be.  There are lots of positives, peace, quiet, lovely views, lovely walks and drives, low pollution, no noisy neighbours etc.

We lived for years on the edge of a market town in mid Devon.  It was near enough rural to have the benefits plus a few shops and medical services.

One final thing, it does snow here occasionally 

ps forgot I had already posted on this early in May

AnotherJoe

thriftytracey said:

I don't want to live next door to the sea but can't believe the prices 

https://www.onthemarket.com/details/10343512/?r-alert-email-id=215b8b2e-6fab-4b66-88ea-0c8fd5af822e&r-saved-search-id=sbLl8PxO79/tCfjBUHPhrUczjcv4+WTjuZux51OHH+U=&r-user-id=4KEYfHdfb8EBh4miow0Ci0gVcn1ubZfb7j3CQJMALxg=&utm_campaign=property_alert&utm_content=20210425&utm_medium=email&utm_source=property_alert&utm_term=r0m

£425,000 in Appledore for a bungalow that would need complete renovation including a new boiler by the look of it.

You might as well complain that Sandbanks is expensive and therefore all Hampshire is.

Davesnave

Murphybear said:

thriftytracey said:

I don't want to live next door to the sea but can't believe the prices 

https://www.onthemarket.com/details/10343512/?r-alert-email-id=215b8b2e-6fab-4b66-88ea-0c8fd5af822e&r-saved-search-id=sbLl8PxO79/tCfjBUHPhrUczjcv4+WTjuZux51OHH+U=&r-user-id=4KEYfHdfb8EBh4miow0Ci0gVcn1ubZfb7j3CQJMALxg=&utm_campaign=property_alert&utm_content=20210425&utm_medium=email&utm_source=property_alert&utm_term=r0m

£425,000 in Appledore for a bungalow that would need complete renovation including a new boiler by the look of it.

We lived for years on the edge of a market town in mid Devon.  It was near enough rural to have the benefits plus a few shops and medical services.

I think that's the trick for the best value, especially if the town has a good sized supermarket. Mine doesn't, but it does have an accessible doctors and dentist, which is more than many places could claim in the past few months, judging by what I've read!

lincroft1710

AnotherJoe said:

thriftytracey said:

I don't want to live next door to the sea but can't believe the prices 

https://www.onthemarket.com/details/10343512/?r-alert-email-id=215b8b2e-6fab-4b66-88ea-0c8fd5af822e&r-saved-search-id=sbLl8PxO79/tCfjBUHPhrUczjcv4+WTjuZux51OHH+U=&r-user-id=4KEYfHdfb8EBh4miow0Ci0gVcn1ubZfb7j3CQJMALxg=&utm_campaign=property_alert&utm_content=20210425&utm_medium=email&utm_source=property_alert&utm_term=r0m

£425,000 in Appledore for a bungalow that would need complete renovation including a new boiler by the look of it.

You might as well complain that Sandbanks is expensive and therefore all Hampshire is.

Sandbanks is in Dorset!