Larger/nicer and cheaper house in a "bad" town, or smaller and more expensive in good town

MalMonroe

I agree with JReacher1. Burnley's not at all bad! One of my best friends comes from there. Granted she moved away but she only moved to be nearer to her family and not because Burnley is bad.

Where did you get the info that Burnley is considered one of the worst towns of the UK? You might be interested in this recent list of the ten worst places to live in the UK - Burnley does not appear.

https://www.countryliving.com/uk/homes-interiors/property/a38671598/worst-places-to-live-uk/

Location, though for me, is key. I once bought a lovely house in what I thought was a lovely location, backing on to a playing field and a park (big mistake - it was always empty when I visited the property but after I moved in it was a totally different story), a minute's walk from open countryside, etc. After I moved in I received nothing but harassment from local youths. Visited their parents, who were just as bad as their kids and just ignored my pleas to control their children. I can hardly believe it now (living in a much better place) but I used to phone the police on a regular basis. The times my car was damaged (no garage, couldn't even leave it on the street though, the vandalism was so bad) was beyond a joke. I still don't know why I was targeted. Thankfully after a few years of hell I managed to afford to escape to a better location and now have a great home with lovely, thoughtful neighbours and haven't had any need to contact any cops. 

A couple of years after I moved though, a gang of local youths threw a brick at one of my ex-neighbours when he went out to ask them not to be so noisy. It hit his head and killed him. 

I know that sounds extreme but it happened. So just take care. . . 

MalMonroe

JReacher1 said:

Burnley isn’t that bad! I know people who live there and it’s like all northern towns. Some bits are ok and some bits aren’t. 

I have to say that it's ALL cities and towns in the UK, not just northern ones. They all have good and bad areas. Even London, where the queen lives . . . 

deannagone

I'd do more research into the local neighbourhood.  I've lived in good neighbourhoods within bad areas and not had enormous problems.  I've never been able to afford even renting in a good area.  The one time I didn't live in a good neighbourhood within a bad area (bad neighbourhood within bad area) - my life was hell.  

I'd recommend talking to the neighbours, asking them for their experiences, think about if you'd be comfortable there.  Spend some time there.  Find a local facebook page, ask questions. If its a really bad area and neighbourhood, definitely don't move there, the normal rules we live by don't apply and unless you are a thug yourself, you won't do well.

bouicca21

How small is small?  Personally I can’t abide not having lots of space.  What are the facilities in the neighbourhood?  I like to know that somewhere to buy some milk is within a ten minute walk.  Ditto a station.  And how bad is bad?  Burnt out cars on the street corner? Drug dealers on every street?  Feral children?

it all comes down to the sort of life style you want/aspire to.

RelievedSheff

Smaller house in a better location every time.

The location is one thing you can not change about a house.

TripleH

When we were renting in the centre of Manchester, my wife's BIL was agast about where we lived because it was as carp as possible.

Problem is he knew it 25+ years ago when he lived there and a lot of regeneration had taken place. You didn't however have to venture far to get to 'much poorer areas'

andy444

There's a maxim in the property development game that "It's better to buy the worst house in the best street rather than the best house in the worst street." And the same is true for buying your own place.

But whilst I've never been to Burnley, I'm guessing that there's loads of places worse than it.

aoleks

it's usually two camps: location, location, location and potential/value for money etc.

all I'm saying is don't judge an area by its reputation. yes, if you were to buy in blackpool or jaywick, you know it will be a getto and whatever you do to the house, it won't be worth much.

but don't treat every area the same and go and have a look for yourself. I lived in many "rough" areas that turned out to be just your typical London suburb with friendly people, safe streets and the kind of neighbours you would expect everywhere. in this country, people easily label something as a shithole and it's a bit of a shame.

onylon

I wouldn't put much weight on the reputation of the town, especially if the street/area you are looking at is nice. I would check house price trends, crime stats, insurance costs and local amenities for the area near the house.

I chose a nicer house in a new industrial town, over a smaller place in a very pretty historic town. I have no regrets and I like the new area much more than I though I would. 

Silvertabby

We live in a (compact) 4 bed detached on the edge of a lovely little market town.  For less money, we could have bought a 5 bed/3 bathroom/double garage detached 20 miles away.  There was a reason we didn't.