Buying a flat/house in Birmingham

JReacher1

Stoke would be cheaper than Birmingham. Think you should quite easily be able to afford a decent two/three bedroom house in Stoke for what you can afford. If the full £60k is for the deposit then you’re looking at about £200k for a house. Can’t see that being an issue for you. 

elsien

I was about to say the same about the commute between Birmingham and Stoke. Absolutely not one I would want to be doing on the motorway during rush hour.
But that aside, personally I’d choose bits of Birmingham over Stoke as a place to live in the longer term.

JenniferZenn

@tealady : Thanks for your advice. currently working from home (in Birmingham with my family mostly) and will be doing so going forward (office building in Stoke is closed after Covid) . My contract with the rented house in Stoke is about to end this march. so not interested to live there anymore . Thanks for the recommendation for maintaining a list . I will do that for sure

JenniferZenn

Really appreciate all your response

JenniferZenn

@elsien : Yes true ! Work wise it wont be an issue as we have a base office in Birmingham too , if needed to work from office. But we wont be forced to as I always had the flexiblity to work from home even before covid

JenniferZenn

Any suggestions on the good area to look for in Birmingham (otherthan sutton coldfield) ? Main priority being secure and less crime rates.

SarahB16

JenniferZenn said:

Any suggestions on the good area to look for in Birmingham (otherthan sutton coldfield) ? Main priority being secure and less crime rates.

Pleased to hear you've decided to look to buy in Birmingham rather than Stoke.  As others have said a house is better than a flat and better to not buy via shared ownership.  

Is there a two-bed, doer-upper in an up and coming area in Birmingham. 

JenniferZenn

@SarahB16 : Thank you. Yes making point from all the responses in my notes to refine search .. so far in my notes..
One of my colleague has actual bought a house on shared ownership and she said they is better option than a mortagage as you can buy full property quickly and no increase of interest rates etc . Reason I was looking for shared ownership ..

Reg the two - bed , doer - upper in an up and coming area , haven't actually searched as I am not sure about the up & coming area in Birmingham & I can only afford for a one bed room I guess . I will do some google search on it now . Thanks for the advice.

Better- Search Criteria

1) House (than a flat)

2) Not Shared Ownership

3) Not LeaseHold

4) Areas to look - up & coming areas (doer upper)

elsien

@Doozergirl might have some ideas. 

MikeJXE

Tamworth area

Direct Trains to Birmingham and London