Trying to decide where to move to

~FlowerPot~

Hi there, 
Things are not looking great at the moment and DH and I are looking at divorce. We currently live in Hampshire. I am happy, keen even to move away. I need to find a 3 bedroom house for under £260.
Im self employed, we have 3 children. 1 at uni, 1 wondering around a bit lost! And 1 doing a levels. So once a levels are finished I want to go.
Im looking for recommendations of nice places to consider. I would really love somewhat with a good vibe, I'm into arts and history.
Help,!! 

Albermarle

Clearly you will have to move to a cheaper area, as Hampshire is very desirable.
However you should be able to find a 3 bed house for that amount of money, that is not in a rough area, but it is unlikely to be in the South East of the UK. 
Most places from Birmingham Northwards. Or you could go west to Wales.

There was a similar thread running recently. The circumstances are not the same but could give you some ideas.
Where to buy house for under 300K? — MoneySavingExpert Forum

EssexHebridean

Ah sorry to hear that FlowerPot - it must be a tough time.

You mention moving "away" but do you need to keep in consideration that it needs to be within manageable distance for your ex to travel to see your young adult children, and them to travel to see him? If so that might be more challenging, as your budget suggests that looking north night be a plan. 

In your current area you would appear to be limited to Southampton & Gosport as options - or at least, as easy options. A little further north and Somerset looks doable - a little further south and there are some possibilities on the Isle of wight if island living appeals!  Have a think where your family and friends are as well, with a view to making sure that travel is straightforward or at least not too tricky! 

~FlowerPot~

Albermarle said:

Clearly you will have to move to a cheaper area, as Hampshire is very desirable.
However you should be able to find a 3 bed house for that amount of money, that is not in a rough area, but it is unlikely to be in the South East of the UK. 
Most places from Birmingham Northwards. Or you could go west to Wales.

There was a similar thread running recently. The circumstances are not the same but could give you some ideas.
Where to buy house for under 300K? — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Hi there, thanks for your reply. Very happy to leave Hampshire, been here 9 years and never felt settled!
Ill look at that thread but I think the OP needed to be within an hour from London, thankfully I don't need that! 

~FlowerPot~

EssexHebridean said:

Ah sorry to hear that FlowerPot - it must be a tough time.

You mention moving "away" but do you need to keep in consideration that it needs to be within manageable distance for your ex to travel to see your young adult children, and them to travel to see him? If so that might be more challenging, as your budget suggests that looking north night be a plan. 

In your current area you would appear to be limited to Southampton & Gosport as options - or at least, as easy options. A little further north and Somerset looks doable - a little further south and there are some possibilities on the Isle of wight if island living appeals!  Have a think where your family and friends are as well, with a view to making sure that travel is straightforward or at least not too tricky! 

I suppose I need to consider the distance for ex to see the kids. But one has 4 years at uni, they've only just started and the oldest will hopefully be moving out with a couple of years and after a levels the youngest intends on uni. So I hadn't given it too much consideration oops! No family except mum and she's on south coast and that's way too expensive. Friends are limited, going to make new ones when I move!,! 
It will definitely not be Hampshire or isle Wight! Would happily go west but have struggled to see nice towns in my budget, so stayed looking north, but having lived in the very south, I don't really know which places are nice, just as a starting point! 

dreaming

Northamptonshire isn't too pricy in some parts and is a good central location with good links to London and Birmingham. It depends on whether you want a newer build ready to move into (plenty of building going on) or an older doer-upper. I love looking on Rightmove and you can filter for must-haves.

TripleH

Does your youngest have an inkling of where they might want to go to university (choosing a uni and getting in are very different events)? That could help identify places further afield. I assume the other 2 can't live with their father?

Finally, depending on your relationship wirh her ans siblings, is it worth you both relocating to somewhere together? If she has the family home still, it might be a good opportunity to downsize?

Remember, there's little point having a 4 bed house if 3 of those beds are only needed for 2 nights a year. Better a smaller house and an airbed etc.

Whatever you do, start with a list of must haves (garden, no. Bedrooms, parking, near train station etc) first, that way you have a good location, the house might not tick all the boxes, but you can alter a house to suit you,  not so easy with a train station.

Albermarle

~FlowerPot~ said:

EssexHebridean said:

Ah sorry to hear that FlowerPot - it must be a tough time.

You mention moving "away" but do you need to keep in consideration that it needs to be within manageable distance for your ex to travel to see your young adult children, and them to travel to see him? If so that might be more challenging, as your budget suggests that looking north night be a plan. 

In your current area you would appear to be limited to Southampton & Gosport as options - or at least, as easy options. A little further north and Somerset looks doable - a little further south and there are some possibilities on the Isle of wight if island living appeals!  Have a think where your family and friends are as well, with a view to making sure that travel is straightforward or at least not too tricky! 

I suppose I need to consider the distance for ex to see the kids. But one has 4 years at uni, they've only just started and the oldest will hopefully be moving out with a couple of years and after a levels the youngest intends on uni. So I hadn't given it too much consideration oops! No family except mum and she's on south coast and that's way too expensive. Friends are limited, going to make new ones when I move!,! 
It will definitely not be Hampshire or isle Wight! Would happily go west but have struggled to see nice towns in my budget, so stayed looking north, but having lived in the very south, I don't really know which places are nice, just as a starting point! 

It is often said that the South is prosperous, with pockets of deprivation, whilst the North is deprived with pockets of prosperity.
Most Northern ( and Midlands)  large towns and cities are 'post industrial' and are economically depressed. ( with a few nicer parts) . So cheap housing, but....
Rather than go to too far North, you could have a look South of Birmingham, such as Warwick or Worcester. Your budget might be just about enough,

Tracet74

Look at Devizes and the surrounding villages. A 3 bedroom house is achievable in your budget and also close enough that your kids can see their dad is so desired.

mark_cycling00

It could be a bit miserable starting again in a cheaper place which has some social problems is unfriendly to newcomers and could be lonely.

You only have one life and old age comes quicker than we like to think.

I'd consider a 2-bed in one of those cities/towns that's guaranteed to be arty and fun and friendly even if it takes time to develop a social life. 

Exclude London, Cambridge and Bath as prices are crazy.
But Manchester, Oxford, Cheltenham, Bournemouth, maybe Harrogate, Edinburgh have a wonderful arty culture and non-young people move there too

strawb_shortcake

I'm going to suggest Hereford, it's pleasant, it has history, it's home to Mappa Mundi, it also has an arts college and often has art exhibitions around the city. 
The prices are reasonable too and offer good value for money