Where is the cheapest NICE place to live

anguk

What about Durham? Lovely little city, good schools, excellent university, good rail links and only a short journey on the train to Newcastle. Surrounded by beautiful countryside and not too far from the coast. House prices are pretty good, obviously a bit higher if you're right in the city but if you're willing to live a mile or two out you can pick up a 4 bedroom detatched for about £150,000. Lots of nice little villages nearby with good, reasonable housing too.

Norma_Desmond

Definately HERE! Beautiful soul-enhancing scenery, real community spirit, low crime, gentle way of life, still 'reasonable' property prices, kids that are still excited about a days 'crabbing' off the beach.......the only downside is the employment situation; many jobs fall into the minimum wage bracket, so unless you have a particular skill or are self-employed......

VickyA_2

Lincolnshire, especially Horncastle, Louth, Lincoln (though I'm biased because I was born there). All the surrounding villages are so welcoming and have a fantastic community feel. My parents rent out a detached house in verg good condition in their village for £350 per month - 3 beds though, garden, garage. Local (good) secondary school picks up from in front of the house, primary school ditto.

MATH

I love Louth too and the surrounding area. Inland there are lots of little 'time forgot' villages and some of the most wonderful golden beaches in the country. House prices are very low compared to elsewhere. Crime is low, local schools have good ofstead reports and the people are lovely. The pace of life is much slower and the sea air fab for your health. The downside is that you do need a car to get anywhere. It is very rural and the road/bus/rail links are appalling. During the winter it is quite easy to become isolated and because it is a popular retirement area young families may miss the lack of facicilties and trendy shops. Supermarkets are slim on the ground, Tesco at Skeg and Asda at Grimsby, we're half an hour from either and during holiday season this can take up to 1 1/2 hrs each way. Many of the jobs are seasonal so employment in Lincs may be difficult (which is why we live out of two homes). The costal resorts can become a bit overrun with Burberry wearing Chavs during high season but this only lasts 4 weeks or so. It's great now they have gone!

Spendless

I live in Doncaster. Regeneration going on in the town, new airport just opened. Good transport links to other cities. House prices though have gone mad in last 4 years though i should imagine far lower than prices in the south. The areas that have the top secondary schools tend to be oversubscribed and it can be hard to get into the feeder primarys if you've already got school age children. Hence my reason for moving to catchment area before eldest reached 2.

Maisie

Ramsgate and Margate and Hastings are being regenerated and likely to the next property hotspots.

The_Biff

We holidayed in ALNWICK this year. Great place , near wonderful coast & country. Not too sure how much the houses are.

EdInvestor

Interesting to see how many people are mentioning the seaside.

BBC link on coastal hotspots

serpico

Interesting posts on Northern Ireland.

My wife and I retired over here three years ago to the Causeway Coaat North Antrim from rural Cheshire, would never ever return to the mainland UK.

The main advantages are.

The friendliest people in the world.
Community spirit still like the 40/50s in the UK still exists. Girls and Boys Brigade, community kids summer camps, community association, pensioners free christmas dinners, all manner of things that do not exist on the mainland.
Excellent schools with a traditional education system.
No Council tax we still have the old rating system.
No water rates, but that may change in a year or two, but not if the local politicians of all parties have there say.
Quality local home produce even in the supermarkets.
Very little traffic and pollution.
Wonderful countryside and coastlines.
Lowest crime rate in the Western World other than Japan. source United Nations woild survey on crime 2002. "England and Wales has the highest crime rate per head of population in the Western World. There is an average of 58 crimes every year for every 100 people. This is far worse than the U.S where there are 43 crimes per 100. England and Wales also has the worst figures for robberies, sex crimes violent crime, assaults and car theft N.I has 24 crimes per 100, Japan 22"

Disadvantages are

High car insurance, get a classic.
You have to use your common sense and do some research about were you choose to live in respect of religious persuasion etc in some areas but not all.

I live in a lane twelve miles longs on the outskirts of a village with just 250 assorted properties, farms, luxury homes, detached houses and bungalows and smallers semi's, usually just two together. locals inlude a retired couples from Denbigh and Buckingham, young Dentist from Stoke, Vet from Northwhich, an American, a couple from Glasgow, two more from Chorley, a young couple with two youngsters from Luton sold a flat and bought a four bed detached, huge garden and garage on of two houses and one bungalow surrounded by Countryside. The come overs are everywhere.

There are a large number of ex squaddies who served here during the troubles who moved over here after service because it was so much better than the mainland particularly for education.

My own drum cost £69,000 in 2002, belonged to a builder, 3 beds 2 reception large kitchen third of an acre of 3 seperate gardens, massive garage, I keep classic cars, workshop, garden shed, surrounded by farmland, just glance to my right through the window and fields as far as the eye can see.

The place was totally redecorated with new quality carpets and curtains to sell the sellers were going to Oz, the sale include everything even ladders and a trailer. Prices have risen mine has more than doubled, and still are rising. N.I was and still is so far behind the mainland, but you can still buy a brand new three bed semi with enough land to build a large garage for under £100K, and definately built to a higher standard than the mainlank junk.

I live close enough to the local village to walk for a paper every mornng, probably 100 people live there. I now know virtually everyone to speak to by name, I only knew three people in the lane of 18 houses in 16 years of living in Cheshire.

Been back over a few times it frightens the life out of me. Sure N.I has it's pockets of trouble but nothing like the mainland, it is well worth taking a look.

jezza1O1

well there are obviously many answers to that question... I can only comment on the SE unfortunately but just wanted to say that there are actually nice affordable areas around. I am in an area with beautiful hills, valleys, farms, etc where 3+4 bed houses are <300k and only a 30min commute to town. Simply perfect, I dont know why more people arent here... where exactly? Keeping that one to myself until Ive bought. But with several regeneration schemes ongoing or coming up I reckon peeps dont have to rule out the SE as an affordable, beautiful are to live.

Anyways, GL