Leanne Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 I'm intending to move house later this year. As a hypothetical exercise, I'm looking for a 3 bedroom cottage/house, with a big enough garden (or even better some land) to grow all my own veg,fruit trees, room for my dogs to run, for half a dozen chickens, etc. must have open fireplaces (and if possible an aga/rayburn!) Must be in countryside or a village, not in a town. you all know the kind of thing! my question is, approximately what would this cost in your part of the country please? many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted May 13, 2005 Share Posted May 13, 2005 Northumberland isn't as cheap as it used to be but very rural. Detatched houses with land tend to be larger than you are looking for I think - can get something very nice with 4 acres or so for less than £500,000 in the pretty bits or near market towns like Hexham or Alnwick. If you look on the outskirts of towns in the less pretty bits of the northeast and are prepared to have a semi or terraced house you can find some with very large gardens for considerably less, possilbly under £200,000. Even within a region, prices will vary considerably depending on location - ie you'll pay an awful lot less near Hartlepool than Hexham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 Prices in Cheshire have rocketed in the last 5 years, and it would be hard to find a property with your criteria for less than £700,000, I am in the property business and am always looking at prices of properties that go on the market. The village I live in has been over developed and it is hard to find a property with land for under 1 million pounds...........Jeff and I have been looking for somewhere with land for about 2 years now and there are only 2 properties that meet our criteria in Lymm, one is a new build and my dream house but is going for a hefty 1.3 million and the other property which is a run down farm with 6 acres is on the market for 1.1 million. Good luck with your search from experience and if you have the know how buy something that has potential to extend or renovate, and you will make a good profit when you sell, check out some of the web sites and see where the next property hotspots are, if you buy wisely you can't lose with property....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leanne Posted May 14, 2005 Author Share Posted May 14, 2005 thanks nicola and jane! all replies gratefully received. I'm not sure where will be going yet, there are so many factors to take into acount. But this is a useful exercise in getting an overview of areas, so thanks to anyone who posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 Hi Leanne, I'm in Kent, & whilst my particular area can only be described as suburban (if you're being kind ) there are beautiful rural areas deeper into Kent. But many of them are mindblowingly expensive, although it depends on area. I've not got any property pages handy, so I can't really give you accurate figures now, but if you were looking down here I could look out for details and post more accurate info. Or, send property pages to you for ideas. Nicola, your comments about Lymm will have my mother weeping. My early childhood was in Lymm, we had a 3 bed semi (I think) with what seemed to quite a generous sized garden (although I suppose things often seem bigger in memory). We moved when I was 10 though, to Lancashire, to a nice enough house, but it's probably only worth 200 thousand now, something that Mum's moaning about as she wants to move South but could only afford a shoebox down here with what her home's worth up there. Kate A Sage Onion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 This area is pretty much the same as Cheshire - we have been looking as well! We found a lovely house with 23 acres for 1.2 million and there are some with a couple of acres for around 900,000 to 1.1 million. There is one on the edge of a village with 'large grounds' for less than our house is worth - we are going to drive out later on our way to the tip, to have a look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 Hi Leanne, Prices around here are ridiculous; can't imagine offspring ever being able to afford to move out! Guess that applies from here southwards. Bedfordshire has some lovely towns & villages. Not up to date on prices; they vary according to local amenities & travel routes but might be a good place to look. Or Northamptonshire? I would also try Wiltshire or Somerset...Georgian rectory with orchards! Again, not sure of prices but land cheaper than here, depending on locality. Hope you enjoy the research & that the right thing comes up at the right time, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*al Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 Have you tried looking on a website like http://www.findaproperty.com? I think it covers most of the UK and would give you an idea of prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 A nice 3 bed cottage in a village in Devon with features + some land would be (very roughly) £250K (for a small cott + good garden) to £400K + (for somewhere with a paddock/land). Obviously you can also easily spend a lot more if you want ... or if you went for somewhere with all the above plus a sea view you could add another couple hundred thousand. Much depends on the popularity of the village/proximity to coast. Picturesque villages/hamlets near to cultural hotspots or surfing communities tend to attract a premium. 3 bed new build/estate houses are about 180 - 300K I think. The prices in Cornwall are similar. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leanne Posted May 14, 2005 Author Share Posted May 14, 2005 thanks for the posts so far. The aim of this exercise was to gauge the regional position. We’ll definitely be moving from here, but where to go? Up to a certain price we can buy cash and be mortgage free. This would reduce the need to stay near current work, but moving further would mean leaving my kids behind, which in some ways would be a tremendous wrench for me, and in others a blessed relief! (only joking!) just the two of us would reduce normal week to week living costs, so we wouldn’t need to earn as much, however sticking to this cash amount would limit the areas we could look in, and maybe what we could buy. Would buying outright reduce mortgage stress, or would the stress of looking for work in traditionally-lower employment areas just create a different stress? Because of recent serious illness in the family I am eager for as less worry/stress as possible On the other hand, do we stay near work,and job/pension security, take on a mortgage, and buy a bit more than we could afford otherwise? Do we think with our hearts or our heads? has anyone else had this type of decision to make? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 14, 2005 Share Posted May 14, 2005 Leanne - can't help much as we're in the same position. I spent years trying to talk Carl into moving to France and he now wants to but I have grandchildren in same village as us and both sets of parents are getting older We've also just spent a small fortune getting this house as we like it........... Difficult isn't it - hopefully someone who is more helpful will come along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 If you have looked at the citychicken site you could be left thinking I love living in the city and enjoy the challenge of living the country life a 20 min walk from M&S and John Lewis. Well yes, up to a point and it has been great for the kids being able to walk to school and do lots of extra curricular things and they love living in the city as does OH. However, there is a part of me, growing as youngest has just over one year before leaving school, that is desperate to get out into the countryside - as in seriously rural - very easy to do in Northumberland. Problem is OH considers his 7 mile cycle to work (20 mins and he gets to boast about his 'green' credentials) as a long commute so would freak out at a 40 min car drive (yes I can hear those of you in the southeast rolling round on the floor) In the meantime I read the property papers and lust! there is at the moment a farmhouse with 6 acres on the edge of the national park for less than the value of our present house and we paid off our mortgage last year. I am so tempted to have a look at it. These lifestyle decisions are really difficult - especially when you have to satisfy the needs of different members of a family and then have extended family to consider. If it is any help for those of you with grandchildren, my parents have been 220 miles away for virtually all of my children's lives but they have a very close relationship. The kids used to spend 2 or 3 weeks with them, and without us, every summer, often going to France with them and their cousin and this really formed a strong bond that was kept up the rest of the year with some (but not many because of orchestra committments) weekend visits or a few days at easter/christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jangle Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Buckinghamshire is hideously expensive to buy in. The sort of place that Leanne described would sell for £800,000+ here, even if you could find one. The OH and I have been discussing moving again to a place with a bit more land (although we only moved last August) but would have to go quite a way north of Wycombe (where we both work) to find what we wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Hi Leanne, I used to live in Oxford but I have been in the borders now for - gosh almost 5 years Doesn't time fly. I can thouroughly recomend this part of the world as even the little towns more or less are very scenic there is a website http://www.espc.co.uk they cover quite a large area. Depending on how easy it is to travel to edinburgh there are still some bargains to be had. Down side is the cold in the winter it doesn't bother me as I will wrap up and snuggle down by the fire with a cat but if you don't like the cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 around here (near preston, lancs), probably about £400,000, but i just seen one in the paper that's going for £395,000 in lovely hesketh bank, detached, 3 bedroom, 2 acres. looks nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I live in Moray Scotland. House prices are quite rasonable here. For example a couple of weeks ago I was interested in a 3 bed cottage with over 2 acres of land, a enormous cow byre , With fantadtic views of surrounding area down to the Moray Firth coast and the mountains of Sutherland beyond. Offers over £50.000!!!!!! Also a small three bed cottage further inland with just over 3 acres of land. Offers over £70.000!!!! Needless to say these properties were sold before I could get my house on the market. I'm still looking and hope to move very soon. Both properties need work doing to them but who cares at that price. By the way i'm not a guest. I have registeed but it never seems to work when i log in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I've always fancied living in Scotland! Sounds like I can afford to as well!! We very nearly upped sticks and moved to the Hebrides last year but OH got a better job down here instead . I'd have loved the isolation up there. Good luck with your house hunting and don't worry about the log in - it can be a bit of an awkward beastie sometimes . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I would thouroughly recommend life North of the Border its wonderful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I'm a "new" Scot of 14 years originally from Nottingham. Living near the sea it very rarely snows or gets frosty in the winter. Being so far north we only have about 3 hours of true darkness at night time in the summer. Seeing the Northern Lights is a sight to behold! Property does get snapped up very quickly and buyers do offer well over the asking prices. Buying property is slightly different in Scotland to down South. The examples I gave do not come up very often but I shall keep on waiting and hoping. This is a good place to look www.spcmoray.com if you are interested. Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I'm an old scot who was moved down south and took 20 years to come back and now I am back wild horses won't take me south again. In scotland you can offer well over the guide price and not get the house. I went after about 4 before i got the one I'm in and I only got it because of the tatty extension which I had removed. The more work need done the better your chances of getting it!! Having said that it really is the best place to live it doesn't matter how bad a day I have the drive home is so scenic it completely takes it away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Oh and I forgot to mention watching the Bottlenosed Dolphins playing in the sea where I live. But sshhh! Don't say any more Louise or everyone will want to live in Scotland and house prices will soar!!! Ali I Wish I could log in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Ali thanks for the link now I will never get anything done for looking at all the property, you can get some nice places to renovate with lots of land now you have me thinking..................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Ali and Louise - go and find something to do and stop making me so jealous !!! Bottlenose dolphins and scenery? I don't think I need to say that we don't get much of either round here ! One day I'll get to live up there! In the meantime I'll have to satisfy myself with holidays instead. We've been up and stayed in an old converted railway station not far from Hawick and a croft on the edge of Loch Ewe near Ullapool but that's it so far . Hopefully the Hebrides next year . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katie Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 i used to look after 2 ponies from down the road, until they moved (with their owners!) to scotland - gatehouse of fleet, dumfries. after 1yr theyre still renting and still trying to look for a place to buy with land. house prices have gone up so much, and they say that you at least pay 40% over the original price. theyve put lots of offers in, but other people have come in with a lot more money than them and snapped them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louise Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Alot of the problem is that when you are not used to the system you look at places with a higher guide price than you should as you then put in offers which are not enough to secure the place. I put in an offer 50% above the guide price once and still didn't get it I was so upset but I have a nice house now and am glad I didn't get it so maybe it was meant to be I always worry that I will be forced down south again for work but if I am I won't sell and move I would rather rent as the prices have gone up so much since I bought there is no chance of me getting a nice palce like that again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
