maddie1959

Thank you

Moses2013

Pay can be very low these days in the UK, especially in that area. Falmouth & Truro won't have a load of high paid jobs and I suppose you nearly need two incomes these days to be able to afford a decent home down there. Great place though and really depends what you want. As a skilled office worker, you can probably expect 20K-25K. It would kind of work for couples who have saved hard and they'd manage with a low mortgage. You can probably find a small apartment or cottage for £600 pcm.

Moses2013

christmasoompa is certainly right that you can't compare to London. It's a different kind of life and just had another look at house prices
150K would get you a smaller semi in Truro.
2 bedroom semi-detached house for sale in Ventonlace, Grampound Road, Truro, TR2

MrMuffin

You may have found one house for 150K in Truro but I promise you that's not realistic. For anything half way decent you're looking at 300K minimum. 400K for something nice. And that's Truro. Falmouth is more expensive. You have to remember that Falmouth is a University town so rentals are at a premium. The terrace house next to us is split into student lets which go for 550 to 650 a month just for the single room. The whole house rents for over 2500 pcm. And again there are deals to be had but you won't be within easy walking of the town or the rail network.

My sister's house in Truro is a semi detached. It's very small but would sell for around 300K if it was on the market right now.

I'm not trying to be negative but I want you to have the real story down here.

In Falmouth there are some gorgeous old 1800's terrace properties on the market right now. They have sea views from upper rooms, are 5 minute walk from the town, the train, the University, parks etc. They are selling for between 450K and 550K. These are the Edwardian/Victorian terrace properties with large entertaining rooms downstairs, big bedrooms upstairs, room to expand, large front and rear gardens.

The more 'grotty' victorian terraces with tiny reception rooms, smaller bedrooms, very small yards, sometimes no front garden opening onto the street and no parking on site go for 250K to 300K and they need a LOT of work.

I hope this helps.

Moses2013

Well I did write: Falmouth & Truro won't have a load of high paid jobs and I suppose you nearly need two incomes these days to be able to afford a decent home down there.


It was just an example I found and you can find something if you're lucky, but of course not something great + in Truro. She won't be buying anyway:-) One of the reasons why we didn't return to the UK (that area in general) were the low salaries and lack of jobs in my field + high house prices.

Bud the Wiser

With wages being low and house prices being high, I would assume that it is not the locals who are buying these properties. Are they being bought for/by second homes/investors/retirees? Devon/Cornwall, ( Looe area ), is one of the options we are considering, buying outright as retirees. I just wonder if there is any resentment from the locals at being out priced in the market in their home towns, or do they welcome the investment.

MrMuffin

Like anywhere there is a wealthy sub-group of the community that are high earners in top positions or working out of the area. Then this area is a huge attractor to people wanting holiday homes that have made a fortune by sitting on their homes in the outskirts of the London area and beyond and have cash to play with.

The local community is still thriving luckily due mainly to the holiday makers and in Falmouth, the businesses tied to shipping etc. (I don't fully understand it yet). Tourism is massive.

The other wealthy people are multiple home owners that are renting out to the university community. Then as an add on to that, there are an amazing amount of contractors and tradespeople here... builders galore.

To answer directly (Bud the wiser) Lots of resentment particularly from younger family members that are being priced out of a place to live. But also the locals are happy that it's such a thriving community so there are lots of sides to the story.

maddie1959

oh the ugliness of reality ,Thats so depressing .
I'm single 58 and no job ,only about $10k in saving, plus I have no idea what I would be paid working for groups home schools etc as a Educator /behavior specialist . guess I will have to stay in the north ,until I look at job situation realistically .
thanks for your honesty its hurts but necessary to be realistic

Moses2013

Compared to other parts of England prices actually don't seem that high. How do people manage in London? They earn 2 to 3 times more, but you also pay 2 to 3 times more for a home.Had another look on Rightmove and there seemed to be plenty of properties under 250K. Of course they aren't villas and it might not be Falmouth, but there are cottages with gardens available not too far from coast. Something like this seems OK and affordable for a retired couple.
2 bedroom bungalow for sale in Valley View, St. Keyne, Liskeard, Cornwall, PL14

maddie1959

Its lovely I would be very happy in that house what a gorgeous garden !!!

kevntrace

Dartmouth, Torquay, Looe. Some other places that have or are near to beaches, and have decent sized towns with pubs, shops, restaurants etc. Not sure about the cost of accommodation.

Our 3 bed semi in Plymouth is worth about 180k. Plymouth prices have not risen too much compared to nearby areas such as the South Hams.

Plymouth has no beach, so would need a car to get to any of the decent beaches nearby (and there are quite a few).

MrMuffin

Sorry. Not trying to be a negative nelly but unfortunately I've already heard of people down here who can't make ends meet and have to give up on their 'Cornish dream.' I'm really having to think through how I approach the work market again after being freelance for so long in the USA. Hopefully I can pull a few things together and add a reasonable income to the family. We shall see.

Moses2013

It seems to be the same everywhere these days, not only in Cornwall. It's obviously a lot harder for single people and a 2nd income does make life much easier. One issue is also the exchange rate and $10K in savings would only be £6 1/2K, while in Euros it's over €9K. Luckily we're staying in Ireland, but let's say we had to go back to the UK now and sell up here, we'd get nothing in the UK for our Euros.

christmasoompa

No you don't, just get on the ferry to Cawsand! 3 fab beaches there and more within a walk (Whitsand Bay etc). A much nicer way to travel than sitting in a car.

I've just found this place, £130k for 3 beds, less than a mile from Cawsand if you wanted to be somewhere more scenic than Plymouth but have the option of getting there within 20 minutes - http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-34526856.html Not the prettiest of houses, but just using it as an illustration that there are lot of options there for less than £250k. This one is in Cawsand itself, so within a couple of minutes walk of beaches and in the prettiest village. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-34814286.html

This one shows how pretty the area is, and it's a lot more expensive but still I don't think £380k is too bad for a house right on the beach! http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...?premiumA=true

HTH.

Moses2013

What more would you need