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-   -   Location, location, location (https://britishexpats.com/forum/rovers-return-111/location-location-location-713589/)

bandrui Apr 16th 2011 9:51 pm

Location, location, location
 
Hi,
I didn't want to hijack Fatcat's thread about Where to relocate to in the Uk so decided to start my own.
I spend copious amounts of time looking at books, Rightmove and the net but the more I look, the more confused I become.
Though it would be nice to be by the sea, there doesn't seem to be much left that's both picturesque, not resort-y and still accessible to other areas. I seem to keep coming back to areas around the Salisbury plain.
Edges of Salisbury would be great but I am not finding anything suitable in my price range.
I would like to be close to other artists, especially textile artists and was encouraged last night to find the Wylye valley art trail which links artists around that area.
I would like to find a character property with large garden area/land with studio space that has access to the coast (an hour's drive), Salisbury plain, rail links in a picturesque setting at a reasonable price < $200,000. I know... good luck! Right?
Any suggestions welcomed. Who has info about Warminster and surrrounding areas? Good villages, etc.? I like Marlborough as a town and have been enjoying the thread about Wiltshire villages.
I am very partial to the Cotswolds but it's pricey and would have to give up reasonable access to the coast, nevertheless...
I am beginning to feel that I am only going to find the right area by travelling around when I am there.
Anyway, just thought I would put this out there again.

ann m Apr 16th 2011 11:40 pm

Re: Location, location, location
 
Do you mean 200,000 canadian dollars, or 200,000 British Pounds. I think you'll struggle for what you seek on either to be honest, anywhere in the south of the country :unsure:

bandrui Apr 17th 2011 4:32 am

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by ann m (Post 9309410)
Do you mean 200,000 canadian dollars, or 200,000 British Pounds. I think you'll struggle for what you seek on either to be honest, anywhere in the south of the country :unsure:

200,000 GBP. I have found that there are many in this price range and have some in my Rightmove folder (not that they will be available when I move) but I have such a list of requirements that makes it a lot more difficult. Right now, I am mainly looking for suggestions of community, villages, areas that might fit the criteria.

Bevm Apr 17th 2011 3:57 pm

Re: Location, location, location
 
The north is generally cheaper than the south. I think there are places on or near the south Yorkshire coast that might be possible. As for older property, if you don't need parking there are some lovely old houses in towns that are cheaper because of that factor. Some friends in Whitby have a really quaint old house down an alley with a garden. But no hope of parking a car anywhere nearby.

Staithes on the north coast is an artist colony sort of place, and again very car unfriendly. But pretty. Poor local transport, though.

I'm not sure why this Whitby property is so cheap, but you'd have lots of cash to spare, and Whitby's a very interesting place. Cold, though, and somewhat cut off as far as transportation goes.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-33301853.html

Just for reference.


Bev

bandrui Apr 17th 2011 11:28 pm

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by Bevm (Post 9310205)
The north is generally cheaper than the south. I think there are places on or near the south Yorkshire coast that might be possible. As for older property, if you don't need parking there are some lovely old houses in towns that are cheaper because of that factor. Some friends in Whitby have a really quaint old house down an alley with a garden. But no hope of parking a car anywhere nearby.

Staithes on the north coast is an artist colony sort of place, and again very car unfriendly. But pretty. Poor local transport, though.

I'm not sure why this Whitby property is so cheap, but you'd have lots of cash to spare, and Whitby's a very interesting place. Cold, though, and somewhat cut off as far as transportation goes.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-...-33301853.html

Just for reference.


Bev

Hi Bev, Really appreciate the info but it's the South for me. I am primarily looking at Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire. I would add Oxfordhire, Dorset and Hants but the prices start going up there.

sallysimmons Apr 18th 2011 2:00 am

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by bandrui (Post 9309303)
Hi,

I am beginning to feel that I am only going to find the right area by travelling around when I am there.

This is what we plan to do. We are going to rent in Kendal initially, a town we know we like that sits in the most beautiful part of England (bar none!) But then we plan to spend some time exploring and traveling before we decide where to settle for the rest of our lives.

I think moving such a long way and uprooting your life is stressful enough without piling on the stress of choosing the perfect town to live in. And if you choose from so far away you're bound to find that you made a mistake and that some other town is much more suitable.

I've made three international moves now and I've always rented to begin with.

bandrui Apr 18th 2011 3:23 am

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by sallysimmons (Post 9310885)
This is what we plan to do. We are going to rent in Kendal initially, a town we know we like that sits in the most beautiful part of England (bar none!) But then we plan to spend some time exploring and traveling before we decide where to settle for the rest of our lives.

I think moving such a long way and uprooting your life is stressful enough without piling on the stress of choosing the perfect town to live in. And if you choose from so far away you're bound to find that you made a mistake and that some other town is much more suitable.

I've made three international moves now and I've always rented to begin with.

I agree Sally. That is certainly what I shall end up doing, or staying with my cousin in Devizes, but I am looking for some "inside" information on towns and villages in this area as, even if I go there, I am only going to be able to find out a limited amount of information about each place and if someone here has some further information then I would surely like to hear it.
As an example, there is some great information about villages in Wiltshire on that thread from people who have lived in the area and are giving the benefit of years of living there.
I don't expect to make a decision before I go but I do expect to have the area well researched.
I only gave some details of the type of thing I am looking for to give some insight into the type of area I am looking for. I wouldn't dream of choosing from here.

Beedubya Apr 18th 2011 11:15 am

Re: Location, location, location
 
Why don't you start a new thread with the SPECIFIC counties you are interested in, hell you could even start a new thread for each one!!! :thumbup:

When I was wondering about living near Heathrow and it may as well have been in China for all I know about that area, I started up a thread and it was surprising how many "locals" chipped in with their specialist insider knowledge, not something you can find out however much you google it. Do you have a timeframe in mind?

Good luck. :fingerscrossed:

Pistolpete2 Apr 18th 2011 12:53 pm

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by bandrui (Post 9309303)
Hi,

I would like to find a character property with large garden area/land with studio space that has access to the coast (an hour's drive), Salisbury plain, rail links in a picturesque setting at a reasonable price < $200,000.

I know that you were getting frustrated with choices, Rightmove and other information overload before. Regarding rail links, is there any priority as to where these links are to? If it is to London, what is the time allowance?

Many folks move to Cornwall and then regret moving that far and want to move east so that they are no further than two 1/2 hours from London. I see Warminster is two hours from London (47 mins from Bristol, 33mins from Bath), Chippenham 1h 13m from London, Westbury 1h 19m from London, 24 mins from Bath. Unfortunately there are no train stops between Warminster and Salisbury (22 mins)(about 20 miles) so Wylye, which is equidistant, is not served.

Pistolpete2 Apr 18th 2011 1:24 pm

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by bandrui (Post 9310959)
I agree Sally. That is certainly what I shall end up doing, or staying with my cousin in Devizes, but I am looking for some "inside" information on towns and villages in this area as, even if I go there, I am only going to be able to find out a limited amount of information about each place and if someone here has some further information then I would surely like to hear it.
As an example, there is some great information about villages in Wiltshire on that thread from people who have lived in the area and are giving the benefit of years of living there.
I don't expect to make a decision before I go but I do expect to have the area well researched.
I only gave some details of the type of thing I am looking for to give some insight into the type of area I am looking for. I wouldn't dream of choosing from here.

I understand the research bit absolutely. I've been doing research on potential moves and/or property acquisition for about five years but have never done the localised micro stuff which is clearly important.

Not impacting you but on these boards I've tried to get feedback regarding the impact of being located close to nuclear power stations in terms of mentality and resultant property valuations. I was also looking at property on the north of the Plain near West Lavington because there is a reasonable private school there. West Lavington is close to Erlestoke Prison which could be a big negative for property in surrounding areas, who knows? I saw some nice property in Great Cheverell close-by but who knows whether this is truly good value. Hence the need for local knowledge ahead of time to eliminate areas which cannot really be considered candidates. Salisbury Plain is a major training area for the Ministry of Defence with facilities at Larkhill, Warminster and Upavon amongst others. The cut-backs could have a future negative impact on non barracks/military property and the economy around these specific areas.

There is a balance to be set between property pricing which is usually based upon access to reasonable wage paying employment in the area and the need for transport. For us we really want to pay in the sticks prices but have the transport there when we need it. I'm still trying to find utopia in the south in this regard. We also know that existing subsidised county council-provided public transport could be withdrawn at a stroke but this will not severely impact inter-town routes like Warminster to Salisbury.

bandrui Apr 18th 2011 10:04 pm

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by Pistolpete2 (Post 9311695)
I understand the research bit absolutely. I've been doing research on potential moves and/or property acquisition for about five years but have never done the localised micro stuff which is clearly important.

Not impacting you but on these boards I've tried to get feedback regarding the impact of being located close to nuclear power stations in terms of mentality and resultant property valuations. I was also looking at property on the north of the Plain near West Lavington because there is a reasonable private school there. West Lavington is close to Erlestoke Prison which could be a big negative for property in surrounding areas, who knows? I saw some nice property in Great Cheverell close-by but who knows whether this is truly good value. Hence the need for local knowledge ahead of time to eliminate areas which cannot really be considered candidates. Salisbury Plain is a major training area for the Ministry of Defence with facilities at Larkhill, Warminster and Upavon amongst others. The cut-backs could have a future negative impact on non barracks/military property and the economy around these specific areas.

There is a balance to be set between property pricing which is usually based upon access to reasonable wage paying employment in the area and the need for transport. For us we really want to pay in the sticks prices but have the transport there when we need it. I'm still trying to find utopia in the south in this regard. We also know that existing subsidised county council-provided public transport could be withdrawn at a stroke but this will not severely impact inter-town routes like Warminster to Salisbury.

Thanks Pete. That is the type of info I am looking for. I know that Salisbury plain is a training area but not sure if I would want to be in a "military town" like Warminster, for a number of reasons. Neither would I want to be close to a nuclear power station. There must be maps of these somewhere.
When I saw Cheers' property in Ludlow, it made me realise how much I want to be in countryside and how few properties there are on Rightmove that fit that criteria so spent the evening looking at really rural properties on other sites. I am finding that there are reasonably priced rural properties out there, though not many.
I would like to be within 4-5miles of a rail station, perhaps even a little more. Yes, London (my favourite city), but also to other places for family, vacations, etc. although realistically I have found, by living on the island, that I am a bit of a home-body. I would like to be reasonably close to a market town though and also want to be able to get to Worcester for family research.
Unlike some of the others, I cannot imagine life without a car. Not to get groceries, etc. but to take off and explore the countryside which is often very difficult with public transportation. I have tried this both ways in the UK... by car and by public transport.
Oh, and I want to be within a mile of a pub so that I can go for a drink, a little social life, and walk home :rofl:.

Pistolpete2 Apr 18th 2011 10:10 pm

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by bandrui (Post 9312760)
Neither would I want to be close to a nuclear power station.

Not an issue for you!

Here are the nuclear power stations in the south:

Hinkley Point - Somerset
Dungeness - Romney Marsh
Sizewell - Leiston Suffolk
Bradwell - Essex

bandrui Apr 19th 2011 12:15 am

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by Pistolpete2 (Post 9312769)
Not an issue for you!

Here are the nuclear power stations in the south:

Hinkley Point - Somerset
Dungeness - Romney Marsh
Sizewell - Leiston Suffolk
Bradwell - Essex

Muchas gracias, senor. I shall rest easier.

Gabgoeshome Apr 19th 2011 12:36 am

Re: Location, location, location
 
I remember writing you a PM :) then my littlest one woke up ...hope I sent it !

Mallory Apr 19th 2011 1:52 am

Re: Location, location, location
 

Originally Posted by bandrui (Post 9312975)
Muchas gracias, senor. I shall rest easier.

How about Totnes in Devon.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environmen...ethical-living


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