Moving to Cardiff (area) - ideas and suggestions

[Tyre Tread]

Thanks LuS1fer.

It seems like the Vale is the best bet but as you say expensive.

We have already upped our budget once and not sure we can go much more.

The search engines don't much like Bassett's Field.
ETA: Aha, I have found Basset's field tucked up close by the M4 - New development then.

Edited by Tyre Tread on Sunday 16th November 17:04

Edited by Tyre Tread on Monday 17th November 10:43

[Trev450]

If you do consider the Vale, be mindful of the Vale council's Local Development Plan (LDP) which has earmarked a number of greenfield sites for potential new housing developments. You could get your dream home in a nice little village only to find that they plan to build a massive new housing estate there. I live in St Athan which is a small village about 4 miles from Cowbridge and the LDP is considering close to 200 houses!! Cowbridge is in a similar position, as are a number of other places in the Vale.

Although the LDP is only at the consultation stage at the moment, these things often have a habit of escalating very quickly.

Edited by Trev450 on Sunday 16th November 17:40

[Tyre Tread]

Aaaarrrrgggghhhhh!

Just looked up the Vale of Glamorgan LDP - it shows this http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/Documents/Living...
Looks blank to me.

Seems I might just as well buy a house in the city as no matter where you go development is likely.

[Trev450]

Don't let this put you off the Vale completely as it is a lovely part of the country to live. Just be aware of the LDP and do your research prior to purchasing anything.

[LuS1fer]

Well the Bay is full of new townhouses and apartments that will be ravaged by the sea breezes.
Avoid Cathays as it is packed to the gunnels with unhygienic students. Penylan used to be OK but it's hit and miss and Cyncoed is a reasonable area of Cardiff.

[Trev450]

Just a thought, but if you are looking in the Vale, check out Rhoose Point. Its a relatively new development but the houses in the main are well spaced apart and quite a few have double garages.

[Try5t]

Trev450 said:

Just a thought, but if you are looking in the Vale, check out Rhoose Point. Its a relatively new development but the houses in the main are well spaced apart and quite a few have double garages.

And make sure a solicitor properly checks the transfer, some of the development have unenforceable covenants that many owners are not unaware of. Just dealt with a very interesting property litigation case from that area hence the heads up.

If you do look to buy in the Vale aim for a village with a community council, they still appear to have a lot of swing on planning issues! But prices tend to be higher.

As someone said above, commuting within Cardiff is a pig, coming in from the outskirts is far easier with the link road especially when coming on at Culver. It's why we bought on the outskirts, yes it can cost a bit more but you generally get more for the money with better future residuals. I commute in daily to the office not far from the university and can do it in 15mins most days.

[Sharted]

Try5t said:

As someone said above, commuting within Cardiff is a pig, coming in from the outskirts is far easier with the link road especially when coming on at Culver. It's why we bought on the outskirts, yes it can cost a bit more but you generally get more for the money with better future residuals. I commute in daily to the office not far from the university and can do it in 15mins most days.

For this reason I would consider widening your scope out to the West a bit. Does your Missus work 9-5 or shifts? The M4 can be pretty quick at the right time of day.

Swansea is just over an hour commute, say 1.5 to be safe. Maybe Porthcawl?

[Tyre Tread]

We're still waiting on the bloody contract and its beginning to piss me off TBH. Received an email from their HR dept today enclosing a form to fill in with SWMBO's details so we don't know hours of work for sure but pretty sure they will be something like 8.30 to 4.30 M-F.

Really appreciate the advice from everyone and I'm trying to take it all on board but coming to grips with the geography of the areas, local pace names and boudaries etc and things to take into account and avoid is complicated I've been calling Heath 'The Heath' and having to google all of the references you guys have given. I intend to sit down with the Ordnance Survey map we bought at the weekend and really study it and annotateit with the info here.

I have been looking around the Rhoose area and have seen a couple of places in Penmark that look interesting although they really would stretch the budget and would be cose to that busy airport

The Airport website is naff BTW.

Is Pothcawl really doable in 30-45 mins? I thought Bridgend (area) might be too far.

[hornetrider]

There's a few lovely, appealing properties in Penmark, and a nice pub. The one at 435k has been on the market for a long time now - about a year maybe? They haven't dropped the price either. Ultimately we wanted somewhere a little less isolated, and the road in and out of Penmark itself is a narrow muddy country lane, not what we were after. I was also concerned about the proximity to the airport.

[Tyre Tread]

hornetrider said:

There's a few lovely, appealing properties in Penmark, and a nice pub. The one at 435k has been on the market for a long time now - about a year maybe? They haven't dropped the price either.

Hmm

hornetrider said:

Ultimately we wanted somewhere a little less isolated, and the road in and out of Penmark itself is a narrow muddy country lane, not what we were after.

Excuse to buy a Land Rover? Mind you, the other cars will end up mucky all the time

hornetrider said:

I was also concerned about the proximity to the airport.

Having looked at the number of flights in and out I don't thinks its an issue. More worried about it closing and the possible development of the area

[Tyre Tread]

How bad is Bridgend: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Only a tiny single garage

[hornetrider]

Tyre Tread said:

hornetrider said:

There's a few lovely, appealing properties in Penmark, and a nice pub. The one at 435k has been on the market for a long time now - about a year maybe? They haven't dropped the price either.

Hmm

http://www.home.co.uk/search/price_info.htm?property=3936106011



First appeared on the market 403 days ago. Looks like they briefly bumped it to reset the price history info though. I remember loving the look of it and giving it a drive by.

[Tyre Tread]

How's Pencoed?

I might have found "The One"

[hornetrider]

The School House?

[Trev450]

Tyre Tread said:

How's Pencoed?

I might have found "The One"

Not bad at all. Close to the M4 and Bridgend, but rural enough to give that 'out-of-town' feeling.

[Tyre Tread]

hornetrider said:

The School House?

No. Looks lovely though. But too big & too expensive that far out from Cardiff.

Ideally what I would like is a 3 bed with large living space, AT LEAST double garage, rural location within easy access of Cardiff (under 30 mins to Heath) for under £350K

However, I know that's a big ask.

Oh and a "character property" would be nice.

[LuS1fer]

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Character - No garage at all... http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Further out, 15th Century. Build your own garage... http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

OK, I'm bored now...

[Tyre Tread]

LuS1fer said:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

That one is very close to the M4 so worried about noise

LuS1fer said:

Character - No garage at all... http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Quite like that but commuting distance/time may be an issue. Also no apparently suitable place to build the garage. Had it on my 'have a sniff' list if not too far out to commute.

LuS1fer said:

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Quite like that but again the distance might be the issue plus I can't find the actual house on streetview. I found one similar yesterday but closer to Cardiff - looked perfect until I found it on Streetview. It was right on the exit of a major roundabout

LuS1fer said:

Further out, 15th Century. Build your own garage... http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Possibly a bit too much "characterf". Also again the commuting time?

LuS1fer said:

OK, I'm bored now...

Sorry. There are a lot out there but its amazing how many can be crossed off for various reasons.

I'm bored looking already and I haven't really started yet.

Thanks again for the help though.

[hornetrider]

So which was 'the one' in Pencoed? I quite like the look of that one for 350k for a new build, the one with double garage under a FOG although it doesn't overlook your garden. Although it's a bit pricey for location I think.