Northants information required!

[shnozz]

Hi all. I posted in the Pie and Piston regarding some advice regarding possible rellocation to the Kettering area of Northants.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=141&t=371561

I am looking at some property in Desborough. It seems as though it didn't have the greatest of reputations but is now undergoing something of a makeover and huge regeneration. Does anyone have any input?

Very difficult trying to weigh up all the factors when you have never spent much time in the area! Is it a reasonable commute to Leicester, Northants, Rugby etc for work opportunities? I appreciate its not the hotbed of nightlife but then I am starting to mature. Apparently.

[rich 36]

Avoid Rowell fair
they construct whicker men for Vigins

Edited by rich 36 on Sunday 25th March 11:47

[Sporting Bear]

Regeneration ? really ?

The George pub allegedly sells a decent pint of real ale but as it's full of pikies (aggressive gypsies) and has sticky carpets few have dared to find out

The town is now by-passed by the A6

There's a bra factory shop there

There are some lovely villages and countryside around and Corby

Am-Dram group

Has a high street with some shops still, altho' I'm told they're knocking down the Co-Op (probably to put houses up for INCOMERS)

The indigenous population share about three surnames

Hope this helps

[central]

Desborough eh? Welcome to "our town." "If yu come tu our town, we`ll chuck yu in our town brook!"
PHer "the Burg" lives there, he`ll be along in a bit.

I lived just outside Desborough for 42 years, so know it pretty well. There`s a mahoosive housing estate just being built, so it looks like the place is going up-market. At last. (The whole town closes on a Saturday afternoon.) The commute to Leicester is pretty easy, straight up the A6.

Does that help?

[central]

Sporting Bear said:

The indigenous population share about three surnames

It`s only two!

Coe and Marlow.

[Sporting Bear]

Hi, central returns

To be fair Desboro' is a quiet place otherwise known as Deadboro'

Mark is the Ritz Ballroom still used ?

Yes I knew of a Coe, I was being generous with about three

Edited by Sporting Bear on Sunday 25th March 13:24

[central]

Sporting Bear said:

Hi, central returns
Mark is the Ritz Ballroom still used ?

Edited by Sporting Bear on Sunday 25th March 13:24

[missdiane]

shnozz said:

Hi all. I posted in the Pie and Piston regarding some advice regarding possible rellocation to the Kettering area of Northants.

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=141&t=371561

I am looking at some property in Desborough. It seems as though it didn't have the greatest of reputations but is now undergoing something of a makeover and huge regeneration. Does anyone have any input?

Very difficult trying to weigh up all the factors when you have never spent much time in the area! Is it a reasonable commute to Leicester, Northants, Rugby etc for work opportunities? I appreciate its not the hotbed of nightlife but then I am starting to mature. Apparently.

Schnozz
The surrounding areas are lovely, though I never been to Desborough, most of Northants villages are beautiful, yet the towns/cities leave a lot to be desired, i.e Northampton, Kettering, Corby,
Further over to Market Harborugh, Rockingham and Uppingham are very desirable also and not too far away.
Desborough and area are also fairly close to the main roads, A14 I think, which gets you to most of the south and north A roads and M1.
Good luck looking

[jamesuk28]

How much have you got to spend? I have a cracking 3 bed cottage for sale in Twywell about 7 miles south of Desborough. Or a 3 bed house in Hargrave in a very sleepy lane. PM me for details.

[central]

Our old farmhouse in Pipewell is theoretically on the market.

5 mins from Desborough, with large stone barn/cowshed/stables. Pob around £1.5 mill, as is.

Bargain.

[The_Burg]

Can you lend my a fiver then? lol

[Sporting Bear]

jamesuk28 said:

How much have you got to spend? I have a cracking 3 bed cottage for sale in Twywell about 7 miles south of Desborough. Or a 3 bed house in Hargrave in a very sleepy lane. PM me for details.

James does either property come with storage facilties for junk

[shnozz]

Thanks all for your help, great stuff. The sales pitch suggests the re-opening of the railway (not that useful for me, but possibly helps for investmenet purposes) and talk of a leisure centre, a nature reserve and all sorts.

I'd like to keep the purchase within the budget for just my salary and so would be looking at up to around £250k. I'm not sure how far that goes in those parts, other than a search on rightmove. Basically its pretty much the same price as I would get for my 3 bed semi near Southampton so other than stamp duty, agents fees and removal costs we won't be faced with a massively higher mortgage. Salaries in my profession (law) appear to be comparable and the same applies for the girlfriend (marketing).

The houses we looked at yesterday were very nice, and value for money seemed incredible. The roads were fantastic, although transport links were obviously not the same as what we are used to. Its a scarey prospect of upping sticks as both of us have lived down on the coast all our lives (except uni) so taking the plunge is not an easy decision, particularly knowing no one in the neck of the woods, apart from Flasher. and he doesnt count as he has turned into a saddo old man.

We realise that there is little by way of heavy nightlife within taxi distance, or a motorway within a minute of my house (as is the case presently) and whilst we are happy to give up some benefits to be offset against others, we are worried that its cheap for a reason!

[central]

Well PH Northants is all the entertainment you need, despite the "saddo old men". (of which it could be argued I`m one)

[tyre_tread]

Desborough is not the most desirable place but £250 K would buy something half reasonable in Harborough which is seen as more desirable. Harborough has some nice resturants and a nightclub of sorts.

[The_Burg]

Desborough aint bad. there are a few pykies here but in general not bad. We lack the polish and african populus of Kettering and the rest of Northants and the pubs are rubbish but generally a friendly place.
Been here for about 5 years now and had no problems at all.

PM me for any other info required.

[missdiane]

shnozz said:

we are worried that its cheap for a reason!

Compared to other parts of the country, it is cheap round here because of where it is, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Northampton which surround, are all cheap, and not as nice, they keep the village prices down.
I was in Towcester before, Cornwall before that, house prices are so much cheaper here just because of where it is, so far away from London, thats why we live here, we could afford an extra bedroom on a house if we moved over this way, makes a difference, we got 3 beds with double garage and conservatory for £146k a year ago.
We pay the price of having that though, but then we are in the centre of the city.

[shnozz]

missdiane said:

shnozz said:

we are worried that its cheap for a reason!

Compared to other parts of the country, it is cheap round here because of where it is, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Northampton which surround, are all cheap, and not as nice, they keep the village prices down.
I was in Towcester before, Cornwall before that, house prices are so much cheaper here just because of where it is, so far away from London, thats why we live here, we could afford an extra bedroom on a house if we moved over this way, makes a difference, we got 3 beds with double garage and conservatory for £146k a year ago.
We pay the price of having that though, but then we are in the centre of the city.

thanks for the info. The (train) distance to London is near on identical as where we are at the moment, 55 mins from Kettering, 1 hr 6 mins from Southampton Parkway. House prices, however, are very different. The place we looked at yesterday would be around half a million down here. It was half that.

[shnozz]

The_Burg said:

Desborough aint bad. there are a few pykies here but in general not bad. We lack the polish and african populus of Kettering and the rest of Northants and the pubs are rubbish but generally a friendly place.
Been here for about 5 years now and had no problems at all.

PM me for any other info required.

Thanks for that mate, useful stuff. I am looking at a place in the Grange and there is some talk of a local boozer being built on the roundabout entrance. What other pubs are wallking distance? Is the town centre an ok place to walk around on a Saturday night? Are there a few pubs to socialise in? I realise I won't find nightclubs and bars as I am more used to, but I do enjoy a drink or 12 and I dont want the music to stop when I walk in...

[shnozz]

tyre_tread said:

Desborough is not the most desirable place but £250 K would buy something half reasonable in Harborough which is seen as more desirable. Harborough has some nice resturants and a nightclub of sorts.

I have been to Harborough a few times as that is where Flasher lives at the moment. Nice enough place, but I am not sure I'd pay a premium over the surrounding villages, particularly as I dont really need a railway link as such. Part of the attraction of moving North would be to buy a dream house for what I see as starter home money, and Harborough wouldn't allow me to do that.