I've been reading Andy Burnham and Steve Rotherham's book 'Head North' in my downtime this week. For obvious reasons, but also because I'm a bit weird.
No-one needs to tell me, born into Hull's docklands and council estates, about the visceral reality of the North-South divide, but reading about how that manifested during Covid as political choices is chilling.
Of course we have lots of other divides nowadays to pile onto the geographic one, including the growing gap between those who have bought their homes and those who may never be able to.
So today I'm going to focus on starter homes - properties under £200k, in well-served areas for first-time buyers, that don't need masses of work.
This is always the toughest type of property to find, not least because the price bracket is swamped with "Modern Method of Auction" chancers, but here's three I picked to show you.
Manchester is VERY up and down price-wise because the right area, down to the right street, matters. This property (above and below) made it onto my list because it offers more than a terraced stepping-stone; it's a house with space to grow with.
A proper Manchester redbrick, it's an end terrace with a large garden and detached garage. Good size lounge and kitchen diner downstairs, three bedrooms and shower room upstairs.
Surrounded by prettier and newer properties and the inside has some interesting decor choices, but it's in up-and-coming Mossley with its train station, street life and good links.
On the market at offers over £190k through Ryder & Dutton. Details and more pictures on the agent's site here and on Rightmove here.
My next pick is down south, in increasingly popular and arty Margate. Houses under £200k that aren't auction properties are pretty rare in Margate - houses with gardens, walking distance to beach and schools and that have been looked after, are gold dust. This one, while not a wreck, has got awkward access that has put it in our price bracket.
A mid terrace with large gardens front and back, there's a lounge, kitchen, utility and bathroom downstairs, two bedrooms upstairs.
Access is up steps from the street and along the pathway in front of the terrace, then into that wild front garden. Fabulous for children and garden parties, less so for parking and carrying stuff home.
But at just £180k, and walking distance from the best of Margate, there's a lot to like.
On the market through Footprints. Details and more pictures on the agent's site here and on Rightmove here.
If those two are a bit too "city" for you, my last pick is in the North Yorkshire village of Gristhorpe, between Filey and Scarborough and just-about commutable to York or Hull.
There's a large lounge, small kitchen and shower room downstairs, two good-size bedrooms upstairs.
Outside is a large garden with fabulous open views (...and breathe) and a stone outbuilding that could become an office or workshop.
Equally, you have neighbours who have extended into their garden which gives you growth options too.
It's on Gristhorpe's very pretty main street, with the popular Bull Inn pub nearby.
On the market at £170k through DMA. Details and more pictures on the agent's site here and on Rightmove here.
