In a region as big as Greater Manchester, it can be difficult to know where are the best areas to live. Each year The Sunday Times puts together a comprehensive guide of the Best Places to Live in the UK - and this year it featured three areas in our region.
Ancoats, Sale and Stockport were each chosen by The Sunday Times expert panel and were highly praised for factors including schools, transport, culture, green spaces, property and the health of the high street.
As these three Greater Manchester areas are now set to become even more sought-after with house hunters who are eager to move there, we've looked at the average house price in each area and the range of properties you can buy on the market at the moment.
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Ancoats
The trendy Manchester neighbourhood was chosen by The Times as 'setting the benchmark for hip urban living.
The Sunday Times wrote: "Much has already been written about Ancoats, but its historic mills, warehouses and new-build blocks set the benchmark for hip urban living.
"There’s talk of at least 1,500 more homes, but in the meantime, a new ‘mobility hub’, with car parking, charging points, car and bike sharing clubs, will keep things moving."
Over the last year properties in Ancoats had an overall average house price of £266,982, with the majority of sales being flats.
Terraced properties sold for an average of £388,000, whilst semi-detached properties were selling for around £296,000.
One of the cheapest properties you can buy in Ancoats at the moment is a one-bed flat, which is on the market for £150,000.
Formerly an office space, the building has now been converted into swanky apartments. This particular flat is located on the second floor and consists of a hallway to a kitchen living area, one spacious bedroom and a fitted shower room.
There are a fair few three-bed properties currently for sale in Ancoats, including this townhouse on the market for £420,000.
Located in the centre of the neighbourhood, Cotton House is described as a boutique development of urban townhouses set in their own private mews.
The houses are raised up to podium level with the lower level of the homes containing an open plan living, dining and kitchen areas.
Upstairs there are three double bedrooms and bathrooms across the second and third floors with a private roof terrace on the top floor.
At the higher end of the market are some rather luxurious two and three bedroom flats, such as this apartment with a £550,000 price tag.
Set inside the Murrays Mills development, which was converted in 2020, the duplex apartment boasts many original features that add unique style and character to the property.
Spanning over two storeys with a total square footage of 1,722sqft, the flat consists of a spacious entrance hallway that leads to the three double bedrooms and the main bathroom on the ground floor, with the aster bedroom benefitting from an en-suite shower room.
On the first floor the open plan kitchen, dining and living room space spans the entire floor. The development also has the luxury of a concierge at the entrance as well as a communal courtyard garden area.
Sale
Favouring Sale above Altrincham, which has featured on the list for the last few years, The Times judges said the Trafford town is 'emerging from the shadows'.
The guide said: "A welcoming and well-connected Greater Manchester location Sale is emerging from the shadow of Altrincham thanks to its excellent reputation for state schools, Metrolink tram connections, and the creation of a new town-centre hub in Stanley Square with cafes, restaurants and independent shops."
The property market in Sale offers a wide range of choice, from first-time buyer homes to impressive million-pound period properties.
House prices are constantly on the rise in the area, having gone up by 10 percent in the last year alone. Properties in Sale had an overall average price of £381,506 over the last year.
The majority of sales in Sale during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £439,075. Terraced properties sold for an average of £329,124, with flats were fetching £179,119.
One of the cheapest homes you can currently buy is a two-bed flat on the market for £175,000 which estate agents say is 'ideal for first-time buyers'.
Sitting in a central location in Sale town centre, the fully renovated apartment has an entrance hall, open plan living, dining and kitchen area, one bathroom and two generously sized double bedrooms with the master enjoying an en-suite shower.
At the middle of the market, around the same price as the average house price, is a three-bed terraced house up for grabs for £375,000 in the heart of Sale Moor village.
The 'much-larger-than-average' period terrace has with spacious accommodation across four floors, including cellars, with excellent-sized rooms, high coved ceilings and an open plan kitchen, dining area.
Finally at the top end of the market is a four-bed detached house with a huge £1,500,000 price tag.
Located on The Avenue, which is known for its array of multi-million pound abodes, the beautiful character family home was built in the 1860s and has been fully modernised throughout whilst retaining many stunning period features.
The house comes with four reception areas, four double bedrooms, three bathrooms and a large rear garden.
Stockport
The former mill town of Stockport has now been described by the Times as a 'funky, family-friendly' alternative to the Northern Quarter.
The expert panel said: "As well as brilliant independent shops, cafes and bars, it has good parks, decent schools, fast train links to Manchester and suburbs with a house for every style and budget."
Over the last year had an overall average price of £323,851, with the majority of sales being semi-detached properties selling for an average price of £338,762.
Terraced properties sold for an average of £244,147, with detached properties fetching £549,618.
One of the cheapest properties currently up for sale in Stockport is a two-bed terrace which is on the market for £170,000.
The property has recently undergone a complete renovation and benefits from being decorated through out in a contemporary neutral décor.
Inside it has a spacious lounge leading into a second reception room, a fitted kitchen, two bedrooms and a modern family bathroom.
There are a range of family homes you can buy around the average price of £323,851, including this new-build home on the market for £325,000.
The newly built home is up for sale in Reddish and comes with an entrance hall, lounge, living dining kitchen, three bedrooms, one en-suite and a family bathroom.
At the higher end of the market are some large period homes, including this semi-detached property in Heaton Moor, which is on the market for £1,185,000.
The six-bed residence spans around 4,000 square foot and is spread over four spacious floors with an array of original features throughout.
The house boasts two large family rooms both with feature fireplaces and bay windows, a bespoke kitchen-diner, a conservatory, six bedrooms and two bathrooms.
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