Best places to buy a house in Greater Manchester right now according to estate agents

Choosing where to live can be one of the most difficult decisions to make when it comes to buying a new home. There are so many factors to consider, from house price affordability and local amenities to proximity to top schools, green spaces and good transport links.

If you are pondering over where to buy your first or next house in Greater Manchester, then who better to take advice from than the people who know the local property market the best. We spoke to three leading estate agents to find out their recommendations for the best places to purchase a home across the region.

The experts from Reside, Ryder & Dutton and independent estate agent Gareth Yates, list and sell homes across Greater Manchester each and every day, so they know exactly where the most sought after areas area - from city centre hotspots to south Manchester gems and Trafford market towns.

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We've pulled together each of their suggestions to provide a comprehensive guide of the best towns and suburbs to buy a house across the region. Here are the property expert's nine recommendations, listed in alphabetical order:

Altrincham

Often noted as one of the most popular places to buy in Trafford, estate agents say there is 'something for everyone' in the market town - from young professionals and families through to retirees.

"House prices stay high and the housing volumes stay low but there really is something for everyone in Altrincham," says Gareth Yates, a personal estate agent who sells homes all across the region.

"From brilliant schools and local shops to green spaces and transport links, it has everything all neatly wrapped up with beautiful tree lined streets and unique architecture."

Homes in Altrincham sold for an average price of £535,369 over the last year, according to the latest Land Registry data. The majority of sales were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £527,302, whilst the cheapest property type was flats which sold for around £266,827.

"There are a huge range of properties available from apartment living on The Downs to family orientated homes towards Timperley and the huge multi-million pound properties on Bradgate Road and surrounding," Gareth adds.

"The Stamford Quarter has seen huge amounts of regeneration over the years which has made the main high street a thriving area with a range of independent and larger chains mixing perfectly as well as the Market House being a great spot to grab a bite to eat before heading over to the Everyman cinema for a film."

Ancoats

Ancoats is known for being one of the 'coolest neighbourhoods' in the region with its industrial streets and a blend of old and new residential properties alongside quirky independent businesses.

Reside, an experienced estate agency based in central Manchester and Stockport, say Ancoats continues to be one of the region's property hotspots.

"A truly unique community where diverse cultural backgrounds come together to form a tight knit neighbourhood," the team said. "It has a great variety of apartments from beautiful mill conversions to new build apartment buildings which is rare for the city centre, some with amazing canal views.

"Ancoats is within 10-minute walking distance to Piccadilly and on the doorstep of city centre amenities. The area is full of vibrant independent businesses, and a beloved spot for residents is Islington Marina, perfect for dog walkers or summer lunches."

Properties in Ancoats had an overall average price of £282,239 over the last year. The majority of sales were flats, selling for an average price of £269,872, with terraced properties selling for an average of £411,619.

Chorlton

This south Manchester suburb is a 'great option for people wanting to live out of the city, as it offers an abundance of green spaces whilst being just a short distance away from the city centre.

"Despite its great location, Chorlton feels like a haven. It has lots of green space, such as the Water Park, and it's close to the River Mersey – making it a great place to live if you have a dog," the experts at Reside said.

House prices in Chorlton are around 4 percent higher now than they were the previous year, with an average price of £386,653. The majority of sales in Chorlton Cum Hardy during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £493,895.

Reside continued: "There is a real sense of community and independent spirit here with its great shops and delis including well known institutions like Barbakan. You can eat your way around the world with great Japanese, Spanish, Lebanese and Caribbean cuisine as well as familiar names like Rudys and Jane Eyre."

"It’s a great option outside of the city – yet it's on its doorstep and is extremely well connected. It sits in zone 2 on the Metrolink so you can be in the city centre in as little as 15 mins. It's also close to the airport and motorway links."

Failsworth

Rising in popularity is Failsworth, which sits between Oldham and Manchester, which is attracting buyers due to its ideal location and family-friendly amenities.

Lewis McLarty, manager at Ryder & Dutton’s Chadderton branch said: “Failsworth is a really popular spot in Manchester right now due to its excellent location and range of good schools.

"Just five miles from the city centre and close to the M60, it boasts amazing countryside, fantastic walking routes and Daisy Nook Country Park on its doorstep, which are all a huge pull for buyers. The Rochdale Canal runs through the area too, so people can easily walk down the canal paths to other popular suburbs close by."

Lewis added: "Failsworth also has two brilliant primary schools and a highly regarded secondary school, making it a place where lots of young families want to live, and houses here sell quickly, particularly in the highly sought-after Woodhouses area.”

Hulme

Hulme was recently named one of the UK's property hotspots by Rightmove, and local estate agents back up that it is continuing to attract a range of buyers - and renters.

"Hulme’s prices have started to slow after a few years of rapid growth but don’t let that trick you, it still has plenty to offer," says Gareth Yates.

"Being one of the closest postcodes to town it provides the perfect alternative to expensive city centre living while still being close enough to benefit from being able to walk into Manchester.

"There is a strong rental market in Hulme too which has seen the rent prices in apartments for students and professionals stay strong but more and more families are moving here as well to snap up the more affordable houses."

New Moston

Also amongst the list of the best places to live in the region is New Moston. The Manchester suburb has affordable house prices ideal for first-time buyers, with the average home selling for £195,111 over the last year.

Lewis McLarty from Ryder & Dutton said: "New Moston boasts a huge range of different property types and offers good value for money, so it appeals to a wide variety of buyers, particularly first-time-buyers and young families.

"It’s also close to the Metrolink and motorway network, so is an easy place to commute from, which adds to its appeal. Homes here are currently in high demand and sell quickly.”

The majority of sales in New Moston during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £218,765. Terraced properties sold for an average of £170,613, with flats fetching £131,097.

Sale Moor

The popularity of this Trafford area has 'skyrocketed' recently, according to independent estate agent Gareth, with house prices now 15 percent higher than the peak in 2021 - with an overall average price of £396,546 over the last year.

"Whilst Sale has always been popular, the suburb of Sale Moor has always lagged behind but not any more," he said. "Since the Metrolink came in on Sale Road, Sale Moor’s popularity has skyrocketed as it has all the features of Sale on its doorstep while maintaining the smaller village feel.

"The schools will obviously be the driving force to a lot of families moving locally, but you have a huge range of property types available from studio apartments up to grand five or six bedroom Victorian houses. The main kind of properties are the three-bed bay-fronted semis. This meant it could be the perfect location for a starter home all the way up to those heavily extended forever homes."

Gareth continued: "Sale Moor village has popular shops like Taylors of Sale and Ceresis (their Roman pizza is to die for) as well as the pubs and restaurants with more independent bars and shops on the horizon too.

"There are plenty of green spaces to explore like Walkden Gardens and Worthington Park as well as easy access across Manchester and the North West with the Metrolink and motorway networks."

Stockport

Named as one of the The Sunday Times' Best Places to Live for the last two years running, the region's property experts say that the buzz around Stockport isn't slowing down any time soon.

An estate agent at Reside said: "All eyes are on Stockport at the moment as its popularity continues to rise. It has a vibrant community ideal for families, featuring excellent schooling and greenspace. You'll find a diverse array of leisure activities, dining, and entertainment options, perfect for all walks of life."

Properties in Stockport sold for an average price of £320,221 over the last year. The majority of sales were semi-detached properties, selling at an average of £337,446.

"With a central train station providing easy access to Manchester and London, the area offers both connectivity and convenience," Reside continued: "The bustling town centre and high street boast great shopping opportunities, with a growing number of independent businesses adding to its unique charm.

"Adding to this Stockport has fantastic transport links to Manchester. The faster trains can get into Piccadilly in around 10-15 mins – making Stockport a great and often more affordable option than Manchester city centre."

Stretford

Finally, the Trafford market town of Stretford is proving to be another sought-after area. It's pulling in more and more house hunters thanks to its recent development and is particular popular with first-time buyers.

"With all the work going ahead locally by the council and businesses it’s easy to see why buyers are being drawn towards Stretford," says Gareth. "You’ve got established transport links and you’re only a short bike ride into town as well.

"You get a range of buyers here but the market is really driven by first-time buyers looking for more affordable character properties compared to Chorlton or Didsbury. There’s lots going on in Stretford though with the Food Hall currently being replaced with Bakehouse 32 and the redevelopment of the Arndale to a modern shopping destination.

"There are hidden gems like Stretford Marina to explore and there are also new build developments springing up which provide a greater selection of homes for buyers locally."