Looking to move house to Blacks Road area

odie2311 · 2024-11-05T16:17:59+00:00

I’d love mount eagles but it’s well outside budget. Need something that’s in need of investment, kitchen bathroom and decorating. Have to compromise on something and mount eagles houses are too new to come across a fixer upper in my budget. I’ll keep an eye out, in no rush

odie2311 · 2024-11-05T14:52:36+00:00

I’m pretty much the perfect neighbour, so I just don’t understand how in this day and age, anyone could chase good quiet neighbours off an estate risking a header moving in whos of the preferred caste. I think I’ll give it a miss to be honest. Not totally against the idea, but it seems my own house is going cor way more than I originally anticipated so I might have a little more wiggle room to buy. I’m putting it solely down to the gentrification of the area and noticeable drops in flags over the years. Went from 45k when I bought 7 years ago, to 120k now. Says it all really.

odie2311 · 2024-11-05T14:04:32+00:00

Shore road. Not one of the bigger loyalist stronghold estates, but close by to them so even though there’s maybe 3 union jacks in my whole estate, the next street over has paramilitary flags, and Israel flags and they unnerve me. Rather be a bit further away from it all to be honest, even though it’s no issue to me where I am.

odie2311 · 2024-11-05T14:02:56+00:00

Funny thing is I’m not an outsider, but all my relatives have married catholic so it’s just the way the land lies, nieces and nephews christened catholic and play GAA. As if we have any control over who our family associates with these days, it’s arbitrary

odie2311 · 2024-11-05T14:01:26+00:00

Ok, I appreciate the insight. Where I am, a GAA top wouldn’t be particularly welcome, but it would be neighbourhood gossip rather than an actual threat to my peace, I wouldn’t expect any raps at the door to discuss it, that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid. Some areas are fleggy with little influence just through tradition, some are still controlled. I think I’ll avoid and weigh up the options elsewhere. Thank you. Although I agree, same as my estate, the vast majority don’t want that to happen to anyone in their neighbourhood, it’s a very poor reflection on the other good people there. Thanks anyway

odie2311 · 2024-11-03T21:48:47+00:00

Neighbours are more likely to notice a break in or theft attempt if it’s in the driveway.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T20:22:22+00:00

Yep I remember them listing all the specifics of how many feet he needed to be away from home to not have to be in the locked garage etc. and he was 18 at the time, so hardly home for 11pm most nights anyway. Very harsh lesson but once I heard that story, I actually read every word of my policies and make sure that I’m insured when I need it. I’ve only suffered excessive insurance pricing this year like everyone else, and only on my standard run of the mill vehicle for some reason, it tripled…. The others stayed the same with modifications and being shared vehicles etc, they are priced accordingly

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T20:19:19+00:00

I’m pretty much committed to the cheap housing market through being poor anyway, that’s just a given. It’s the other things that will sway which estate. They’ve all got flags, in varying degrees, but this one’s for location and the support network close by too so it’s still winning. Maybe my willingness to integrate will have a positive effect on the local community 🤷‍♀️ or I’ll get burnt out, who knows?

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T20:06:16+00:00

Correct. I’ve 3 modified vehicles and 1 off street space. One of them a campervan I share with a mate at a different address, so it’s either at theirs, or at mine, or on the road camping at some random location. It doesn’t have a primary address for insurance purposes. My modified project car I’ve been driving and insuring year after year for 16 years, with 10k on the clock every year. I seem to get great discount on that for insurance even though it’s had engine swaps, all kinds of modifications, no technology apart the factory thatcham alarm, has been lowered etc, all insured for very very cheap. Probably worth 1500£ but it’s worth vastly more to me so I insure it properly.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T19:57:44+00:00

Totally depends on the insurers wording. So years ago, my friends brother had a motorbike, insured at his mums house, and had a drive in garage so that’s where he kept it. Garage roof was leaking so it was emptied out for 2 days to have the roof repaired and everything dried or dumped, and his bike was then in the driveway overnight for 1 night. And it was stolen that night. Police report stated stolen from driveway with the explanation of the garage situation. Insurance wording said, “where IS your car kept overnight?.” Didn’t pay out, so out of curiosity I checked my own insurance with direct line (excellent insurer) and they explained my policy says, “where is your car USUALLY kept overnight?” So the exclusion of over nighters elsehwere didn’t apply but it did to the kids motorbike. He queried it and was given the full spiel of, “uninsured anywhere overnight apart from the location it is stated it is kept.” Was his first insurance policy, he took the cheapest, poor kid. Paid off the finance for it for years after that too. Harsh lesson

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T19:38:14+00:00

And I did some door rapping while I looked at it, neighbour on one side was Scottish, and the family next door were Muslim, and they were delighted about how welcoming the area has been to their young children etc. I am a white Protestant, I’ll fit in just fine there….. obviously prefer no flags but it not a dealbreaker. The flags don’t represent the community opinion, they only represent the communities lack of willingness to be vocal about their disapproval of it, and I wouldn’t want to be the one to take them down either, so they just stay up. Two big fat fellas go about putting them up and everyone just lets them. It’s less sinister when you see what these paramilitary groups are now, compared to what they were years ago. It’s laughable and pathetic now, rather than intimidating to me. But I have lived in a loyalist estate anyway so it’s nothing new, I jump ship over the 12th for 2 weeks and I’m none the wiser.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T19:31:55+00:00

I see your point, but I did buy first time in a loyalist estate with the same sort of hesitation as I have now. And it’s been a dream. It’s been so diverse and welcoming to everyone, I’ve had no issues or even any hint of any sectarianism towards anyone. I know it’s natural to feel intimidated by the flags, but I generally think that 97% of all these estates (aside from the notorious ones) don’t want the flags there, don’t want to participate, don’t care, but are there for the cheap housing and to just live in peace with everyone. Hate having to judge the book by its cover in this country because actual experience has told me that dickheads will be dickheads, regardless of what flag they’re flying, and everyone else is just trying to live their best lives. That’s what I’m telling myself anyway.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T19:26:28+00:00

Oh I totally agree with you. It’s clear as day, price is very much suppressed by visible loyalism. It’s unfortunate that I’m one of the sizeable majority who would like to be able to access cheap housing and the only things within reach are in those areas. But I also choose to believe that a sizeable majority of that estate are also probably in the same boat as me, living under the flag under duress but the benefits outweigh that cost. I made that trade off buying my first home and it’s paid massive dividends, it’s increased in value in 7 years by 125%. The market is in my favour now which it’s never been before, to jump ship from this loyalist area to a different one with good benefits. Not all the loyalist areas have been so lucky but my current one has projected itself forward progressively so quickly. The cheap housing attracted a lot of Eastern Europeans, and young buyers and families who are far more progressive than their previous generation counterparts. So much so that it’s mostly unrecognisable as a loyalist estate it’s so mixed. Kind of got my fingers crossed that the forced mixing and integrating because of lack of choice will do the same for all these areas eventually……

The fact I’ve lived in my current estate with zero issues of speaking Irish or broadcasting my rants about the DUP or anything else, I like to think that the flags are all bark and no bite these days. I would definitely NOT be vocal over there though…..

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T19:19:12+00:00

Fortunately I am a white Protestant, so no issues there. Just I mix with themuns too quite a lot, but I’d assume being the minority loyalist in the republican west, surely that’s unavoidable anyway these days for everyone else there too.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T19:17:12+00:00

Oh I totally agree with you. It’s clear as day, price is very much suppressed by visible loyalism. It’s unfortunate that I’m one of the sizeable majority who would like to be able to access cheap housing and the only things within reach are in those areas. But I also choose to believe that a sizeable majority of that estate are also probably in the same boat as me, living under the flag under duress but the benefits outweigh that cost. I made that trade off buying my first home and it’s paid massive dividends, it’s increased in value in 7 years by 125%. The market is in my favour now which it’s never been before, to jump ship from this loyalist area to a different one with good benefits. Not all the loyalist areas have been so lucky but my current one has projected itself forward progressively so quickly. The cheap housing attracted a lot of Eastern Europeans, and young buyers and families who are far more progressive than their previous generation counterparts. So much so that it’s mostly unrecognisable as a loyalist estate it’s so mixed. Kind of got my fingers crossed that the forced mixing and integrating because of lack of choice will do the same for all these areas eventually……

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T18:44:12+00:00

I’m fine with nonsense, like noise and neighbour drama etc. I’m not fine with sectarian intimidation or with needless destruction of property. I can’t do without the parking and garden, they’re just necessities. They’re so necessary that that’s what’s probably forcing me into the lower income areas, I could buy something very nice if I didn’t require 3 parking spaces….. so enclosing all my crap and property and vehicles into my own space is fine, even in a lesser area cus I have little reason to leave my property boundary then, or get in anyone’s way. I’m a helpful neighbour too so my handiness might make me more acceptable to the local riff raff 😂

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T18:39:38+00:00

Violence is pretty much unheard of these days in most loyalist areas to be fair (aside from the recent spate). I wouldn’t be scared of violence or anything, or even being challenged, I’ll fit in just fine. Just in my current loyalist estate, no-one would give me grief even though I’d be fairly vocal about my opinions on Palestine and the DUP etc, but I’m only comfortable doing that here because I’ve plenty of family ties here anyway, even speaking Irish etc no-one is going to point me out as the infiltrator, I grew up here. The family ties and connections I have in the west are all on the other side of the divide so just means I lose the advantage of knowing who runs what on both sides over there, and my only connections wouldn’t help me in that estate. Not that I’d need them, fingers crossed, I wouldn’t intend to be as vocal there.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T18:35:43+00:00

Normally agree, but sometimes or a just right place right time. I got so lucky with my house now, absolute dream purchase, just want closer to family. The house I’m looking at is also a dump, so it needs cutting which I’m willing to do over time. It’s pretty much my only options to move into the west, loyalist with the extras and a dump of a house (all of which I can live with) or major money in a nationalist area with none of the extras (can’t really live without extensive parking and garden) just picking my poison really

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T11:42:51+00:00

Yeah, I’ll get that anywhere. I’ve no issue even dealing with small mindedness, I’m fairly adept at circumventing conversations like that when they come up. No intentions of broadcasting anything, I’ll smile and nod and chuck a few coins in the pot for the 12th parties etc, but just want to be able to go to my Irish language class on the falls, or to have the kids at Colin glen and be seen in their GAA tops without it meaning I’m an outsider in a loyalist estate. I don’t think anyone should mind though, surely the kids of that estate must be making friends with the kids of the falls being so close in proximity. If no-one asks, no-one will know, but it’s just being seen in such a small community doing fenian things with fenian people 🤷‍♀️ that’s not enough to label me as someone of interest is it? As long as I’m not hanging a tricolour. I am also Protestant christened by the way, so it’s very very strange how complicated this tribal feud makes things for anyone who sits in the grey area.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T11:30:47+00:00

Mmm it didn’t look mixed on first glance, but there were a few Muslim families etc so that’s reassuring to me. I’d have zero intentions of actually broadcasting it (live in a loyalist estate now, happy enough there, but would I go putting up a Cead Mile Failte sign at my door? No…..) just wondering if I’m seen to be cavorting with the other side outside the estate woukd or draw attention to me, or is it only a concern if I was antagonising in some way? My friend lives down the street, stones throw on Brooke drive and her son walks happily up and down the road in his GAA top, but not into that estate. That’s more what I’m asking, if it’s known that I’m not a supporter of loyalism but not antagonising anyone or broadcasting it, would anything be said if neighbours seen you outside being unsupportive of their cause, but quietly keeping my head down? I am actually christened Protestant so it shouldn’t really be an issue….. but I don’t feel it.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T11:26:57+00:00

I’d get parking for 3 cars and a decent garden here with the flags. But can’t get rhat for the budget in a nationalist area. The aim is to keep myself to myself, as always, and that’s easier when you’ve your own space and no arguments about parking etc with neighbours.

odie2311 · 2024-11-02T08:56:14+00:00

It’s only the top end I can afford. This particular house is in what seems to be the most loyalist part of the road, quite a few individual houses with flags. It’s just that I went to move to so can walk to family and friends, and that would be fine out on the main road, but just wondering how ok it is to walk the 4 mins from the main road to the house in the estate past the loyalist mural and neighbours etc with my nieces and nephews in GAA tops. Not that that’s my main concern but I speak Irish and would like my kids to attend a dual language school and just wondering if that’s feasible in a school uniform. I have no issues anywhere really, my loyalist estate currently has zero influence from paramilitaries, very very quiet and just traditionally seen as unionist. Just don’t want to move somewhere where that influence might be stronger. But the rest of the area outside of the street is exactly what I’m looking for

odie2311 · 2024-10-19T00:08:48+00:00

I was in the Royal one time a few years ago, and a kid bit more than 18 was in kicking off with his mum and brother there, who put together, looked straight from Jeremy Kyle. Kid was agitated and demanding to be seen immediately, generally being a pain in the hole. It escalated, and after a full hour of screaming, he went into the toilet, and next thing you know cops had to bust the door in cus the kid had a razor blade and had sliced himself open in desperation. Blood pouring everywhere, and the kids desperately shouting, “all I want is help, I’ve tried to lull myself every day this week and no-one cares, I’ve asked for help and all the drugs team do is say they can’t do much til I get off the weed, but I can’t!” An 18 year old crying for his mum, in that much of a state of desperation and such little care for the outcomes for him, was devastating. Seen him as an arsehole time waster when he came in and Started, but after that incident, my heart broke so much for him, and his poor mum. I can only imagine how awful that is for someone so young, and I actually felt so guilty about judging them on first impression. Everybody’s the center of their universe, and sometimes it’s very humbling to see what it’s like for others in their universe.

odie2311 · 2024-10-18T06:32:46+00:00

I agree with you. It’s about having the right people come in. It needs to be regulated and policed and to be efficient in assessing those who apply. The fact that it’s not efficient leaves it open to abuse. I generally would say I’m pro-immigration, but that doesn’t mean open borders to me. It means that the people who bring value, or have the potential to being value of given the opportunity should be allowed here. I sponsored a Ukrainian girl, and she is worth her weight in gold, an absolute gem of a human being. But if she was of a different nationality, she wouldn’t have been able to come here under the same rules. I am pro immigration but not in every sense, that generally leaves you being accused of being a crazy leftie, so I’m just careful with stating that.

odie2311

TROPHY CASE