Episode Information Manchester & Hull

Date Published:

25/06/2008

Back in 2004, Kirstie and Phil pulled out all the stops to find lovebirds Howard and Joanne the perfect home in a beautiful part of north Manchester, together with a nice little rentable flat in Hull. But two years on, what is life like for this fab couple?

Everyone would like a 'dream-sequence' sunnier existence where commuting is a thing of the past and the mortgage is minuscule. Relocation, Relocation has met a host of people and families who have done something about it, and this week Kirstie and Phil revisit one of their favourite success stories.

Thirty-something lovebirds Howard Green and Joanna Holme were desperate for their own nest together. He was a wild holiday rep enjoying sun, sea and other things beginning with 's'. She fell for him on a well-deserved break. Howard was so enamoured that he decided to abandon his wild ways and opt for a desk job near Manchester. Unfortunately, Joanna lived nearly an hour and a half away, with her parents in Cumbria.

So they came up with a bold plan to buy a home together north of Manchester.

But that wasn't all they wanted. Howard lost £20,000 on a stock market crash and his retirement was looking to be pretty cash-strapped so he wanted to buy a nice little rentable flat in Hull. And they wanted both properties for £190,000.

Kirstie and Phil went all-out to find Howard and Joanne a perfect place that married the convenience of a town with a true Lancashire rural setting.

But two years on what's been happening? Kids? A wedding? Big home improvements? What is life like for this fab couple and is there anything Kirstie and Phil can do to help?