For those who have listened to the tales of the ‘Redcar Mafia’, even the prospect of snapping up a flat in the faded resort for a mere £20,000 pounds may not appeal.
So it is surprising how unthreatening a stroll through the town centre feels – and even more surprising to hear American accents among some of the visitors.
Like many resorts without the backbone of a Golden Mile, Redcar is looking a little rough around the edges these days.
But over the years, there have been racier stories – of drugs, car parks being frequented by prostitutes, and dogging in the sand dunes and popular local beauty spot The Gare.
The town also suffered 3,000 job losses when Redcar Steelworks shut down in 2015 leading to widespread unemployment and wage cuts.
House and flat prices, having reached rock bottom, have now started to rise – leading to a recent influx of people desperate to get a foot on the property ladder.
Coatham Road, just a short stroll from the sea front, is one street where three flats have recently changed hands – for £20k, £29,950, and one with a guide price of just £15k.
Estate agents say many of the local sales have been converted to upmarket Airbnbs on the seafront.
Some locals now hope Redcar’s reputation as a buyers’ heaven may prompt a tourist revival with a £200 million investment already on the cards for the town.
The jewel in the crown would be the planned 5,000 seat Coatham Arena on the site of the former historic music venue site of Coatham Bowl, expected to open in 2028.
However, locals are divided over whether the cheap housing will attract families who will improve the resort, or absentee landlords more interested in lining their pockets.
Residents complain there has already been an explosion of Houses in Multiple Occupation in the area, including close to the town centre.
The shared houses are blamed for attracting drug addicts and alcoholics who even break the windows of local charity shops for amusement.
One of the newest residents is Nina Done, 51, originally from Cambridge, who has gone from living in a caravan to finally buying her first home.
But buyers have to be selective, she warned, adding: ‘Some of the flats are really run down and would take would need a lot of work.
‘You can get a three bedroom house around here for £60,000. There are bad areas like anywhere else.
‘I think prices will start going up now because people are interested and they are putting some money into the area.
‘We were staying in a caravan because my husband works all over the place.
‘So we just got a flat ourselves for £45,000. It should put the place back on the map for tourists. Things are picking up around here and there are quite a few houses for sale.’
On the other hand, lifelong resident Sue Young, 64, cannot wait to move out – as soon as she scrapes the cash.
She said: ‘I think it is awful around here. Nothing gets better in Redcar. Everything is going downhill.
‘There’s nothing in Redcar apart from druggies. Whatever the prices of the houses are, it will not bring nicer people into the area.
‘It will just bring the same sort of people. I have lived here all my life and can’t wait to get out. I want to move to Saltburn – but it’s too expensive.’
Another incomer Andrew Kirkham, 67, a retired graphic artist, said: ‘I got my place for about £45,000 five years ago.
‘I do like the area. It costs a fortune to live somewhere like Saltburn and you would not want to live anywhere like Middlesborough.
‘So all in all it’s nice around here. There’s quite a few shops opened. So the High Street is not doing too badly.’
But born and bred in Redcar Ella Thompson, 17, said: ‘Some houses may be going cheap.
‘But the nice houses around here are still quite expensive. So I will be moving away. There are more options for young people elsewhere.
‘If you continue to live here, you have to commute to Middlesborough or Stockton upon teas to find jobs point There’s not much for people my age around here.’
Staring at the boarded up town centre shops, Simon Laverick, 53, said: ‘It’s a dump. What sort of residents are moving into these cheap places?
‘There are HMOs all over the place, including just around the corner. It is a ghost town. I was born here and back then we had a high street. Now it’s disgusting.
‘You have got boarded up shops and people even through bricks through the charity shop windows.’
Local traders, however, underlined that the cheap lodgings in the town provided the base to explore surrounding areas such as Whitby and Scarborough.
They said Redcar was already attracting a lot of visitors from other parts of the country, Scotland and overseas from America, using as a base more established resorts.
‘It is much cheaper to stay here than it is in Whitby. But it could become popular and it’s own right with a bit of luck,’ one snacks stall holder added.
Pensioner Sandra Underwood said: ‘I do like to come here and look at the sea even though the shops are a bit crap. But things are looking up.
‘Even though some shops I liked such as Miss Lily’s Gift shop have shut down recently, there are things going on.
‘They are building an arcade to link the high street with a promenade so that should be interesting.
‘My grandson loves the cinema here too. But we do have some odd people here. A lot of them are on drugs I think.’
Thomas Carter, 76, a retired labourer, said: ‘I do come here every day for something to drink and something to eat.
‘But the town is getting quieter and quieter. People do not seem to bother much with the place.
‘You do not see the sands full of people anymore like you used to do. So I can’t see the visitors ever coming back and the only reason I come here is to go to the pub. ‘
Natalie and Lee West were also skeptical that cheap house prices would attract people back to the area.
Natalie said: ‘I’m from Redcar originally but I left to get married because my husband said he wouldn’t move here. So we have ended up living in Skelton.
‘I don’t think that cheap houses alone are going to do much for the local economy and crime is a lot worse now than when I grew up here.’
Nodding in agreement, Mr West added: ‘Everyone wants to get their foot on the housing ladder so it is nice there is that opportunity here.
‘But with all the drugs and crime around here, I can’t see it being enough to regenerate the tourist economy. I think the decline has gone too far.’
Stephanie Flavin said ‘it is good that the housing market is still keeping going. I have been here 10 years and can say the biggest problem we have is HMOs.
‘There is no law against being an absentee landlor but they are buying up these properties and letting them to druggies and alcoholics.
‘Ordinary, decent families do not get a look-in when they can charge a collection of those sort of tenants £800 to £900 pounds a week per house.’
On positive note, up to £200 million could be in the pipeline under the Redcar Town Deal development expected to create 750 jobs.