buying a London flat- doing the right thing?

Dithering_Dad

carolt wrote: »

Out of interest, as you mentioned boyfriend, and childcare on your SOA - are children likely within the next 10 years? Does boyfriend have his own place then? Just wondering what would happen if you did have kids and fancied a house or a different area, how you'd manage if you needed or wanted to take a maternity break?

Blimmin hell carol, no wonder you don't own a place, you're that busy worrying what may happen in 10 years time that you've forgotten to enjoy the 'now'.

If the OP decides to have kids in a few years time, then I'm sure they can sell up and get a more appropriate home for their family.

When I bought my first place, it was a starter home for myself. I wanted a family, but I didn't think 'ummm, better not get this 2 bed bungalow because if I meet Miss Right, get married and have 2 kids, we'll not fit into it. I'll hold on for a few years and save up for a 4 bed detached across from a good school with a park close by".

If we all waited for our middle aged life to catch up to us before buying a house, we'd never be able to afford it and would end up stuck in rented accomodation when we're well into our 30s/40s.

maryjane01

If it is to be a home and you have done your research on prices, go ahead and do it. I love the feeling of owning my own home.

If you are worried about remortgaging in 3 years time, why not go for a 5 year deal? (it sounds like a 10 year deal may be too long for you).

morg_monster

Didn't want to click to thank carol cos she dissed Balham (meanie!) but did want to say thanks for the times article. personally I don't think there's that much between Balham and Clapham these days. I don't know what you get extra for living in C over B apart from being 1 or 2 tube stops closer to central. Both are close to commons, the northern line (and Balham has the mainline too), there are plenty of nice houses and both have reasonable high streets (actually I think clapham high st is more minging than B!). clapham is full-on aspirational living and Balham is heading that way! It'll be Tooting next... ;-) actually I don't think Tooting'll ever get like that.

GracieP

morg_monster wrote: »

(actually I think clapham high st is more minging than B!).

I agree. I'm a recent south Londoner, and having read about the recent history of Clapham and Balham I was surprised at how much nicer Balham High St is than Clapham's. (Though Clapham does have a Bodeans. :T ) I think both areas are really nice right now, but fear that may not last. Remember, it isn't that long since Balham was voted worst high st in Britain.

meester

ds1980 wrote: »

i very much disagree with using money to pay for education. I very much agree with using money to buy a home.

I find it very silly that parents who are the chief educators in life want to pay someone else to do it. Crazy fools.

I find it very prudent and endearing that someone wishes to spend their hard earned cash on a home that they can be proud of.

Is this a wind-up?

You put a pile of bricks above your children? And you're more proud of your home than your children?

And given that you think it's wrong for the 'chief educators' to pay someone to educate their children, it must be even worse to put them in a school that's free, because they should be educating them themselves. Hmm, home-schooling, I think Youtube shows the outcome:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rebecca+sealfon&search_type=&aq=f

meester

pickledpink wrote: »

Ixwood,

I bet YOU'D love to live in said 'POXY FLAT'!

You sound bitter and jealous. You probably rent a POXY hole yourself.

Have you seen the flat this lady wants to buy? NO - you haven't! So how can you call it a POXY flat??!!

The properties in that area are BEAUTIFUL - and the people who live there are professional, well-educated and well-mannered. I doubt they've ever heard the word POXY; that word belongs to sink-estate scum.

Of which there are plenty in that area.....

My parents used to live in Clapham Junction, ugh, the helicopters flying over head (to catch the criminals), the scummy people everywhere, and when I went to visit the doctor in Balham, it was even worse, a lunatic running down the road with a knife, and when I went to the doctors, to even get in the surgery, the door was on a chain, which they opened with the chain on to be sure they weren't going to be murdered or attacked by some nutcase (not quite sure why they put up those posters saying 'please don't attack our staff', I doubt the scum can read).

byrneand

meester wrote: »

Of which there are plenty in that area.....

My parents used to live in Clapham Junction, ugh, the helicopters flying over head (to catch the criminals), the scummy people everywhere, and when I went to visit the doctor in Balham, it was even worse, a lunatic running down the road with a knife, and when I went to the doctors, to even get in the surgery, the door was on a chain, which they opened with the chain on to be sure they weren't going to be murdered or attacked by some nutcase (not quite sure why they put up those posters saying 'please don't attack our staff', I doubt the scum can read).

I think this is a bit extreme but what your saying is kind of true. It is all a comparison though. Clapham/Wandsworth is a lot nicer than 80% of London (e.g Bermondsey, anywhere east of Liverpool St, anywhere north east of Highgate, anywhere west of Holland Park... making very sweeping statements and not including absolutely lovely pockets).... Compared to the majority of other cities in the UK though, Clapham/Wandsworth would be considered to be in the least desirable 30% in terms of crime levels, standard of streets and community (bearing in mind I'm from Liverpool!). To my eyes and having a number of friends who live in the area in terms of house size and design the area in reality terms is actually fairly similar to Toxteth/Smithdown Road in Liverpool or Fallowfield in Manchester (with the exception of an additional Nando's or Bodean's kicking around).

The prices in London are inflated and that's because their are more people wanting to live there than there are houses - it's fairly simple supply and demand stuff. When you couple this with the higher salaries available in London it means people are prepared to pay more.

People seem to be suggesting that x or y is better because it's cheaper than Clapham and only 10 minutes further out. What people don't take into account is that that additional 10 minutes is actually making the journey at least 30% longer each day.. coupled witht the facts that it's not as easy as just looking at the nuber of tube stops since the distance between them is almost exponential as you move between zones (bit of exaggeration but you get what I mean!) means the average time it takes to get to a tube station from a home is longer as the network is less dense.

People need to make decisions based on their own circumstances and priorities. Carolt et al, these may not be the same as your circumstances and aspirations are all different.

ds1980

it appears my comments have brought on a wealth of niceities and not the usual doom mongering!

We're buying next month and can't wait.

best of luck and i wish you a happy future in your clearly lovely flat.

ds1980

meester wrote: »

Is this a wind-up?

You put a pile of bricks above your children? And you're more proud of your home than your children?

And given that you think it's wrong for the 'chief educators' to pay someone to educate their children, it must be even worse to put them in a school that's free, because they should be educating them themselves. Hmm, home-schooling, I think Youtube shows the outcome:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rebecca+sealfon&search_type=&aq=f

Youve clearly missed the point. Would you pay £27k a year for your child's education while living in a caravan?
I don't think so.

LillyJ

byrneand wrote: »

To my eyes and having a number of friends who live in the area in terms of house size and design the area in reality terms is actually fairly similar to Toxteth/Smithdown Road in Liverpool or Fallowfield in Manchester (with the exception of an additional Nando's or Bodean's kicking around).
.

There's a Nandos in Fallowfield! My Sister used to live near to it.