OK guys, a bit of help here please

carolt

Out of interest, are you not considering selective schools? That's where I'm currently looking, mainly - bigger catchment, usually.

lostinrates

michaels wrote: »

Also is 20 mins on train direct to Kings X and 25 to City so actually much closer in time to London finance jobs than most of zones 2 and out..

Only thing I went to St Albans for was hearings in the Court there, always seemed an age to get there, but I had some inner Londin traval to do first, and also, different ''feel'' to my more normal Courts. I went to a dinner party there once too, in the car.

TBH, thats superb commute times, took us as long/longer (including walking to station) from Hampstead. How much is your season ticket?

phil_b_2

FOOK me sideways and stick a spanner up my @ss... that price is rediculous with a capital R. I know prices down south are way up on prices further north but I'd rather stab myself in the eye than buy that. We have just bought a house that is far superior in terms of size, curb appeal and layout for 175k (east leeds). The area is pretty good.

I'd never consider living anywhere near a place with those prices. Why work your @ss to the bone just to exist in a mediocre (at best) house .

Anyway, I think my opinoin is clear... good luck with your choice.

lostinrates

phil_b wrote: »

I'd never consider living anywhere near a place with those prices. Why work your @ss to the bone just to exist in a mediocre (at best) house .

when you look at what he could get for that money within the same sort of commute it looks pretty...ok. Local comparitives. But yes, this pricing is why many in the SE are frutrated.

fc123

I wasn't sure which post to quote but Miss Kool and LIR both brought up extra cost of house against paying for school.

I figure from the pics yours a still quite young.

No one knows what the future holds but in Brighton /Hove SE England, the LEA ''Solved'' this snag by bringing in a lottery system as the differences between schools were so great.
Now, in theory, it is meant to make no difference whether you live in a million pounder (that gets you into a freebie good secondary school) or in the east of the city (which meant many ended up paying as it's a nicer and cheaper part of town to live in IMO). All kids get a random chance.
A good bit of legislation IF it goes your way.

ETA ; This was a pilot schem to go nationwide..and it has been deemed a success too....so watch out as catchments are going to change soon regardless of the election.
My old dad, a mathmetician, worked out years back it was cheaper for us to pay for school and have a larger living space (based on extra mortage costs and the rest) in a cheaper area (and mainly cheaper due to not being in a good catchment area) so I would do some sums based on this.

It all depends how much of the house price is borrowed bla bla...but you can 'do' math so I would give it some thought.

To me, being down here, looks pretty average price.


Now, if I buy a freehold industrial unit in Leicester one day and have to move, I can live it large ....how cheap is it up there??? Man, it's like another world pricewise.

carolt

Well, I know from friends looking at St Albans that the girls' school entry is on some sort of lottery? Don't know the details. Does it not apply to any of the other schools?

TBH, if they've introduced it in some local schools, fc's suggestion that it might well apply to all seems highly likely.

Though I suppose you can weigh that against the fact that an incoming Tory govt will do all it can to get rid of lotteries.

fc123

carolt wrote: »

Well, I know from friends looking at St Albans that the girls' school entry is on some sort of lottery? Don't know the details. Does it not apply to any of the other schools?

TBH, if they've introduced it in some local schools, fc's suggestion that it might well apply to all seems highly likely.

Though I suppose you can weigh that against the fact that an incoming Tory govt will do all it can to get rid of lotteries.

But councils work differently...almost out on their own and , if they are Labour controlled, they will carry the lottery policy on. I don't think the tories will change the policy straight away...they will be too busy sorting out all the other rubbish...that is, if they get in...which I don't think they will.

Davesnave

St Albans won't be Labour controlled though, surely?

I agree postcode lottery is causing all kinds of headaches and it's been mooted that a solution will have to be found. There have been high profile cases of fraud in the media.

PasturesNew

In my day, schools weren't thought about. You went to the school in your village usually and you bought a house where you could afford and liked.

carolt

Ah, the old days...

PN, we have a girly thread going if you're interested - only of interest to those wishing to discuss tweed in the context of the economy (oh, and pretty men).

fc - did I hear you right? Do you seriously not think the Tories will get in?

I thought it was a foregone conclusion.