for londoners:where would you buy a house if you were a foreigner?

maninthestreet

OP, you have many mutually exclusive requirements - unless you are prepared to pay significanty more than £170K, you are unlikely to meet any of them.

princeofpounds

Wow, can't believe people are discussing Croydon (yes, it is cheap, yes it has access, but it's a total dump with little green space), or Brighton (which ticks all the boxes but is not Greater London by any stretch of the imagination).

OP, you are likely to get different answers from people depending on which bit of London they know well. Very few people will know the South, East, North and West equally, and there are potential places in all directions.

If you are intending to fly in, you probably want to be in the South (for Gatwick), West (for Heathrow) or maybe North (for Luton). Access to the East from abroad is harder, even though there are some surprisingly nice Essex villages which have great access (even tubes).

As for looking for villages, you won't find true villages in Greater London, although there are still areas that retain a village character they will be firmly suburban.

So, here are some suggestions based on areas I know:

(EDIT: I just noticed the 170k criterion... I'm not sure you can do anything for this price in ANY of the areas I discuss below, except maybe Chislehurst).

Expensive, but will tick every box:

- Wimbledon & Wimbledon Village. Excellent village feel and access to town, really one of the best places to live in Greater London. Will still be a bit expensive, but don't forget that there will be areas directly adjacent which are much cheaper but require a bus trip to the station.
- Richmond. Similar to wimbledon, but rather than being centred on a common on the hill it is very much a riverside place.

Stepping down a notch on the expense ladder
- Barnes. Not so far from town but access is a little indirect. Cheaper as a result, still a bit villagey and not far from the river and a big nature reserve.
- Kingston. Train to London is a little slow but well within your limits, but much cheaper than richmond, has great shopping and life all of its own, and is a river town. Would very much recommend a look.
- Esher. Bit further out that Kingston, but quick direct train and the first real 'village' you get to on this line out of London. Centred around a horse racing track, so lots of events going on and feels green.

Other places to consider
- Dulwich. Beautiful, probably the one of the few 'real' villages (like wimbledon and highgate) left in London. Easy access into town and not too pricey as it's in the middle of South London surrounded but unfashionable areas. Lots of green space and nice pubs.
- Chislehurst. A bit further out in the South East, but a really pleasant spacious area and cheap too.

princeofpounds

Thinking a bit more about this price limit - are you aware that whilst 170 is about the average UK house price, the average price in Greater London is north of 300k?

That means that you will be forced to get somewhere significantly below the average in either location or size. And by significantly, I mean if you aren't looking to be in a grotty area of east london or in a studio flat then forget it. You will have to look at areas well outside of London, and that means far more than 45 minutes commuting.

BitterAndTwisted

I can't think of anything riskier than putting your life-savings into a property in a country/city you are not familiar with and hoping to rent it out when you're a thousand miles away. Being a landlord is not for the fainthearted, especially an amateur. I would advise against this in the strongest terms possible.

A £170k budget is very modest for London and the surrounding areas as well and doubt it would buy you anything which satisfies more than one of your criteria

bitsandpieces

Renting a flat and also using it for holidays is going to be a pain. Are you going to evict your tenant every time you want to use the flat for your holiday :eek: What if a tenant refuses to leave in time, or trashes the place? Really, I think you'd be making a rod for your own back.

Your budget is very tight. Property prices in London and around are high. Also - in terms of being useful to your children - if they're studying in London at a later date they will likely want to stay in university residences for at least part of the time (esp if coming from another country, this is a good way to meet other students).

I'd suggest investing the money as well as possible (if that means buying property, fair enough - but buy, rent and manage the place as an investment not a holiday home). London is a great place to visit - but I think you'd be better off just hiring holiday accommodation in or around the city with some of the income from your investment.

Jowo_2

Croydon is grim and is the least likely holiday destination I can think of.

Anyway, the OP has produced a fantasy list that can never be satisfied and the plans sound a complete nonsense, bordering on troll.

The OP should mug up on housing law which means the chances of swanning in to use the property for brief spells and letting it out between time is likely to be unmanageable.

Richard_Webster

The reality is that you are simply not going to get a house for £170 K in any half decent area of London.

OP wants a tube link - well I'd be interested to know what Houses on the St. Helier estate which is relatively near Morden tube cost now. It is a huge Council estate and I can't imagine it is that wonderful a place - may be somebody can put me right on what its like now and prices - I'm rather out of touch since I ran a small solicitors office in Morden 35 years ago!

Once you get out of London and out of easy commuting range prices fall. Southampton is just commutable but you should be able to find a 3 bed terrace or may be even a semi for £170K.

danieladam64

EagerLearner wrote: »

Buona sera Daniela - how far out in Km are you prepared to move? It might be somewhere like Hassocks or Brighton might be nice, you would probably only get a 2 bed flat though as they're very desirable areas, I am from Brighton so don't know much about London areas, but I am half Portugues/Englishe and know I love Brighton because it is English but also so colourful and a beautiful place to be, so close to London. Also you have access to lovely towns like Lewes with lots of Brisih history from Brighton, also lots of green spaces and of course the sea. Similar prices to London though!

Thank you EagerLearner, I am making up my mind and search out of the London Municipality, in one of the county next to london area.I think it is not important how far it is from London. In any case the train shouldn't take more than 30/40 minute to get London.I think that the train from Brighton and Hassocks ( this city is also near the sea?)take more, doesn't it?
Moreover, I should think to searc a place where the connections with London aeroports are good. Do you have any other advice?

danieladam64

Doozergirl wrote: »

That is some wish list! Cheap and safe and green and english. Capable of being a holiday let, presumably easily commutable from one of the airports.

Which airport will you be arriving at? That is really important as it can take hours to cross London as to get out in a different direction you normally have to travel into the centre to one of the main terminals and come back out again. It would be better if you were buying on the same side as the most convenient airport.

Well, i live in Milan and the airport I will be arriving could either heathrow, gatwick, stansted.And London city airport, but I do not know where it is exactly.

danieladam64

brit1234 wrote: »

Personally I would go out side London for the real England, London is turning to a big dump. Its house prices and rents are liable to fall lossing you lots of money. Not a place i would choose to bring children up.

Thank you brit1234, In fact i'm going to make up my mind and search an area uotsde London....but for me it could be even more difficult!
Have you any idea fro the kick off?