Help to find a location for first time buyer in london

xyz123

hi guys

just want to get some feedback from someone to help me.

We are curently renting and looking to buy our first home. Budget is around 300k. Ideal home would be 3-4 bedroom with a garden and decent schools nearby and a safe area. (pretty sure that's what everyone wants...)

Can someone point to some locations either in london or somewhere in outer counties with reasonable season ticket where we can get on the property ladder.

at the moment we both work in east london but that may change so to be honest as long as home is on a tube line it's ok, or if its on outer counties then preferably comuting into central london (waterloo/london bridge etc)...

i know this is a very generic quesiton but any help is appreciated. thanks very much

Elsewhere

How about a nice 3 bedroomed house on the edge of Slough in a quiet, respectable cul-de-sac? I have one to sell... Slough is 20 minutes by train from Paddington.

amcluesent

Gravesend, v.fast line into St Pancras or Chessington, two stations serving Waterloo

BitterAndTwisted

You might find these sites useful:

http://www.commutefrom.com/

http://www.where-can-i-live.com/londonproperty

pinkarsenalprincess

Gravesend? Horrid place.

hazyjo

North Chingford might be a good one (or maybe Highams Park) - both E4. Reasonable prices still. Easy access to London (especially if you're working in East London at the mo with the possibility of moving into Central London). I'm there at the moment. Heard schools are okay but no real experience of them. Overheads into Liverpool Street - or a bus from Highams Park goes to Woodford station so easy for Central Line, or change at Walthamstow on train for Victoria Line.

Jx

FinAdv

Hi,

Yes I agree Gravesend is not a very nice area to live and moreover the ticket prices to London are quite pricey.

XYZ123, I've been living in the East London area for last 3 yrs or so. If you go towards zone 1-2-3, then you wont be able to find anything within your budget. If you come out a bit towards zone 4-5. One of the best places to stay safetly wise and schools wise is wanstead, snaresbrook, south woodford in the east london area. Post codes are E11 and E18. E11 is also Leytonstone (but again not good area) but part of it is wanstead. Its not very cheap to find property in this area since its very nice and people dont move out very much. But, you will have to do a bit of search.

Also, if you go towards zone 5, like Chigwell and Buckhurst Hill, property prices drop and you should be able to find something within your budget. All these areas that I mentioned have central line connectivity which is a very good and fast underground line. 15-20 minutes to liverpool street.

Best of luck!

brit1234

Slough


Gravesend


Chigwell

johnthebar

I'm an FTB in London and we are currently buying a place in E17, walthamstow. We're currently living in a 1 bed in Islington and wanted to find an area where we could buy our own house. We are buying a 3 bed terrace, the asking price was £270k, and our offer was accepted at £250k.

You've a bigger budget than us and could get a very nice 3/4 bed house in this area. I know it's not the most salubrious place and a lot of people turn their nose up at it, but there are some nice parts like the village and where we are buying up near Lloyd Park. However there are also some areas I wouldn't want to live in. For me it's very handy to get into work at King's Cross on the Victoria Line. It's also London Zone 3 so no killer travel costs.

rakkibeth

How about Enfield?

EN2 is probably the nicest area, with train stations Gordon Hill and Enfield Chase.

Trains can go straight into Moorgate, or can change to tube at Finsbury Park so 15 mins to Victoria.

Good schools in the area, both Primary and Secondary, and not as built up as other areas so close to London.

Good luck with your search!

Jebrelli

I have family in Walthamstow and I like the area a lot, particularly around the Walthamstow Village bit.

The transport connections are pretty good (direct trains to Liverpool St, or underground on the Victoria line) and it has some very good schools (and some not so good!).

I also have friends in Edmonton who love the area, but the connections aren't as good.

You could easily afford 3+ beds in those areas.