Help needed in Deciding the place to Buy a house- FTB

macgyver

Hi there,
I am a FTB and looking to get on the property ladder. I am planning to buy a house preferably semi-detached or even end-terraced. My budget is upto 250K and I am looking to buy in the Kent area close th London as I work in London. I have looked a couple of properties in the Bromley area but I an only get a decent flat in that budget. So I have decided to move a furthur out. I am now looking in orpington area, particularly arrount St Marys Cray station since that is the line which suites me.
Does anyone over here live in that area (orpington, St Pauls Cray, Swanley etc) or has any information about this area and would like to advise me regarding that.
What I need to know is (particularly more about St Pauls Cray):
1) Safety issues
2) Hows the locality and local markets?
3) Resale value of the houses

Many thanks for looking in:A

Tassotti

I live not far from the areas you are considering.

Personally, I wouldn't choose either of the Crays or Swanley. Many travellers that way. Have a look at Sidcup.

For your budget, you could get a 3 bed semi or a 4 bed house.

eg

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-5668045.rsp?pa_n=16&tr_t=buy

Journey by overground 30 mins to London Bridge.

Good area.

Tass

macgyver

Many thanks Tassotti. Thats a nice house I agree but Sidcup does not suit me for commuting.

maryjane01

Journey by overground to London Bridge 30 minutes! I love it when people quote things like that. I live in Hither Green and when they are selling the Meridian development there they advertise 11 minutes to London Bridge. I think it has taken me 11 minutes only twice. Last week one morning it took me 40! The trains are really appalling and overcrowded. My favourite excuse from the train operators for a delay was congestion due to cancellations!

Debt_Free_Chick

macgyver wrote:

Many thanks Tassotti. Thats a nice house I agree but Sidcup does not suit me for commuting.

Just curious as to the difference between commuting from St Mary's Cray and Sidcup. I've done both and there's nothing really in it, although without checking the timetable, my perception is that Sidcup is a better commute and plenty of parking before about 7.45am

macgyver

Debt_Free_Chick wrote:

Just curious as to the difference between commuting from St Mary's Cray and Sidcup. I've done both and there's nothing really in it, although without checking the timetable, my perception is that Sidcup is a better commute and plenty of parking before about 7.45am

Thanks for the advice.

I need to be on the line which goes to blackfriars/Victoria and I cannot find it starting from Sidcup and really i donot want to be changing trains veryday to my workpplace

Debt_Free_Chick

macgyver wrote:

Thanks for the advice.

I need to be on the line which goes to blackfriars/Victoria and I cannot find it starting from Sidcup and really i donot want to be changing trains veryday to my workpplace

Ah, that explains it. Yes, Sidcup trains are London Bridge, Cannon St & Charing Cross.

Limited service, between SMC & Victoria