Would you buy in the "up and coming" area

kwmlondon

cwcw wrote: »

Yes, let's celebrate.

I've given several reasons for why I like where I live, and we've both given several reasons why London is bad, so what are the good things to offset the bad? They must outweigh the bad in your eyes for you to still choose to live there.

Okay...

On Saturday I went to see Siouxie Sioux and The Banshees. On Tuesday I went to a public talk in the St. Barts Victorian Pathology Museum. Wednesday I went to a nightclub in Camden and on Thursday I saw Iggy Pop. Last night I went to see Stewart Lee doing some "in-progress" work in Soho. I cycle through Covent Garden every day, I run along the Thames past the London Eye, Westminster, St. Paul's and next week I'm going to go and see the Pompeii exhibition in the British Museum.

In London I meet wonderful people from all over the world, I find it friendly and the people are great fun.

It's not cold and unfriendly, it's just that when you're getting to where you're going you get your head down and ignore the world. I often talk to people in bars and shops and nightclubs. When I go out I often see people I know.

BUT....

When I want to I can slip quietly into the crowd and be one of millions.

I love this place.

There's so much going on, I'll never even scratch the surface.

And the parks!

Look down when you fly over and you'll see the hundreds of parks and green spaces.

I know, it's hellish in so many ways. I'm not stupid or blind to its faults, but this city makes me smile every time I cycle/ride through it. I love Paris, New York, San Francisco - they're all great. I grew up in the countryside, spent a few years living in Manchester and it's all good.

BUT

They'll take me out of this city feet first.

hannhol

We've just bought in Leytonstone, 2 bed ex LA maisonette in a small block of 10 similar properties £190k needs about £15k work on it, which we're getting done now.

Certainly if I had a choice between here and Canning Town this would win hands down, so if the OP is looking for 'up and coming' in the East London area, it's definitely worth looking around a bit more.

Some really nice properties in Leytonstone, the area is very much 'up and coming' as they say. I'm from just down the road, and my family have lived in and around the area for over 30 years. So we were able to buy with a degree of confidence that things seem to be on the up. Certainly Crossrail going through Forest Gate seems already to be making a difference there (albeit slowly). Someone has already mentioned Wanstead which is a lovely area although getting expensive, still relatively reasonable for 2 bed flat type properties.

Also for interest I'm not "young, rich and stupid" I was born here, my family and friends are here, and as a Londoner I don't really have anywhere else to go. Maybe if I had more money I would have bought in somewhere like Clapham*, but I don't feel like I've made any significant compromises.

* of course I wouldn't, that's south of the river! ;-)

Lilly_L

So true its always down to money I guess.; when u have £5million as a cash buyer doubt any would consider the up and coming. everything just boils down to money at the end of the day

Lilly_L

In fact I did consider Leytonstone and been there for a few times. but when I did my research i could not find any major government regeneration scheme or council injecting money or any major transport station being built there. although yes it looks less of a dump compared to Canning Town for sure lol

kwmlondon

Lilly_L wrote: »

So true its always down to money I guess.; when u have £5million as a cash buyer doubt any would consider the up and coming. everything just boils down to money at the end of the day

Well, money brings fewer compromises. The less money you have the more you have to prioritise. You CAN get a place for under £250k in London easily. You can have ONE of the following:

Space
Location (nice area)
Garden
Convenience (for transport)
Character
Potential

The more money you have the fewer compromises you have to make.

hannhol

Lilly_L wrote: »

In fact I did consider Leytonstone and been there for a few times. but when I did my research i could not find any major government regeneration scheme or council injecting money or any major transport station being built there. although yes it looks less of a dump compared to Canning Town for sure lol

but what do you want from a transport link? Leytonstone is already well served by the central line, and the much improved London Overground takes you north or if you go one stop along south you'll be in Forest Gate which is getting Crossrail in 2019 (the two stops are a couple of minutes walk apart).

If you're looking for somewhere that has a new transport scheme then look along Crossrail for sure, but look beyond Canning Town (it's not the only stop) and bear in mind there's still about 6 years to go before it's fully implemented.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

The thing about "up and coming" areas is that not ALL of London can up and come. The scum still have to live somewhere.

You are truly limiting yourself if you are only looking at Tube routes; the overland routes of SE London are very good.

I love living in London. Yes, other cities have theatres and museums, but please don't embarrass yourself by pretending that they're anything like as good as the West End and the (free entry) British Museum, Natural History Museum, National Gallery etc. I can have a spontaneous evening of culture any night of the week knowing I can stay out til whenever with trains til past midnight. It's not just that people earn more here, it's that there's a much huger range of options should you lose your job or want to change careers.

I spent the first 18 years of my life living in the sticks; woeful bus service, provincial night clubs, small town gossip, people getting excited about the opening of an out of town Nandos etc. No thanks.

Lilly_L

transport link in Leytonstone is quite good no doubt about that, but to me is that if i know there will be a big station build in a few years time that ll add big advantage that is all. and yes by the time cross rail is finished in 2017 theres a big possiblity that Custom House/canning Town would be out of reach again like many Docklands development areas.

and yes I understand overground link is not too bad, but when u canhave lines taking u directly to all the main stations in Central London Overground seems a bit weak thats all. Im not saying its not good just to say by comparison. its the same that I acknowledge the fat that Canning Town is a sh*t hole no doubt lol but it is true that the transport link is better than the SE route. these 2 dont necessarily contradict.

Lizling

demontfort wrote: »

Typical London Buyer is young

There speaks a poster completely unfamiliar with London, where the average FTB is aged, what, 36 is it now? I'll feel free to dismiss the rest of the post as uninformed ranting now.

hannhol

Lilly_L wrote: »

transport link in Leytonstone is quite good no doubt about that, but to me is that if i know there will be a big station build in a few years time that ll add big advantage that is all. and yes by the time cross rail is finished in 2017 theres a big possiblity that Custom House/canning Town would be out of reach again like many Docklands development areas.

time scale for full implementation of Crossrail is 2018/2019