Where to buy a 3 bed with 360K?

LostBuyer

Hi all,

I have been living in the UK for 5 years, renting, always in London. Now, the time to buy has come. Already got the approval from two lenders. The crucial question is where to buy? I intend spend up to 360K within 45 commuting time. I work mainly in the City with IT.

If any of you have done some home search recently, any suggestions of towns to live with family and child (primary school) with that budget, time? I know loads of property websites, but they don’t tell you if a given area/town is nice or bad.

Do you need to live within a walking distance to the local railway station to commute? How do you get to you station? I am completely lost on this. Any help, suggestion or details from your home search or commuting experience are very welcome!

Thanks in advance.

Lost Buyer

peachyprice

You could try Epping in Essex, it's a lovely little town, has houses in your price range and has the added benefit of being on the Central line, 40 mins to Liverpool Street.

bunty109

Hertford has great schools for primary and secondary and commute is ok. I prefer to Epping (and I'm an Essex girl!).

Yorkie1

Broxbourne (not far from Hertford) is about 20-25 mins out of London and you'll get a 3-4 bed for that money.

onlyroz

Woking, Reading or Guildford would all fit the bill.

rach29

Upminster? Great schools, tube line & 25mins overground to the City

neverdespairgirl

onlyroz wrote: »

Woking, Reading or Guildford would all fit the bill.

Reading isn't 45 minutes from the City!

Counting_Pennies_2

Reading is 25 mins on the train to Paddington

lostinrates

LostBuyer wrote: »

Hi all,

I have been living in the UK for 5 years, renting, always in London. Now, the time to buy has come. Already got the approval from two lenders. The crucial question is where to buy? I intend spend up to 360K within 45 commuting time. I work mainly in the City with IT.

If any of you have done some home search recently, any suggestions of towns to live with family and child (primary school) with that budget, time? I know loads of property websites, but they don’t tell you if a given area/town is nice or bad.

Do you need to live within a walking distance to the local railway station to commute? How do you get to you station? I am completely lost on this. Any help, suggestion or details from your home search or commuting experience are very welcome!

Thanks in advance.

Lost Buyer

I think you need to start from where you mainly work and which are the best main line stations and work out that way. Usually that will right off at least one side of Town.

We live the wrong side of London and the extra leg of crossing from the Coty to the 'right' main line station for DH is a bit of a PITA on a Friday evening and Monday morning (he only weekly commutes) and on a daily commute that seemingly little extra change could make ALL the difference to where you end up living.

peachyprice

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

Reading is 25 mins on the train to Paddington

Which is the opposite side of town to the City.

lostinrates

Counting_Pennies wrote: »

Reading is 25 mins on the train to Paddington

Exactly the situation my husband finds him self in on a Friday and a Monday, Getting to and from padding ton from the City is not inconsiderable consideration to a commute if you are buying for that commute.

Of course one might not uproot a family if a job changes and with it location, but of you have the chance to get it right and there is no reason not to live on the 'wrong' side for your place of work its worth bearing in mind. (For us there is some reason to, we considered not living west, but its right for us)