Leave an 'up and coming' area for a house?

hazyjo

Only thing I would add in favour of North Chingford, it's not quite as 'up and come' as Buckhurst Hill (and is subsequently currently cheaper) (NB not north of station or west of Station Road where houses are over a million). The OP liked the 'slightly shabby but small community feel of Leytonstone' - that definitely fits more Highams Park or Chingford than Buckhurst Hill.

Agree BH is lovely though - considered buying there myself before (and lost a townhouse in Epping which I actually prefer to BH).

My train was cancelled last Fri. 15 min wait for the next (and I'd arrived at station 10 mins early) so rather than waste 25 mins at Liv St, it's easy to hop on a Central Line tube to South Woodford and get the 179 bus back to N. Chingford. You're in S. Woodford within 20 mins or so, so it's a very easy fallback option. (Also easy to get a bus to Walthamstow if probs on line.)

Train is only 25 mins from Chingford to Liv St, or 10 mins to Walthamstow for Victoria Line, then 15 mins to Kings Cross, or 20 mins to West End.

The other thing I didn't like about Brentwood was everything was just a chain. Most restaurants in the High Street, most shops - I like the independent side of Chingford. You have a few (Cafe Nero, Belgique, banks/supermarkets, etc), but not like Brentwood where it's more 'shopping centre' sort of shops.

Signed, the North Chingford Tourist Board x

smfdurham

Daniel54 wrote: »

For a start,I know Buckhurst Hill and surrounding area well.Hazyjo has given you a good steer over North Chingford and sound advice on areas best avoided for commuters like Chingford Hatch.

I was going to reply in a slightly different manner,but on re-readingyour OP as quoted above your emphasis is all about your property as an investment,not about where you want to live and your plans for the future.

I say this because these semi rural areas with easy commuting are predominantly areas for families and many of the professional couples who move here to flats subsequently upgrade to a house when they need more space.So it as about where you want to live and how you plan for the future.You correctly identify that the extra 10 minutes on the Central Line makes a big difference to the demographics of the area.

Properties don't change hands very often here..There is very little for sale in your price bracket at the moment for this reason

Over time the combination of a decent and safe area with easy commuting means that your investment should be more than secure,even if percentage increases in North Leytonstone might have been greater.

Don't be put off by TOWIE.Yes these Essex stereotypes do exist,but they are just a small sub-section of a larger and varied community and part of what you get as part of a nice area and easy commute in south west Essex ( although Brentwood has got more than its fair share !).Things don't suddenly change if I drive a couple of miles into a London postcode.

So jump on the tube,have a drink in the Three Colts and a walk to the lakes in Lords Bushes and buy yourselves something tasty in Waitrose or a coffee in Costa before heading back East.Its not Nirvana ( and North Chingford ticks most of the same boxes apart from the tube) but it is a decent area to live and raise a family and I would never swap my seat and a normal maximum 4 minute wait for a tube at peak times for the much longer journeys elsewhere.

Hope this helps

This is marvellous thank you. You're right in needs to be something that will pay off in the long term, but also something that will be a nice home too.

Definitely agree that there's not a lot available but when things do become available I think they're just about in our price range so I have some hope at least!

smfdurham

tootallulah wrote: »

Looking at the market I would really consider moving this year, taking your profit and investing in a house ASAP, it will always increase more than an ex-LA flat, by next year houses may be out of your price bracket.

Also look for the easiest commute, if you get a house you are likely to be in it for a while, the journey becomes an issue over time!

Unfortunately we can't move this year, we are paying off too much debt from the recent wedding and house last year. In 4-5 months we will be debt free and our affordability will be much better

I agree houses will go up, but our flat seems to be in an area that is going up in value faster, so hopefully we will be ok. I think being a little flexible about area, I.e. Chingford, loughton, Brentwood etc should hopefully give us at least some options next yr