Where to buy in London - 200k to spend

Lizling

thequant wrote: »

Take one of the latest up and coming areas, which has already gone. Balham


From Balham to Victoria, the journey time is 12 -14 mins,
From East Croydon, the journey time is 15 mins,

However, the walk from any part of Balham to the station is probably not going to take more than 15 minutes. The walk from the furthest part of Croydon to East Croydon station could easily be triple that. So it's potentially 15+14 minutes for Balham, compared to maybe 45+15 for Croydon. The comparison only works if you compare Balham to the small area of Croydon within about a mile of East Croydon station.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I lived in East Croydon for a while. It's certainly ugly and unglamorous, but the transport connections are superb. It also has a huge library, and lots of shops (chains rather than trendy indies). There are nice pubs if you know where to find them. There's no reason to go into West Croydon unless you're buying or selling drugs. South Croydon is more villagey, but takes significantly longer to get to East Croydon station.

200k isn't going to get you much; it's going to be a long way out, a bedsit, ex Council, or in an area that a sharp-suited estate agent describes as "vibrant and up & coming". As usual in London, you have to look at size/commute distance/locale and prioritise one. Only the very rich can have the best of all three.

cinnamon442

I second the South East burbs! Bexleyheath, Old Bexley, Belvedere, Abbey Wood, Erith, Sidcup, etc. We've just bought a two bed split-level maisonette in Crayford, juuust over 200K but there are plenty of properties of a similar size around here for under/on the border of 200K. And if you head to Erith, you could get houses for 200K.

As Crayford, etc is also within the London boundary, you can still use the Oyster card and travel is about £220 a month if you buy a monthly. Cheaper if you buy yearly. Travel into London Bridge is 25 minutes too, so it's not too bad. No underground so it's just national rail but as you're end of the line, it tends to be pretty reliable. The only downside travel-wise is that the last train is a bit before midnight so if you're out later than that, you'd have to get a night bus.

It benefits from a lot more green space than you'd get in Central though - we've got two huge parks next to our place and one is a country estate with butterfly garden, etc. Things are also a bit cheaper, like pubs/restaurants, because you're essentially in Kent. All the perks of London combined with the perks of Kent. Win.

SteveRadner

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

200k isn't going to get you much; it's going to be a long way out, a bedsit, ex Council, or in an area that a sharp-suited estate agent describes as "vibrant and up & coming". As usual in London, you have to look at size/commute distance/locale and prioritise one. Only the very rich can have the best of all three.

I've seen a few 1 beds that look good in places like New Cross, Sydenham and Hither Green so am hopeful I can find something for that money.

I'm least bothered about the commute distance as I don't tend to work in the same place for too long... I'm freelance and areas of London I'll be working change all the time, meaning there's little point buying somewhere based upon how easy it'll be for me to get to work now, as I'll be working somewhere totally different soon enough.

So moving further out not a worry. I'm even up for looking outside London, just not too far....

SteveRadner

cinnamon442 wrote: »

I second the South East burbs! Bexleyheath, Old Bexley, Belvedere, Abbey Wood, Erith, Sidcup, etc. We've just bought a two bed split-level maisonette in Crayford, juuust over 200K but there are plenty of properties of a similar size around here for under/on the border of 200K. And if you head to Erith, you could get houses for 200K.

As Crayford, etc is also within the London boundary, you can still use the Oyster card and travel is about £220 a month if you buy a monthly. Cheaper if you buy yearly. Travel into London Bridge is 25 minutes too, so it's not too bad. No underground so it's just national rail but as you're end of the line, it tends to be pretty reliable. The only downside travel-wise is that the last train is a bit before midnight so if you're out later than that, you'd have to get a night bus.

It benefits from a lot more green space than you'd get in Central though - we've got two huge parks next to our place and one is a country estate with butterfly garden, etc. Things are also a bit cheaper, like pubs/restaurants, because you're essentially in Kent. All the perks of London combined with the perks of Kent. Win.

Sounds pretty good! I'll have a look! Thanks!

Slownoris

I've bought a flat in Woolwich Arsenal. I really like the area - it feels safe, nice mix of nationalities and has really good transport connections already. And, of course, Crossrail is coming!

needabed

SteveRadner wrote: »

That's very interesting...
Do you know why they are unmortgageable?

There are many reasons it can be unmortgageable you'll have to ask the estate agent. That example is probably a concrete building which can be prone to concrete cancer - water getting in then freezing causing cracks and metal reinforcements to rust.

But estate agents are often wrong and a whole of the market broker maybe able to get a mortgage for the property.

Also mortgage companies are often wrong as some of these buildings have stood for decades with little maintenance work.

Some are half concrete and half brick, so developers come in and replace the concrete or get the relevant certificates to show the building is up to standard and usually double the value of the place.

SteveRadner

Slownoris wrote: »

I've bought a flat in Woolwich Arsenal. I really like the area - it feels safe, nice mix of nationalities and has really good transport connections already. And, of course, Crossrail is coming!

It's on the list - thanks!

hazyjo

New Eltham: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44994953.html (for a bit more if you can find it!)


Also check out Hornchurch. A bungalow http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46027891.html and a nice flat http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48102035.html for sale (along with other things).


Jx

sydenhambased

We currently live in Sydenham, are moving to the Hither Green end of Catford, and I often commute through New Cross to Greenwicj (where I studied).

Sydenham's fairly nice and has the benefit of the overground, but London Bridge trains take 18 mins. New Cross also has the overground and is closer to central, but it's still a bit of a grubby area. Hither Green lacks the overground but national rail can get you to London Bridge in EIGHT minutes and trains go through to Charing Cross or Cannon Street (big advantage as far as I'm concerned). As green as Sydenham too.