Luton Where to buy?

harrys_dad

Lioness_Twinkletoes wrote: »

Christ, that looks awful - on every level!

That is so pokey, barely 400 square feet (plus stairs/landing/bathroom etc). So £400 a useful square foot for top floor flat in commercial area backing on to the railway line. Sheesh.

harrys_dad

harrys_dad wrote: »

That is so pokey, barely 400 square feet (plus stairs/landing/bathroom etc). So £400 a useful square foot for top floor flat in commercial area backing on to the railway line. Sheesh.

Correction, there is not even a bathroom, jut a shower room!

Willow101

I think the challenge is, whereas five years ago £160k would have got you a three bedroom house, now it's likely to get you a two-bed flat. The thing is, commuters and investors have now got Luton on their maps and prices are rising fastest in Luton than many other places in the commuter belt. If your friend can, it would be worth pushing budget to £200k atleast otherwise having a look at other areas as well as Luton or being open to a flat (the ones on the old Bedford road, opposite the park currently on rightmove are in a lovely area).

LittleMax

Do they qualify for shared ownership? - if so I would have thought a shared ownership in MK may be affordable and a better option than Luton.

manuce

Thanks guy for some super fast feedback.

Sharedownership is not an option for them considering its issues like
high maintenance , over priced properties and risk or sub standard works. Plus one can't sublet the property if circumstances changes etc etc.

how about if they stretch their budget to 200k can they get in a nicer area in Luton or around Luton/Bedford?

Thanks

Willow101

To be honest I think even £200k will be a push in Luton - commuters & investors have been snapping them up and pushing prices up.

The reality is that £200k doesn't get very much and the challenge is harder if you want to be in a nice area. I think one thing they need to ask themselves is what are the main priorities and which order they come in: ie. Rank the following: schooling / train station / flat vs house / garden/ area / price

I would consider something like this in Luton:

Cowper Street, Town Centre
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54553465.html (Excellent school, town centre location)

Ramridge Road, Round Green, Luton, LU2 0TQ
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59393828.html (Round Green is a nice-ish area near stopsley, good local amenities and not too far from town / station)

Kings Chase Development
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43317484.html (Old Bedford Road area is nice, away from town centre hustle & bustle but within walking distance)

Foot

In Bedford I saw this: Edward Road, Bedford
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54642835.html (but I don't know as much about Bedford - you do seem to get more for money though).

ratechaser

200k ought to open up parts of Stevenage and Hatfield as well - different rail line so not sure if that is significant, but personally I'd prefer it to the Thameslink line if getting into London. While these may not be the greatest locations either, I'd take both of them in a heartbeat over Luton...

Did a quick RM search and a few came up, not had a chance to look at schools though...

lincroft1710

Willow101 wrote: »

To be honest I think even £200k will be a push in Luton - commuters & investors have been snapping them up and pushing prices up.

The reality is that £200k doesn't get very much and the challenge is harder if you want to be in a nice area. I think one thing they need to ask themselves is what are the main priorities and which order they come in: ie. Rank the following: schooling / train station / flat vs house / garden/ area / price

I would consider something like this in Luton:

Cowper Street, Town Centre
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54553465.html (Excellent school, town centre location)

Ramridge Road, Round Green, Luton, LU2 0TQ
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-59393828.html (Round Green is a nice-ish area near stopsley, good local amenities and not too far from town / station)

Kings Chase Development
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43317484.html (Old Bedford Road area is nice, away from town centre hustle & bustle but within walking distance)

Foot

In Bedford I saw this: Edward Road, Bedford
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54642835.html (but I don't know as much about Bedford - you do seem to get more for money though).

The Kings Chase is a big development with several different blocks, about 20 years old, fairly nice position. That flat is one of the smaller 2 bed styles, one double, one single, hence the price, possibly lowest for a 2 bed there.

Cowper St and Ramridge Rd are in OK areas but both illustrate what you get for £200K, basic small 2 bed Victorian terrace, walk straight into living room, ground floor bathroom, small reception rooms. Cowper St probably has parking problems.

Edward Road isn't in the best of areas and did suffer with parking problems from the hospital.

I think Willow's post demonstrates that your friend really needs more than £170K to buy in a reasonable area.

lincroft1710

ratechaser wrote: »

200k ought to open up parts of Stevenage and Hatfield as well - different rail line so not sure if that is significant, but personally I'd prefer it to the Thameslink line if getting into London. While these may not be the greatest locations either, I'd take both of them in a heartbeat over Luton...

Did a quick RM search and a few came up, not had a chance to look at schools though...

I'm surprised you can get a 2 bed in Hatfield for £200K. Stevenage has a lot of ex-council/development corporation properties.

Mallotum_X

At £170k your friend is going to have to look at flats or run down houses in limited locations.

If the train is needed then 2 bed flats can be bought in nice blocks near Leagrave station for around that price either in Leagrave itself, or nearby Sundon Park.