commuting to london/chelmsford - where is best?

vouch0r

hi all,

my gf is on 27-28k and is likely to get a new job in chelmsford, i currently work in farringdon zone 1 on 25k and do not want to leave my role in london as i enjoy it.

i am looking at a mortgage with a possible 30k deposit plus inheritance in the next 6 months of around 50k so will have a sizable sum soon to put down on a house.


we are looking at colchester we recently visited and the house prices are really realistic and get a good place for the money of around 150k-160k! much better than london

only issue is commute costs of 480 per month to London! so i was wondering are there any similar areas like colchester but with closer links to London so as to not be so much money to commute?

i am looking to put the mortgage in my name only and my gf pays "rent" so if anything did go sour we do not have to worry about that side if things,

so what areas are near chelmsford that offer good commute prices and is a nice area for getting your first place? preferably house but dont mind flat.

elverson

If you want a cheaper commute presumably you want somewhere closer to London than Colchester. How about Billericay or Ingatestone?

There are other options for the mortgage which would enable both your salaries to be considered for affordability.

t0rt0ise

Why not go in between Chelmsford and London, somewhere like Brentwood? Or anywhere else on the line between the two.

flea72

Why not chelmsford? As then only one of you would need to make a distance commute?

Any nearer to london and the house price increases, totally outweight the reduced travel costs.

Cornucopia

Braintree is cheaper whilst not being quite as far as Colchester.

Or Chelmsford itself?

noh

Housing in Chelmsford and closer to London is probably too expensive for your budget.
Try Braintree or Witham.

flea72

Braintree is on a branch line, so need to change at witham. Season ticket is £50/m less than colchester, but housing is more expensive than colchester. Then the gf would have to pay to commute to Chelmsford

Tbh i dont think the OP is going to find anywhere on East coast or C2C routes that commute costs will be low enough to offset the rise in housing costs

On £25k a year, i could just about afford/justify the commute to london, but i couldnt afford to buy a house nearer to london than colchester, in reality ipswich would give more sq/m.

hazyjo

Would definitely stay in Chelmsford. Fast trains to London. Pointless paying for two commutes.


It's cheaper to travel to London from Leigh on Sea than Billericay but that would be awkward getting to Chelmsford. (C2C line.)


Colchester is okay but not the nicest of places. There have been mentions on this board before so try a search (actually, I'm in Colchester this weekend ).


Brentwood isn't direct to Chelmsford either, and it can be pricey. I lived there and it was my least favourite home out of them all (7). Shenfield would be a better bet with fast trains. I think that may go direct to Chelmsford, or maybe it was another change, I forget. I did get the bus from Brentwood to Chelmsford once which wasn't too painful.


Let us know how you get on.




Jx

wjr4

Try Wickford. I live in Chelmsford and used to live in Wickford. You can get straight to London from Wickford, and your girlfriend only has to drive up the A130 - assuming she drives? The only issue is the train fare still but anywhere in Essex has an expensive train fare. The Wick Meadows is the best part of Wickford and it takes approximately 10-20 minutes to walk to the station - depending on which part of it you live in. If you choose to live in Chelmsford make sure you check which part - there's a lot of parts that used to be nice but I wouldn't want to live in now! We are currently looking at Braintree houses but the commute for me to get to work would be 1-1.5 hours in the car - suppose it is the sacrifices you make to get a nice house!

wjr4

Also a quick note but if you are first time buyers with HTB ISAs - it is likely you won't get a house for under £250k in Chelmsford

Mrs.CJP

Im moving to Wickford, have family there and Billericay and Ingatestone. I also know a little of Chelmsford

My recommendation is

Wickford
Rayleigh
Hullbridge (but you will have to get a bus to Rayleigh
Brentwood
Chelmsford

Property in Billericay and Ingatestone is ridiculously high. You will be paying for the postcode and you really don't get much for your money.

Wickford is the next town and is an up and coming area. Prices aren't dropping and there is definetly a boom there. The only thing is that the availablity of property isn't lots so things go quick. Also Wickford is known as Bunaglow Land so lots of old properties; however there is the 'Wick Meadows' estate that has lots of new builds.

Rayleigh and Hullbridge is closer to Chelmsford and there are some good properties and reasonable prices. There is a reasonable commute, so you'll find lots of people travelling to London or Chelmsford.

Chelmsford has lots of choices but not sure about prices of property.

Brentwood station is now under TFL so been quite abit of movement in the market but I think they're getting costly.

Hope this helps