Suggestions for buying 3 Bed House under £ 525,000

chami1982

Hello,
We are new to UK so trying to gather as much feedback towards my house purchase.

My criteria:
1. 3 Bed room and 2 bathroom house
2. Within catchment area of Outstanding rating primary ( i have a 3 year old)
3. Within 60 min commute to Bank Station/Fenchurch Street
4. Good Neighborhood
5. Max 520K budget

About Us:
34 year old Indian couple and 3 year old kid and have lived in US, Nordics and moved to UK in 2016.
I am in Sales/Consulting role in Multinational IT Services Co and my wife is in Consumer Goods industry.

Will appreciate if you can suggest which post codes and suburbs to look out for .
I am currently searching in Sutton (SM2), Carshalton Beeches, Carshalton, Purley Oaks, but not aware of areas in East, North, Northwest...

thank you

SuboJvR

Check out Kent as well. Cheaper than Surrey and mainline rail links to London Bridge, Charing Cross, Cannon St, Victoria, Waterloo East, Stratford International and St Pancras International depending on area.

Sevenoaks is on the mainline to London Bridge/Waterloo East/Charing Cross. Further out on this line you have Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. Waterloo east, short walk to Waterloo and Ciry Line to Bank.

Slightly further east you will find West Malling/Kings Hill (with excellent schools), on the mainline to London Victoria and from December 2018 will have services to London Bridge/Blackfriars/City Thames link

Slightly further north you have Dartford which is closer to London but I've no idea about schools I'm afraid.

On the High speed rail line you have Ebbsfleet, Gravesend, Rainham, Sittingbourne etc. Not sure if schools are as good as the previously mentioned areas - everyone always talks about the schools in Tunbridge Wells/Tonbridge/Sevenoaks/West Malling.

I grew up in Epsom. The house prices there are crazy now but it remains a great area. But I can see that Kent offers a bit more value for money in some ways, even if the train may take 15-25 mins longer depending where you go. Sevenoaks is a lovely area, it's the closest of all I've mentioned but the more expensive.

In context you can get a new build 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house in West Malling for £375k at the moment.

zagubov

You're right to be looking south of the river; there's bargains to be had in nice areas. If you've kids, the schools in Kingston, Sutton boroughs are generally excellent. Sutton, Cheam, Carshalton, Wallington. New Malden, Worcester Park also.

kinger101

chami1982 wrote: »

Hello,
3. Within 60 min commute to Bank Station/Fenchurch Street

And once you get to Bank, it's only a fifteen minute walk though the labyrinthine tunnels until you find an exit. If you need to by Bank, Liverpool St, Cannon St, Moorgate and Blackfriars are probably viable overground stations too.

hazyjo

Leigh-on-Sea! Moving there myself. Trains into Fenchurch Street.

volare11512

hazyjo wrote: »

Leigh-on-Sea! Moving there myself. Trains into Fenchurch Street.

I was going to suggest Chalkwell as it is a bit of a faff to get to Leigh station (I grew up in Leigh-on-sea).

enthusiasticsaver

Surrey is expensive. We lived in Carshalton and it is a nice area but I don't think you would get what you want for £525k. There are a lot of 1930s houses in Carshalton and Wallington but a lot will need updating and the traditional layout is just 3 beds and 1 bathroom unless it has been extended.

Kent is better value. You could look at Bromley, Orpington and Dartford, Bexley. Good schools there but slightly more house for your money.

justme111

Do not be fooled by "outstanding" classification of a school. I actually would AVOID ones that are classed as such. My daughter just finished primary and my partner has been in primary education on various positions for the last 30 years just to give you a background to my opinion.

hazyjo

volare11512 wrote: »

I was going to suggest Chalkwell as it is a bit of a faff to get to Leigh station (I grew up in Leigh-on-sea).

Not if you live near Leigh Station (I'll only be an 8 min walk away)

Chalkwell is nice too! Offered on a house there and interested in a couple of others. At least there's the odd fast train from Leigh which you'll get a seat on. They can get very busy.

Good schools around the area/s too.

caronoel

I would suggest Guildford or Godalming. Really lovely towns, with good access to lovely countryside and about 45 minutes to Waterloo.

Surrey is much nicer than Kent or Essex.

gettingtheresometime

I'd consider renting in whatever area you choose, just to make sure you actually want to live there!