Should I buy in High Wycombe

getmore4less

Maxthebrave wrote: »

I'm from HW and personally you couldn't pay me to move back there. The town centre was violent and unsafe. I also found that although its a town of many different nationalities, people of different backgrounds struggled to mix and it created gangs of white, black and asian youths all looking to kill each other.
Its been 20 years since I knew it well so a lot may have changed and I hope for the better. The surrounding villages and towns are nice and well worth looking at.

I would say it was not as bad as that we used to go into town occasionally for work meetups.
One issue since is they developed a new shopping complex and the old town centre has all but got abandoned.

Another aspect is healthcare is a bit of a problem as they have moves some services to Aylesbury and Amersham so you can find yourself having to travel.

getmore4less

Kingsmead is one of the places I worked, right on the A40

What's the budget can do some right move searches to give you an idea of what's available in the better areas.

when it snows and gets cold(ice) the hills are a nightmare some winters I would end up working from home.

Lokolo

getmore4less wrote: »

Kingsmead is one of the places I worked, right on the A40

What's the budget can do some right move searches to give you an idea of what's available in the better areas.

when it snows and gets cold(ice) the hills are a nightmare some winters I would end up working from home.

I got stuck on Spring Lane a month ago. Was OK at first, then got to the slope and car just slid and couldn't go anywhere.

dantelo wrote: »

thanks guys , the one we saw was in Kingsmead Road. We are going to spend the day there on Saturday and get more viewings in, to get a feel for the area which are in Briarswood HP15, Fair Acre HP13, Okaridge Road HP11. Fingers crossed we like it !

Schools won't really be an issue for a few years, first born is still brewing and due in Sept, hence why we are wanting to upscale from a 1bed flat to a house somewhere greener.

I like those on Kingsmead Road, just down the road from me. Loudwater Combined and Marsh School are my go to schools in the area.

Only issue you will have there is the rugby club. I imagine on Sundays the roads get packed.

I would say maybe to Fair Acre (lovely houses but not the greatest of locations in terms of niceness, convenience factor is there), and definitely no to Oakridge Road - awful location. Briarswood is in Hazlemere which is in a lovely but pretty useless commuting area if driving into London.

Do you only want new builds?

dantelo

We are mainly looking at new builds and refurbished places, but also happy to go with older properties in good shape ready to move in. Budget is fairly decent at around 475k.

Fair Acre looked nice and close to the station, was hoping it would be good in person when we see it Saturday.

kerri_gt

Personally HW wouldn't be my choice to move to, but then I don't know it that well. However it is one of the areas people are being forced out towards if they want to buy from other areas where housing stock is unaffordable to many.

Have you by any chance looked as far out as Green Park Village, just of J11 Reading? These are new builds with purpose build facilities like a gym. There is a purpose built station due to open 2020 which will then link you to Reading and the Elizabeth line for getting to Marble Arch.

Might all be a bit too far in the future for you though.

dantelo

Hows commute from reading? Thats a bit far out for London isn!!!8217;t it?

kerri_gt

dantelo wrote: »

Hows commute from reading? Thats a bit far out for London isn!!!8217;t it?

Not at all, there's plenty of trains (including fast / direct services) straight into Paddington which is easy for Marble Arch. The direct service from Paddington to Reading takes 30mins.

You could also go down the M4 if you really wanted to drive.

dantelo

Okay interesting, But that green park village is 30min in bus from station, would make commute too much, google maps telling me 1hr 45mim door to door at the moment

kerri_gt

dantelo wrote: »

Okay interesting, But that green park village is 30min in bus from station, would make commute too much, google maps telling me 1hr 45mim door to door at the moment

There are already a lot of buses that serve Green Park from Reading Staion which commuters use. If you see in my original post there is a station planned to open in 2020 linking GPV to Readin station (where the Elizabeth line will terminate) cutting the time again, however, as I also pointed out, this is likely to be outside OP timeline for moving.

robatwork

dantelo wrote: »

Commute to London oe Oxford seems to be an hour, but also seems to be expensive. Drive to London also 35min. Reading online they seem to have good schools.

This is almost amusing - during the rush hour you can almost double that. I note that you're in White City which at least is on the right side of the centre, but try the M40/A40 during rush hour one morning (even if on google maps) to get a realistic view.

Maxthebrave wrote: »

I'm from HW and personally you couldn't pay me to move back there. The town centre was violent and unsafe. I also found that although its a town of many different nationalities, people of different backgrounds struggled to mix and it created gangs of white, black and asian youths all looking to kill each other.

That's pretty much every town centre around (and in) London now. Apart, perhaps, from the most expensive like St Albans, Guildford etc. Wycombe is OK I would suggest and less trouble than Aylesbury, MK, Slough etc.