First time buyer in London - single occupant

arthurdick

Ladywell in Lewisham borough aint too bad, it has a  nice vibe it  I lived there for 3 years and loved it, but that was in 1974.  Brockley area around Breakspears Road, is nice but dear,  I lived just down from there in the 80's around Loam Pit Vale and used to go up that way.

Greenwich borough  (Cutty Sark and Greenwich park areas) is lovely, has a great cafe and market feeling, great vibe around there, I lived by the cutty Sark (thames Street) 1970-1973 and still remember how good it felt, so many things going on, a great buzz...and now days you have the London Marathon too, for a great community party feeling......just thinking of all this now makes me realise  how much I miss it and how dead and flat it is down here in Maidstone..Roll on 2 years until I can move back..I can't wait. Will feel much happier in a flat there than a house here..

arthurdick

I lived in Eltham too (by the "Yorkshire Grey" now a drive through Macs), it's in Greenwich borough but it has that out of town feeling, didn't like it that much and going by what you said about feeling bored, I would avoid it, same goes for welling,Sidcup, Bexleyheath, Blackfen,Erith,Thamesmede and Woolwich.  For that in Town sort of feeling, I wouldn't go out further than Charlton in that direction.

bouicca21

OP’s budget means he/she will struggle to find anything in most of the areas mentioned.  Totally agree that Eltham, Bexleyheath etc are bland.  A flat is more likely to be affordable, though obviously one needs to be careful about ground rent clauses.  Service charges are less of a worry since obviously any property requires maintenance and that costs.

For working in and around Bank it would make sense to look east, maybe Manor Park?  Would Blackfriars be an option?  If OP can cope with the football crowds, or actually is a Crystal Palace supporter, somewhere within striking distance of Norwood Junction would work, and definitely be edgier than Bexleyheath.

[Deleted User]

While a roomy Victorian 2-bed in Brockley costs 500k-600k these days, I was surprised to actually find a couple of cheaper options, both very well-located:

£325k for an ex-council, in need of a refurb but that can happen later:

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/52717888

£270k for a studio, very nicely decorated and just moments from the station.  Though I'm not sure where you put the kitchen table each night when you fold down the bed!:

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/51554421

Trillionski

arthurdick said:

I lived in Eltham too (by the "Yorkshire Grey" now a drive through Macs), it's in Greenwich borough but it has that out of town feeling, didn't like it that much and going by what you said about feeling bored, I would avoid it, same goes for welling,Sidcup, Bexleyheath, Blackfen,Erith,Thamesmede and Woolwich.  For that in Town sort of feeling, I wouldn't go out further than Charlton in that direction.

I think bored in the sense that being too far away makes it difficult to pop into town for the day and meet friends where as Woolwich won't be far in the near future once cross rail comes in.

bouicca21 said:

OP’s budget means he/she will struggle to find anything in most of the areas mentioned.  Totally agree that Eltham, Bexleyheath etc are bland.  A flat is more likely to be affordable, though obviously one needs to be careful about ground rent clauses.  Service charges are less of a worry since obviously any property requires maintenance and that costs.

For working in and around Bank it would make sense to look east, maybe Manor Park?  Would Blackfriars be an option?  If OP can cope with the football crowds, or actually is a Crystal Palace supporter, somewhere within striking distance of Norwood Junction would work, and definitely be edgier than Bexleyheath.

Yes Blackfriars would work it's not too far from the office. It seems like I have a plethora of commuter stations near me and one of them should bring me to a nice town which is within reasonable travel distance to work and not so shabby.

lisyloo

Trillionski said:

arthurdick said:

I lived in Eltham too (by the "Yorkshire Grey" now a drive through Macs), it's in Greenwich borough but it has that out of town feeling, didn't like it that much and going by what you said about feeling bored, I would avoid it, same goes for welling,Sidcup, Bexleyheath, Blackfen,Erith,Thamesmede and Woolwich.  For that in Town sort of feeling, I wouldn't go out further than Charlton in that direction.

I think bored in the sense that being too far away makes it difficult to pop into town for the day and meet friends where as Woolwich won't be far in the near future once cross rail comes in.

bouicca21 said:

OP’s budget means he/she will struggle to find anything in most of the areas mentioned.  Totally agree that Eltham, Bexleyheath etc are bland.  A flat is more likely to be affordable, though obviously one needs to be careful about ground rent clauses.  Service charges are less of a worry since obviously any property requires maintenance and that costs.

For working in and around Bank it would make sense to look east, maybe Manor Park?  Would Blackfriars be an option?  If OP can cope with the football crowds, or actually is a Crystal Palace supporter, somewhere within striking distance of Norwood Junction would work, and definitely be edgier than Bexleyheath.

Yes Blackfriars would work it's not too far from the office. It seems like I have a plethora of commuter stations near me and one of them should bring me to a nice town which is within reasonable travel distance to work and not so shabby.

Good luck but the issue that if there was a “nice” commuter town within reasonable trave, distance then it’s desirable to others and therefore priced in.
youll find everything in/near London priced to within an inch of it’s life.
i don’t think you’ll be able to find any hidden gem.

The only thing you can do is find somewhere that most closely fits the compromises you’re willing to make.
we’ve compromised on size and money to get a decent area with minimal commute (in our case 2 commutes). I’m not mentioning the area as you won’t be able to afford it.

hazyjo

Also lived in Eltham and Greenwich. Forget the first, and the second is too pricey.
If you'd consider Zone 4, and an overhead into Liverpool Street (20-25 mins), don't rule out Highams Park. I've also lived there. Prices have pretty much doubled in the last 6 years. Same as North Chingford (where I also lived), although that's another zone out so forget that.

Still a lot of investment going into Highams Park, and it's hugely popular. Tiny place, known now locally as a village, and it still has even more potential. New trendy cinema will be arriving soon. And there's been lots of new accommodation built over the last couple of years with more to come. I expect it'll be over your budget, but there is this one (literally just one) that I would consider in your shoes.

Epping Forest on your doorstep, and a lovely lake in HP (and another in North Chingford).

https://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/buying/first-time-buyers/help-to-buy-homes-near-walthamstow-new-flats-bars-and-shops-help-highams-park-raise-its-game-for-a133886.html

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67857327.html

[Deleted User]

 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67857327.html

For close enough to the price of the Chingford flat I'd much rather the 2-bed in Brockley!:

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/52717888

arthurdick

I think my own situation of looking for a large studio or 1 bed flat was ruling my  thinking behind thoses areas I mentioned, you are of course right about being way too pricey for any 2 bed  freehold house.

I see around Norwood Junction has been mentioned, that doesn't seem too bad and has good connections, I may even include that in my own search, also Anerley looks ok but would much rather be near Crystal palace park.   I have not got any experience of living in those areas but used to go through close to  around those areas on the school coach for Swimming at Crystal palace.

Good luck OP on where ever you find and when you do find somewhere, could you please pop back on here and keep us updated, who knows, where you find might even be a place for me to consider?

hazyjo

Poster_586329 said:

 

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67857327.html

For close enough to the price of the Chingford flat I'd much rather the 2-bed in Brockley!:

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/52717888

Looks like it may be ex-LA. All well and good, but I would be very nervous about large bills/expenses! And not keen on all the blocks of flats nearby either.

The bullet point says 3rd floor, but the description says 4th. Doesn't look like there's a lift. 4th with no lift would definitely put me off. Even 3rd would make me think extremely seriously.

If we're looking at offers over £325k, I'd definitely have some more to add.