Commutable Towns and Cities close to London

hazyjo

Have you even given a budget yet or have I missed it?

Consecca

wjr4 said:

Consecca said:

wjr4 said:

If you’re considering Withan, I recommend renting there first to see if you like the area. I don’t live too far away from there and I wouldn’t choose to live there. Have you looked anywhere on the C2C line? 

I'm surprised you say that because I have heard a lot of nice things about it, from what I have read so far on it and seen pictures of, looks like a qaint nice little town. 
What is the C2C line?

I have friends who live there and personally, I wouldn’t because I find it’s a bit dodgy! The C2C train line runs from Southend to Fenchurch street so lots of towns on that line. Avoid Basildon & Laindon. Another area which is nice is Rayleigh. 

@numbercruncher8
said in his response, there are good and bad parts to all areas, even where I live there are good and bad parts.  Thanks for the other info about the C2C line though.  Good to know.  Will add Rayleigh to my investigation list.

Consecca

spoovy said:

Consecca said:

spoovy said:

I'm in a similar situation. Swindon, Milton Keynes, Northampton & Basingstoke are all on my list as relatively good value options, and are all better than Essex / Kent if you like outdoorsy stuff, and all offer serious alternatives for places to work too with Reading, Oxford, Bristol commutable.

Nice to know we have someone on this thread in a similar postion.  Personally I would prefer the Kent / Essex end. But horses for courses.  I'm not seriously looking yet, just weighing up my options while I am still saving but I know I have a lot more saving to do, 30K is my deposit goal, what is your's and what value of property are you hoping to get?

I'm a couple of years down the line from you and reached my/our target deposit as of last month; I'm just waiting to see what happens with house prices / lockdown / recession etc now.  We waited until we had over 50% LTV as I'm quite debt averse, but we're looking in the same price range -- under £250k.
Incidentally I also have friends in Witham and I think it's quite nice, though I haven't been to see them in a couple of years.   Asking strangers if an area is nice or not is kind of pointless though imo because it depends mainly on who you're asking and what they grew up with.   People who grew up in Tunbridge Wells or Windsor might think an certain area is frighteningly rough, but I grew up in a really rough part of Birmingham so I'd think it's really nice!  This is true of where I live now actually! .

Ah nice one man, You must be super happy to reach your deposit goal, I imagine that took a lot of sacrifice to get there, but totally worth it right?  Puts you in a exciting postion now to start researching once things settle down after COVID.
haha yea true there is always going to be a counter argument to almost anything, I think as long as you you do your due dillgence on the area, and not an overwelming amount of people are saying avoid like your would Syria as a holiday destnation.  I always take the odd negative opnion about as seriously as a 1 star review on an otherwise 4/5 star product rating on Amazon - there is always one!  Congratulations again on reaching your deposit goals, that is awesome man!

Consecca

spencerrothchild said:

Wait for the coming house price crash in the coming new Great Depression 

Fingers crossed yea!  Seems like it could be a good few years ahead for 1st time buyers!

hazyjo

Rayleigh isn't on the C2C line.

Leigh-on- Sea is [on the C2C line] where I live. Rayleigh is a few miles away. That Greater Anglia line is much pricier than C2C.

Consecca

hazyjo said:

Rayleigh isn't on the C2C line.

Leigh-on- Sea is [on the C2C line] where I live. Rayleigh is a few miles away. That Greater Anglia line is much pricier than C2C.

How long does it take you from Leigh on Sea to get into your nearest London station?

Consecca

hazyjo said:

Have you even given a budget yet or have I missed it?

No because as I've said to others, my budget will be decided for me by the Mortgage advisor based on what I could realistically afford.

otb666

Irthlingborough under 2 miles from wellingborough station-and not too far from flitwick

GDB2222

Just in case it helps, I live in East Finchley (a suburb of London, in case you don't know). It's on a direct tube line to London Bridge, and the journey time is showing as 26 minutes currently. It takes a LOT longer in rush hour (double, probably).  So, depending on when you need to get to work, the journey time may not be that much different from where you are right now. 

The travelcard is £2k, compared to £4k+ where you are. At an interest rate of 2%, that difference in travel costs pays the interest on roughly £100k of extra mortgage. Of course, property prices are higher here, so, as some of the other posters have said, it all rather cancels out.

Personally, if I were in a position to move, I'd consider moving somewhere like Yorkshire, where property prices are much lower. Salaries are lower, too. But, depending on your skill level, possibly not commensurately lower with property prices. In short, you may find yourself much better off if you abandon London completely. 

hazyjo

Consecca said:

hazyjo said:

Rayleigh isn't on the C2C line.

Leigh-on- Sea is [on the C2C line] where I live. Rayleigh is a few miles away. That Greater Anglia line is much pricier than C2C.

How long does it take you from Leigh on Sea to get into your nearest London station?

Usually between 40-50 mins depending on which train I get. It's a good journey into Fenchurch Street. A very easy 10 min walk to Bank.

It's a lovely part of the world, but priced accordingly which is why I asked about budget.

Chingford or Highams Park are also nice places to live closer to central London. Again, pricey.