London area recommendation?

housebuyerlondon

I'm 36, and want to buy my first property this year, preferably in the first half as I'm tired of throwing away £1600 a month! Would absolutely love some suggestions as I'm getting confused at the minute. Currently living in South East London, and looking at Catford, but worried it's a bit skanky and also might not fulfil its potential given the uncertainty around London property prices post-covid (I feel a large portion of people will move away now they don't need to be always in the office, as lots of companies are changing their policies around this).

Currently in a relationship which looks like it could one day head towards family but it's early (6 months) and don't want to hedge my bets. So I feel like I'm in an in between stage where I might have a family in the next few years (with this guy, or someone else!) but could also end up spending at least periods of time single.

I would consider having a baby alone also (I've frozen lots of eggs), so 2 beds minimum.

Budget £430k.Open to somewhere that needed some work.

I want somewhere with lots of green space that feels a bit wild preferably (I love Epping Forest for instance) and my own garden.

Would also love a strong community I can get involved with. I'm into things like sustainability, yoga, good food etc.

On the other hand really like the idea of a thriving high street with some independent shops and things to do like a cinema etc.

On the travel side, I'm freelance so don't need amazing connections into London, but my partner probably would. I know I shoulnd't buy for him, but I should assume that whoever I'm with in the future will need to get into central London regularly. But maybe this doesn't matter for me now?

Would like somewhere nice enough to enjoy living in now, but with some potential for price growth.

Any suggestions??

Windofchange

I worked around Catford for a while and it is like anywhere in London really - it has its good streets and bad streets. Think is I think it has up and come already from a value for money point of view. The areas around Croydon would be worth looking at I think given your requirements - maybe not so much the lively community type spirit, but certainly around South Croydon will tick a lot of your boxes. You then have Addiscombe and Shirley which are quite leafy, and Addiscombe has great links with East Croydon being a short walk away. The highstreet is pretty nice too. If you don't need to commute then you could look further afield to places like Warlingham, Coulsdon, Reigate and Redhill. £430k should get you a house in most parts. Doing a search for 3 bedders in those areas:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/101910074#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/100071917#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/88652236#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/88481566#/

This doesn't seem too bad value for Catford however...
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89406064#/

[Deleted User]

The only time I went to Catford a fight started above the giant cat and they nearly crashed into me as they were punching each other. Say no more. But that was about 10 years ago.....

New Cross and Peckham etc, are of similar levels. They are all up and coming but at the same time have the old stain. If you move there you will probably be fine, as long as you are street wise. I would not take any notice of someones opinion much, it is best to go and stay in the area a few days and get a feel of the place to see if you like it.

hazyjo

I'm sure I can help as have lived nearby (Blackheath, Westcombe Park, Eltham) and moved to near Epping Forest (Highams Park and North Chingford), not to mention plenty of other places where I've bought or nearly bought.

Loving Leigh-on-Sea where I am now which ticks a lot of your boxes.

Will add more suggestions and have a look on rightmove later. Can't stop atm.

hazyjo

PS which station in London would the BF need to travel into?

pbartlett

I would recommend LBKUT

housebuyerlondon

Thanks @hazyjo! That's all a bit up in the air at the moment as he might be changing jobs. Let's say King's Cross?
@pbartlett don't understand what you mean! 

bouicca21

I quite like Catford, but £430K is a bit tight for the nice bits.  Rightmove have a house in Conisbrough Crescent that's over your budget but maybe open to offers?  That's if what is being said about the London market being slow is actually true (recent experience of friends suggests otherwise).  How far are you/partner prepared to walk to the station?

I think you are in with a chance for Hither Green, Beckenham, or Penge. You can get practically anywhere from Hither Green, Beckenham has three stations on different lines into Town and Penge has two.  They are all very different areas so you need to think about what you want from the neighbourhood - green space (Beckenham has that in buckets), coffee shops (they all have those), shops, supermarkets?

hazyjo

What are you hoping to get for the budget? House, flat, bedrooms, garden, parking, etc. What's essential, what's nice to have, and what aren't you fussed about?

housebuyerlondon

2 bedrooms minimum, definitely a garden. House preferable, or top floor flat so I have no one above me. 

Essential - good green spaces, a yoga studio nearby, nice cafes etc, nice community, somewhere that isn't too family-focused in case I end up single again (!), easy enough to get out of London and into London.

I'm not really a fan of places that feel suburban. Don't care about parking.

FTB_Help

housebuyerlondon said:

I'm 36, and want to buy my first property this year, preferably in the first half as I'm tired of throwing away £1600 a month! Would absolutely love some suggestions as I'm getting confused at the minute. Currently living in South East London, and looking at Catford, but worried it's a bit skanky and also might not fulfil its potential given the uncertainty around London property prices post-covid (I feel a large portion of people will move away now they don't need to be always in the office, as lots of companies are changing their policies around this).

Currently in a relationship which looks like it could one day head towards family but it's early (6 months) and don't want to hedge my bets. So I feel like I'm in an in between stage where I might have a family in the next few years (with this guy, or someone else!) but could also end up spending at least periods of time single.

I would consider having a baby alone also (I've frozen lots of eggs), so 2 beds minimum.

Budget £430k.Open to somewhere that needed some work.

I want somewhere with lots of green space that feels a bit wild preferably (I love Epping Forest for instance) and my own garden.

Would also love a strong community I can get involved with. I'm into things like sustainability, yoga, good food etc.

On the other hand really like the idea of a thriving high street with some independent shops and things to do like a cinema etc.

On the travel side, I'm freelance so don't need amazing connections into London, but my partner probably would. I know I shoulnd't buy for him, but I should assume that whoever I'm with in the future will need to get into central London regularly. But maybe this doesn't matter for me now?

Would like somewhere nice enough to enjoy living in now, but with some potential for price growth.

Any suggestions??

Have a look at Bermondsey (jubilee line, zone 2), surrey quays, Rotherhithe, seen lots of 2 bed flats in those area around the 400k mark.

Southfields (putney area) district line, can find lots of flats for around 450k too.

If you’re willing to move to a commuterbelt then Beckenham (kent) is gorgeous, lovely high street and you get more for your money there, its about 25 mins on the train into kings cross.

Epping is ok, it kinda feels a bit older generation living there, with it being on the end of the central line, trains aren't so regular (where central line forks off it can take a while before you'll get a train that takes you to epping)