I am depressed

youth_leader

I was going to suggest Leigh-on-Sea @hazyjo, but thought prices had gone through the roof.  My Grandad worked at the Stock Exchange in the 60's and he moved out to Leigh-on-Sea, commuted into London daily.  

Titus_Wadd

We're on the West Sussex coast, cheaper than Brighton but still only around 90 mins commute to London Bridge, which Mr Tumbleweed did for years.  Our daughter in her late 20 and her partner couldn't afford to buy here and as rent was high they struggled to save.  They both had jobs allowing them to WFH so relocated buying their first house up in Durham.

We relocated to Sussex over 25 years ago from the NW so could only buy a much smaller house here when we sold ours in Lancashire.  It was tough with little kids, but we managed.  I think what I'm trying to say is the UK is so much more than the crowded South East.  Browse Rightmove for flats/houses in other areas you know or have already visited, or where there is another civil service job you can transfer to; go for a weekend and get the feel of the place.

Whatever your reasons, outside work, that are keeping you in London, think how much easier it would be to stay in London to see a band, or to visit friends, or favourite, shop or museum, restaurant, because if you buy at the very top of your budget, it's these things that you'll probably find yourself rationing anyway.

If you aren't tied to a specific job (and no partner's job to take into account) take a bold step away from London and you might meet someone new.  It's definitely easier up North to strike up a conversation with a stranger than it is in London ime.

Go West! Or a bit Northish!

csgohan4

If you are rich, central London would be option, but I couldn't afford half my rent going to rent, so I moved out of London into Kent, where the price of my house could only buy a garage in London.

Plus I got a bigger house. Win win really. We made a sacrifice and moved, as much as we would love to continue to live in London, the numbers just can be sustained sadly

boxer234

I think you need to look at the bigger picture.  Your still young, owning property isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  Do you have a pension ? Are you saving ? Can you relocate ?  

[Deleted User]

Sadly this is the reality of England in 2022.

You can move, but the jobs in that area will pay less so it won't help. WFH is a possibility, but the cheap areas have poor broadband.

Consider Scotland or emigrating. Things are not going to improve here any time soon.

The only other chance you have is to inherit money or property. These days the majority of FTBs have help from patents or an inheritance.

hazyjo

youth_leader said:

I was going to suggest Leigh-on-Sea @hazyjo, but thought prices had gone through the roof.  My Grandad worked at the Stock Exchange in the 60's and he moved out to Leigh-on-Sea, commuted into London daily.  

Yup it's pricey but cheaper than London and there are places nearby which are okay and reasonable. It's the C2C line which is cheaper than others. Go slightly north of London Road and prices drop. Still walkable to the station. If I knew their budget, I'll try to suggest something.

p00hsticks

rigolith said:

Sadly this is the reality of England in 2022.

You can move, but the jobs in that area will pay less so it won't help. WFH is a possibility, but the cheap areas have poor broadband.

As the OP works in the Civil Service, then the pay outside London will be the same wherever abouts in the country he goes to.

And saying that cheap areas of the country all have poor broadband is simply untrue.

Thrugelmir

[Deleted User] said:

Sadly this is the reality of England in 2022.

Never been any different. Getting on the first rung of the property ladder for many requires compromise. I exchanged a fifteen minute walk to work for a 35 minute drive. Was a one bedroom second floor flat as well. As that's all my budget would extend to with a 95% mortgage. Two months after I bought. Interest rates rose 4% over the next four months. Increasing my outgoings by around £90 a month. Money became tight that I used to walk round Sainsburys with a calculator in my hand. Adding up the trolley as I went. 

[Deleted User]

Thrugelmir said:

[Deleted User] said:

Sadly this is the reality of England in 2022.

Never been any different. Getting on the first rung of the property ladder for many requires compromise. I exchanged a fifteen minute walk to work for a 35 minute drive. Was a one bedroom second floor flat as well. As that's all my budget would extend to with a 95% mortgage. Two months after I bought. Interest rates rose 4% over the next four months. Increasing my outgoings by around £90 a month. Money became tight that I used to walk round Sainsburys with a calculator in my hand. Adding up the trolley as I went. 

It was different decades ago, even a couple of years ago.

sammyjammy

[Deleted User] said:

Thrugelmir said:

[Deleted User] said:

Sadly this is the reality of England in 2022.

Never been any different. Getting on the first rung of the property ladder for many requires compromise. I exchanged a fifteen minute walk to work for a 35 minute drive. Was a one bedroom second floor flat as well. As that's all my budget would extend to with a 95% mortgage. Two months after I bought. Interest rates rose 4% over the next four months. Increasing my outgoings by around £90 a month. Money became tight that I used to walk round Sainsburys with a calculator in my hand. Adding up the trolley as I went. 

It was different decades ago, even a couple of years ago.

And it will be again...