Demystifying “Location, location, location …”

mi-key

To be honest, the way you are approaching it you are probably never going to find a house, and will end up with another nice spreadsheet in another year, then another.

Narrow it down to three areas you like, then look at the houses there and pick 3 from each that would be suitable, then go and view them. 

There can be unforseen problems in any house you buy. You may think its perfect then a dodgy neighbour moves in, or they decide to build a big housing estate on the quiet fields you back onto. 

You are never going to find one house that ticks every box, it is a case of finding the one you like best at the time and just going for it without overthinking every tiny step. 

Sunsaru

Okay, I'm not going to repeat most of the comments but I will give you some help as I've lived or spent a better part of my life in a few of the areas you have mentioned.

Avoid:
Peterborough
MK
Aylesbury
Hatfield
Bedford


Okay but...
Stevenage
Hemel
Leighton Buzzard
Watford

If I had the money:
St Albans
Harpenden
Hitchin
Hertford
Ware

Other than that, I like your style but you're seriously overthinking it.

ACCA

Sunsaru said:

Okay, I'm not going to repeat most of the comments but I will give you some help as I've lived or spent a better part of my life in a few of the areas you have mentioned.

Many thanks for your response and time. If it's not a massive burden for you, would you mind me clarifying the criteria you've sorted the locations by? Is that a general kind standard of living?  

lookstraightahead

Sunsaru said:

Okay, I'm not going to repeat most of the comments but I will give you some help as I've lived or spent a better part of my life in a few of the areas you have mentioned.

Avoid:
Peterborough
MK
Aylesbury
Hatfield
Bedford


Okay but...
Stevenage
Hemel
Leighton Buzzard
Watford

If I had the money:
St Albans
Harpenden
Hitchin
Hertford
Ware

Other than that, I like your style but you're seriously overthinking it.

That's very general town centre though 

Sunsaru

ACCA said:

Sunsaru said:

Okay, I'm not going to repeat most of the comments but I will give you some help as I've lived or spent a better part of my life in a few of the areas you have mentioned.

Many thanks for your response and time. If it's not a massive burden for you, would you mind me clarifying the criteria you've sorted the locations by? Is that a general kind standard of living?  

My lists were pretty much based on what I've read in the post and what I felt would be helpful info for you.

The avoid's.... I think you would hate. Example,  I lived and went to secondary school in Hatfield. My mum still lives there. The place is a dump. The best thing about it is the 2 junctions it has on the A1(M) (escape routes)!! The place has progressively got worse since I moved to WGC in 96. I was there a few weeks ago and it still a hole.... The rest of the avoids I've spent reasonable amount in/visiting and wouldn't live there if you gave me a house for free. MK has got better but I still wouldn't live there.

The okay but's have good and bad area's and are nice enough but would they be suitable for you?? Probably not.

Then you have the hell yeah's... I think you would love them.

Any other North's are reasonable enough. I lived in Welwyn Garden for about 16ish years. The evening bus service is terrible and evening life is non existent apart from a few bars. 

EDIT: Cheshunt is nice, forgot to add to to the hell yeah's.

theoretica

You are approaching this as though it is a maths problem with one right answer - it isn't.  There will be lots of decent houses in areas that would work for you, and some of the things that will make a place work or not aren't on your list - like neighbours with friendly children, or smelly barbecue habits...  How do you feel emotionally about the places and the properties available there? 

Some things you don't mention - how easy are they to get out of - not to London but in the other direction, to whatever you like doing on weekends and days off?  Do you care about corner shops, local culture?

What are the trains like?  Will you be likely to get a seat?  Be squashed by standers?  How frequent are the trains?  A 20 minute journey but only running every hour will be different to live with than a 40 minute journey every 15 minutes...  You also only have walking the the station - have you discounted a bus ride if there is a decent service, or cycling?

NameUnavailable

I don't see the point in viewing houses at this stage. Waste of everyone's time.

Choose a handful of areas as your most preferred (based on your criteria and if suitable looking properties are affordable looking at Rightmove).

I would visit each for a weekend, stop over in the local travelodge or small hotel and wander around, speak to locals, test out the nightlife etc. test the commute!

You should soon realise which one or two places you prefer to then start searching for the property.

katkatmachine

Another good location to add to your long list of towns to confuse you more:
EDENBRIDGE

Commuter town: 2 train stations to London (only 44 minutes commute time to London Bridge station)
houses are far cheaper compared to its posh neighbouring towns (Oxted, Tunbridge Wells, Redhill, etc)
Good sense of community, ideal for raising kids
Big on Halloween, annual bonfire celebrations

Con: no Mcdonalds near. The closest one is 20 minute drive. Yes, it’s far for me!!! When I was still living in London it’s only 3 minutes walk from our flat. Lol. 


https://www.mylondon.news/news/uk-world-news/unfashionable-commuter-town-countryside-house-25518155

ACCA

katkatmachine said:

Another good location to add to your long list of towns to confuse you more:
EDENBRIDGE

Many thanks! I haven't been to McDonalds since 2007 I hope that doesn't upset you

MultiFuelBurner

ACCA said:

katkatmachine said:

Another good location to add to your long list of towns to confuse you more:
EDENBRIDGE

Many thanks! I haven't been to McDonalds since 2007 I hope that doesn't upset you

Ronald still scares me til this day😂😂

I can only add to what others have said but add in a little heart. What does your heart want on top of the spreadsheet and defiantly pick your top areas and visit them regularly for amenities and nice places to visit and eat out.