Flat search in London - any advice?

[Sengah]

Hi all,

This is my first post on mumsnet. I've found it to be a hugely valuable resource of online opinions on London's 'hoods while flat hunting, and I'm hoping to get some specific advice on my own situation. I have happily just got engaged, and we are hoping to buy our first flat. We have 500k to spend, and had hoped for a period 2 bed, with some outside space in a number of specific areas (crouch end/Stroud green/stoke Newington/chiswick/st margarets) However, 6 months in to the search, we keep being trumped by cash buyers or people offering waay over asking price. Great for the sellers, but terrible for us - excitement at finally being able to afford something is turning to exhaustion! Am I mad to have thought we could afford in those areas?

Should we compromise on our specification - who needs a garden anyway :-( - or start to look at different areas? If so, any suggestions of places that would have the same vibe, in north or west London? I'm hoping to avoid a long trek on the northern line if possible, and that the area will be safe, have some good green for running in, and that there will be cafes etc and stuff to do in situ. We don't have children yet (pl dont kick me off the site!) but hope that will be the case not too far off.

Any thoughts?

Thank you!

[flummoxedlummox]

Hi Sengah,you may well need to look outside those areas, have you got specifics as to tube lines and room sizes? If not then something like this could be interesting.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-42796400.html

It's period and you get a whole house which is much better in my opinion, it's ten minutes walk to Hanwell BR which gets you into Paddington in 18 mins or 15 minutes walk to Boston Manor on the Pic line. I only mention this as I live in Hanwell and the green spaces round here are fantastic.

The thing that knocks you is period and garden

If you do decide to look further out West specifically in W3, W5, W7 etc let me know as I've lived in this area all my life so know the "good" and "bad" bits.

Personally I generally don't like the example above as it's period cottage which limits room size and sometimes ceiling height.

Good luck.

lummox

[BellaI]

I would plan ahead if you want to have kids and go straight for a family home if you can. The stamp duty and other costs make it so expensive to move too often!

[beaglesaresweet]

try Ealing, though I wouldn't advise to go for Acton which is between Ealing and Chiswick. So kind of jump over it! You couldn't buy in the best parts, but still can buy in middle-level areas. I'm sure flammox can advise, as she mentioned, on specific corners of it.

Hanwell could be ok too, though not that many nice cafes on doorstep but you are quite near good bits of Ealing. Hanwell isn't 'naice' but does gove better value and has a good large park.

You could buy in Chiswick for this money too, but away from tube, e.g. next to Chiswick rail but it's not great for connections or frequency.

West - Twickenham, if yo don' mind rail instead of tube, it's a little cheaper than St.Margaret.
Raynes Park may be ok too. Again not chichi but many people aer happy there - further out of course.

[BoBoo]

Can't offer any advice on the areas your searching in, but if you could bring yourself to make the move South East, then you should definitely be able to find what you're looking for. Such as this which is in the conservation area, lovely garden, Lewisham is good for transport (10 mins to London Bridge, 15 to Cannon St, 20 to Charing Cross and the DLR) and Brockley has a great community feel and the overground to get you East. Or this would give you lots of space, quiet road, next to a lovely park. And possibly a little overpriced.

I realise this probably isn't very helpful but you'll get a lot more for your money this way. Where do you need to get to for work etc? What do you need close to where you live to make you happy?

[TheBeanAndTheBee]

Queens park/kensal rise well worth looking at.

[JassyRadlett]

You should get a decent amount in Twickenham/Teddington/Hampton Wick for your money. We're in Surbiton and love it, in part for its commute (16 mins to Waterloo) and partly because of nice neighbourhood vibe, good shops and cafes, good schools. The river is right there, too.

It was a huge psychological move after years in NW6 but wouldn't swap it now.

[LoveWine]

I agree that you should look at Ealing. For your budget you could get a very decent 2 bed. My favourite area is near Pittshanger Lane north of the station - it's middle class, very green and leafy, nice cafes.

[Sengah]

Thanks all for the responses, much appreciated. The consensus seems to be to look elsewhere? I'm not sure if this is because you know the areas you mention better or because we really are on a losing streak looking where we have been looking...?

Regardless, the ideas are helpful. I don't know northwest at all so the Queens park/kensal rise suggestion is interesting. Likewise Ealing, although with no overland it feels a bit of schlep. We did look in Twickenham at the outset, but prices there seemed much of a muchness and we preferred St Margrets. We haven't looked in Kingston yet, maybe I had the wrong idea about the place... S/E London isn't my preference as family are north of London or out west.

BellaI this is the big question that we have debated and debated! As we are footloose and kids free, it feels a bit of a shame to move to the burbs already. However, we know that we would only hold on to this purchase for 4/5 years, so not sure it is worth it for a relatively short time. I guess the dilemma shows up in the variety of places we are looking.

Any regrets/advice on this choice anyone?

[beaglesaresweet]

well, Op, I did say you can still try in Chiswick, but it won't be very near a station. Maybe more towards Gunnersbury tube, but that's still very good for Chiswick High rd., or try near the Chiswick rail (not as good as a bit of a hike to ther High road.
Ealing is good transport wise - it has a frequent 10min train to Paddington overland, and central line is quite fast, but I'd go for Paddington as then you have a choice of lines. It's just that the high st is nothing like as nice as chiswick, though the village area around the green is nice but further out and small. Best to live nearer Ealing Broadway tube as someone said above and then visit the further villagey area on weekends.
I'd go for Chiswick though if I could at all, yes the garden won't be large!