West London - where's a good spot to buy?

[AngryGnome]

Dh is considering taking a job in west London. We live in the East Midlands, and at first he planned to commute, living in London during the week and coming home at weekends. However, we've decided that this won't work for our family so me and Ds (2) are coming too! We need 2 beds min, preferably 3.

Whereabouts is nice? I used to work in Ealing, so i know that is quite nice (but pricey) but don't really know any other areas. We think we'll have about £300k to spend, or could obviously rent.

Any recommendations?

[Theironfistofarkus]

West london is generally v expensive. Anywhere on the central line up to and including Shepherds Bush will cost a lot. Acton is somewhere which is up and coming and has good transport links.

[AngryGnome]

Yes, it is pricey - dreams of leafy Richmond were quickly squashed! I don't know acton at all, although I have heard it's reputation isn't great. Will have a look. We are probably realistically looking at a 2 bed flat, possibly a 3 bed which would be be nice, but we might have to sacrifice the area to get it.

[Theironfistofarkus]

Some bits of Acton are lovely and some bits not so much. Maybe someone who knows it a better than me can tell you where the nice bits are.

[Moominsarehippos]

Where abouts West - West End or West as in Shepherds Bush, Chiswick...?

For 300k you are looking at 'out' and commutable if you want room, garden, etc...

[MothershipG]

For that money the best you could do around Ealing would be a 2 bed flat, for a house you'd be looking at Southall or Norwood Green.

Where is your DH's job?

[Moominsarehippos]

I'd probably go further out and commute. I went to a house last week - it was bloody gorgeous, but in quite a 'rough' area. My friend told me it was on the market for over £1.5m (4 smallish bedrooms). I couldn't believer it - on a rat run, sandwiched between a lot of run down bedsits with a huge school at one end (we've lived next to school a the traffic is dreadful) and commercial property at the other. London is very odd when it comes to prices.

[MothershipG]

If you don't mind backing onto a railway track a small 2 bed house.

[Moominsarehippos]

That's rather nice. The only think with railways is the dirt! We used to back onto one and have to scrape the 'dust' off everything. We called it 'sticky dust'!

[sarahandemily]

A lot of people I know who couldn't afford Ealing live in hanwell. Nice community feel, near to Ealing but not as pricey. Nice parks and walks down the canal. Big downside is transport links so depends on where work is and how he plans to travel. Don't think you would get a 2 bed in Ealing for £300k. Possibly in west Ealing which is also nice. Personally I don't like Acton.

[MothershipG]

I like this 2 bed flat more, lot more square footage...here

[Moominsarehippos]

I'm not a big fan either - the West side of town is a sod to drive into town from.

[sarahandemily]

My friend lives in the road next to the house mothership posted. It's a nice area

[AngryGnome]

Thanks for the ideas. The job is based in osterley, ideally he wants as short a commute as possible (don't we all...).

I agree that ealing is unrealistic, but it is really the only place I know! Obviously we would ideally like outside space, and enough rooms indoors to have somewhere for people to stay. How far out do you think we need o go to get something like that?

[yummymumtobe]

Try twickenham and whitton. Or Hampton. Not technically London but good for osterly/isleworth.

[AngryGnome]

Don't know Whitton or Hampton at all - thanks for the tip, I will check them out!

[MothershipG]

Hampton is lovely but still quite expensive.

This road might be too busy but the house looks ok, if you don't mind a scalloped sink!

[AngryGnome]

I don't mind about interior decor horrors, have dealt with a peach scalloped corner bath on a bizarre raised dais in our current house! Does look very clse to main road though :-(

I think we are going to have to have some serious thoughts about our budget (weeps at leaving lovely farmhouse in the country for London house price horrors!)

[yummymumtobe]

I dont envy you moving to London - all our friends who live out of London can't believe it when they see what you get for your money here. But then in or near London you have so much on your doorstep and so much to do its worth it! I don't recommend hounslow I'm afraid though.

[Moominsarehippos]

I'd definately rent first. Its hard to decide long-distance and people at your DHs work will have some ideas too. I'd rent the most central place going and take advantage of the facilities before choosing!

Will DH drive to work (if there's parking) or go via public transport? Commutes in London do tend to be long!

[Bowlersarm]

Is Kingston too far? Brilliant town for families.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

I used to live in Acton. Churchfield Road and Berrymead Gardens areas are nice. We got completely priced out when we were looking to buy in the late 1990s and in 6 months went from looking at 2 bed garden flats in Acton to 3rd floor purpose builts in Hounslow. At which point we gave up. West Ealing and Hanwell were on the radar for us at one point and they were quite nice.

[helterskelter99]

Came on to suggest Whitton v reasonably priced & close to good transport links
Twickenham / Hampton / Sunbury are also good

[AngryGnome]

Thanks for the replies everyone. Kingston does look lovely, but possibly a bit far out. moomins I think you are spot on about renting first to find out more about the areas. We are now considering renting a 2 bed flat in teddington (although we are v unlikely ever to be able to buy there!), as it is supposed to be a really nice spot from what I have heard. We could then sort out a nice area to buy from there, maybe.

Perhaps this isn't the right job for dh at the moment. God, it's so bloody hard isn't it! I suppose I am trying to look at it long term, and I think realistically to have the space we would like we will have to live such a long way out that dh will end up having monster commute (the average commute for most of my London friends - and mine when we used to live there- is about an hour+)

Aargh, he has to let them know thus week whether he is going to take the job or not and we are still no closer to a decision!

[Moominsarehippos]

Maybe look at schools too?

[helterskelter99]

I def think renting is the way forward
How much would your to buy budget be ?
Somewhere a bit out like Staines or chertsey would also be a good commute & be a bit cheaper