Affordable housing in and around South London?

[SuperPug]

DH and I live in NW London- finding it difficult to buy somewhere decent for around £350,000.
Lovely properties seem to come up in Thornton Heath, Carshalton, Bromley, South Croydon. I was wondering if anyone lives/ has recently bought a property in these areas and could provide some tips.
With a deposit of around £60-70,000 and hoping for a reasonable mortgage (no more than £1500 per month) does this sound doable to you? I need to compare mortgages fairly soon and don't want to get ripped off.
Thanks in advance

[JoJoSM2]

I used to live in Carshalton and it's a lovely place to live that I'd thoroughly recommend, especially the village bit. The market is very competitive so be prepared for a bidding war. I'd say the area is miles nicer than South Croydon or Thornton Heath. Bromley is nice too but I think that your money will stretch further in Carshalton and the surrounding areas.

[SuperPug]

Thanks very much JoJo- don't know the area and there seems to be nice houses within our budget.

[TataEs]

i grew up near carshalton. it's nicer than the other areas u mentioned. also look a coulsdon maybe

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64132214.html

schools are good and outstanding. the village is quaint.

you will struggle on your budget to get somewhere that doesn't need work imo.

we have just moved back to south london and the property thing is a nightmare. it's so expensive.

[SuperPug]

Seen the link, that would be perfect. Thank you very much Good to know that we could get something like that in our budget.
It's crazy- help to buy seems to encourage people to get into massive debt and the thousands of flats that are being built are beyond most people's budgets. Very frustrating.

[Monkeypuzzle32]

what about Abbey Wood? I dont know the area but it is getting Crossrail which will make travelling into London easy and fast-the area can only go up IMO.

[LIZS]

Coulsdon ?

[rosettesforjill]

We're in South Croydon (Purley). It's not glamorous and you're at the mercy of Southern Rail, but better value than a lot of places and a very friendly community. You feel close to the countryside too. Croydon seems to be getting its act together a bit (Boxpark is great) so hopefully it can only get better!

[SuperPug]

Thank you monkey and rosettes- I will definitely research those areas.
Probably the next areas for prices to skyrocket!

[beaveringaway]

Try Sutton too, good train links and prices are on the up due to the amount of money going into the local infrastructure. Also good schools. Aim for an SM2 postcode rather than an SM1.

[enosa1]

If I were you I would move to the Thornton Heath side, you will get more space for your money and the place is vibrant and there is a lot happening in the area in terms of regeneration.

It is no coincidence that the house prices are going up a lot faster than in other areas, plus there's a fast train into London as well.

[SuperPug]

Sorry beavering, didn't get the notification for your post. Thanks very much enosa. The cross rail should have a significant effect, as monkey mentioned, so would rather buy as soon as possible.
I would quite like to rewind house prices to circa 1995

[enosa1]

We all wish for 90's prices. I still think croydon/ Thornton heath would be better because there is a lot more investment in the area. A lot of families are moving to the area and the place is interesting.