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Original poster

£500k to buy in London. Three kids

428 replies

Batteriesallgone · 27/09/2018 13:12

Where should we go?

Don’t know london at all (went to Natural History Museum once as a child!). Need a three bed. House or flat. Good transport links to central London. Good primary schools.

Is this possible? I know London is crazy prices, and it’s huge, I have no idea where to start looking on rightmove. Love the idea of living as close to central London as possible but don’t know if that’s too idealistic / unaffordable / ridiculous.

OP posts:
PeanutButter82 · 01/10/2018 20:12

I second (3rd,4th ... I know a lot of people have already suggested it) Hither Green/Catford. Great schools, easy transport into central London, an acceptable number of wanky cafes, lots of nice little libraries, loads of other families and a great sense of community.

Example house, for sale not far from my own Verdant Lane, LONDON, SE6
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56284644.html

If you're in London this weekend I would recommend checking out the Catford Arts Trail as you can meet a few locals and see what some of the houses are like. catfordarts.org/catford-arts-trail/

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 01/10/2018 20:45

But Peanut that’s lovely. And in our price range!

How long would it take to get to Paddington though. That is a concern.

OP posts:
MinaPaws · 01/10/2018 21:27

It's a faff to Paddington - train, two tubes and a bus. But pretty easy to Mayfair. Less than half an hour Grove Park to Green Park.

moredoll · 01/10/2018 21:48

Hoxton, so pretty much the beating heart of things. Half a mile from Old Street tube so very doable to Paddington and Stratford. Bit over budget, no mention of how long the lease is, tiny outside space.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-54392208.html

PeanutButter82 · 01/10/2018 22:02

I used to commute to Marylebone (so two stops on tube before Paddington) every day and it's doable although clearly not the quickest journey either (I did get though a lot of books and podcasts!). Train from Hither Green to Waterloo East in 15 mins then 15 mins on Jubilee Line from Southwark to Baker Street then 10 mins on Bakerloo Line to Paddington. Plus walking to Hither Green (or bus to Grove Park and then train to there).
It's much easier to Mayfair - train into Charing Cross in 20 mins and then a lovely 15-30 mins (depending on where in Mayfair) walk from there. Although tube to Green Park or Bond Street from Southwark (get off train at Waterloo East for this) are also an option.
I imagine it would be roughly the same journey from the lovely Greenwich house you posted, once you reach London terminals.

PeanutButter82 · 01/10/2018 22:07

Ps there are loads of other lovely properties round here too, I just had that one saved as am curious to see what it goes for, being near me, and don't have time to scroll through Rightmove right now. Smile
Good luck OP, what an exciting time for you!

flummoxedlummox · 01/10/2018 22:22

This is about 1/2 mile from Hanwell station which works for Paddington & Heathrow. Surrounded by some lovely parkland.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64932637.html

bibblebobblebubble · 01/10/2018 22:23

Haven’t read the full thread but High Barnet worth a look. It’s a long ish commute but nice safe suburban green area, easy to either get out of London to the north or drive down to the likes of Muswell Hill or Crouch End for your cafe fix.

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 02/10/2018 06:18

Yes there are a lot of nice ones Peanut thanks for the detail about the commute it’s really helpful.

OP posts:
ronniemipperton · 02/10/2018 06:31

Another happy Catford resident here. It’s a bit scruffy but there’s a great sense of community (very family friendly) and lovely houses. I always thought I’d have moved out of London by now but I feel so settled here I’m not sure I’ll get round to it.

Tigerbear · 08/10/2018 17:04

Hi OP - any update? Did your DH go to see the Greenwich place?

antimatter · 08/10/2018 17:18

how about this:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65295379.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55275765.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-55275765.html
few very good schools in the area
no wanky cafes though :D but few nice parks and lots of families with kids

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 08/10/2018 17:44

Hi Tiger as you can imagine the practicalities are proving slow going.

We have spent a long time discussing how to do this bearing in mind Brexit, not messing the kids around (if we don’t like it) and minimising time spent renting.

DH has negotiated a flexible working arrangement to give him a soft landing into the job. He is going to take holiday between roles and we are going to go up and stay for a week and pound the streets househunting.

Meanwhile we also need to get our current house valued and tarted up for sale.

Lots to do and the excitement has waned a little at the thought of all the work!!! Blush

But very grateful to all the advice offered here. We’re quite keen to get somewhere close to the Jubilee line, so Dollis Hill is our first priority to go check out the ‘feel’ of the area.

OP posts:
Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 08/10/2018 18:03

Sorry not clear - the flexible working means for the time being he will commute daily until he’s 100% of the role

OP posts:
HereBeFuckery · 08/10/2018 18:21

Hither Green is lovely, but you won't be in catchment for the good schools on 500k I'm afraid. It's a 260m catchment for the one my DD is at, and 3 bed terraces go for 700-800k (we rent Grin)

Ilikecakes · 09/10/2018 09:35

Ah that is exciting batteries. Do PM if you want to ask any Dollis Hill questions, I grew up there and my folks still live there so I'm around there a lot. Will be up in half term for a few days, mainly to take advantage of the fab Jubilee Line Smile

Ilikecakes · 09/10/2018 09:42

Omg this! It's not Dollis Hill, closer to Queen's Park and Brondesbury but probably 15 mins walk from Willesden Green Jubilee station (zone 2). This is a lovely area for wanky cafes aplenty!

Guessing the service charges would be high on a property like this, but the flat looks lovely!

Clement Close, Brondesbury Park, NW6
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-56750256.html

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 09/10/2018 10:01

Wowsee that is lovely! Yes I’m definitely hopeful our budget should see us clear to a decent property around there.

DH is panicking and has entrenched, doesn’t want to see estate agents etc. We are both a bit like that - quite highly strung Blush but that’s fine. It’s a big thing to think about. I am still trying to find a decent air bnb that can fit us all (since I’m still cosleeping with the younger one) so we can come up and look round.

Realistically very little is going to happen until after Christmas so I’m focused on decluttering and prettifying the house for Christmas. If it all falls through for some reason at least we’ll have made space for all the new crap they’ll get at Christmas Grin

OP posts:
moredoll · 09/10/2018 15:34

The other area which ticks all your boxes is Bermondsey.
This one's over budget, but worth keeping an eye on the area.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63736567.html

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 09/10/2018 22:19

Wow that’s crazy close to the action! Will definitely keep an eye thanks for the tip! Is it ok as an area or a bit dodgy? My friend lived in Bermondsey in the 70s when it was apparently incredibly rough but obvs may have been very gentrified since then!

OP posts:
rosettesforjill · 09/10/2018 22:36

Bermondsey is full of hipsters but (as with many places in London) the gentrified bit is very close to some very deprived estates. My sister lives near Bermondsey Street so in the cool bit, but I know she's witnessed quite a lot of dodgy activity nearby. That said she loves living there and has just bought there as well. However the flat she bought is two bedrooms, no outdoor space and was on at £550k ish...

moredoll · 10/10/2018 01:47

Yes, I think it's safe to say that Bermondsey is pretty mixed, but certainly not as tough as it used to be. The only thing I can think to suggest is perrhaps when you're here you could visit the area and find a friendly community police officer and grill them about the areas they would consider buying in and where they would avoid.

The thing with London is that most people here can't afford the prices in the "good" areas. DP and I earn good money and have a healthy but not stupendous amount for a deposit. But we can't buy. So people start looking at the more affordable properties like ex-council homes and places like Bermondsey become more desirable. I think it was the Sunday Times that named Bermondsey London area of the year 2018. Your budget would extend certainly stretch to an ex-council flat there but I don't know the area well enough to know which are 'desirable' and what's not.

LBOCS2 · 10/10/2018 09:45

Half of Bermondsey is still very rough. The other half is unbelievably gentrified. The trick is to choose the right half Wink

Original poster
Batteriesallgone · 10/10/2018 09:47

That’s what I’m worried about. Suspect it’s an area where you need a lot of local knowledge to get it right.

OP posts:
LBOCS2 · 10/10/2018 09:51

Actually, if you go and walk around you can feel it. The problem is that the gentrified bit is rapidly moving out of 'normal family price range' as there are a lot of big developers who have flung up luxury apartments starting at £500k for a studio 🙄. DS was vaguely looking around there and there are still 2 bed flats for around the £460k mark so you might get lucky and find a 3 bed for a bit more (although saying that, it was about 6 months ago and the market has definitely stagnated since then so there may be more affordable properties on the market).