Where would you buy? - London commute

[FizzyPink]

So I’m going to be in a position to buy my first property hopefully by January and will be using help to buy so needs to be a new build.
I’d originally been looking around Chelmsford/Brentwood area but after lots of protesting by my friends and cries of them never being able to be that far out of London I’m now thinking I should look around south west London, maybe Thornton Heath or Croydon. Pros would be ease of getting into London, cheaper train fare and potentially not needing a car. My family also all live in Kent so ideal for them to visit too.
Max budget of £290k, easily commutable to Old Street (I work literally next to the tube station) ideally a 2 bed but would settle for a lovely one bed.
Oh and I’m 27, single and currently live in Zone 1. Where would you look?

unless your going to stay for longer than 5 yrs minimum I would avoid HtB personally.

I have no idea about this area but a previous poster made me look at Zoopla
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/52228665?search_identifier=098962312da72eb06c4f0f8d6bb0d4d0

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80599994.html

I do get what you’re saying about laziness- but a house’s location is the most valuable thing about it. Having a bathroom and kitchen redone is always something you could organise to be done before you move in. Definitely prioritise location.

Beckenham. Brilliant transport links.

I think Croydon is a good option, good train links into and out of London (Gatwick, Brighton etc.) much nicer than east london imo (I dont live in either, so just experience of visiting friends and their experiences).

@Turnedouttoes I know what you mean, but it's perfectly livable and you could design a kitchen and bathroom of your choice (not just from the new build options) after a few months.

If you wanted to sell and buy a house in a few years you'll have added value and hopefully increased your equity through your improvements - whereas with a new build, you aren't likely to see the same effect as it's not brand new any more.

Obviously completely your choice! Just sharing this as buying and improving a scruffier flat worked well for us financially, and after three years we were able to buy an even scruffier house to do up

@AwkwardPaws27

Although that flat looks perfectly reasonable, what the description doesn't tell you is that the railway line runs right along the back of the development. In fact, the development was built maybe 20 -25 years ago on the site of the coal yard that served the railway.
As well as the trains running on the Liverpool street line to southerns, Chelmsford and beyond, the development is right by the place where the local Romford to Upminster line breaks away from the main line. If you tried, you couldn't pick anywhere with more train noise in the borough!
Having said that, there are loads of rebuild flats going up in the area and with the exception of one or two areas, they are mostly within a reasonable distance of local transport links. The only other thing to look out for, is that a lot of newbuilds, especially those nearer the stations, don't come with parking and as they are often on completely new developments, there is not any local street parking.

Birmingham - good train connections and cheap property

I think Thornton Heath and Croydon are fine. Both are good places to buy, I think.

@Turnedouttoes South Croydon is the nicest part. If you can find somewhere near the station you could walk to central Croydon. And the train from S Croydon takes 20 minutes to London Bridge or Victoria. Where do your friends live? If they are South of the river, great, but going North, East or West for a night out might feel like a bit of a trek.

Room sizes in new build likely to be small. I checked out a fab location in Margate last week and like many others the bedrooms aren't big enough to swing a cat. Just about big enough for a double bed :-(

New builds are also like buying a new car - as soon as you drive it off the forecourt you lose money. Just my opinion of course!

Agree with PP that HTB is not a good idea unless you plan to stay long term.

Enfield?

@bananasandwicheseveryday
I know it's by the railway (as are a lot of the developments - the railstore in gidea park, for example, or the atlanta boulevard block) but just shared it as an example of an "old-new-build" and a development with parking (as you say, most of the town centre developments are car-free), as an alternative to brand new HTB options.

Good luck. Agree that HTB should only be if you are planning to be somewhere for a long period of time. Romford or Brentwood seem the best options of those suggested, especially as the Elizabeth line will take you directly to Moorgate when it opens.

Though in Brentwood be prepared for the TOWIE tours and orange faces!

What a few of my younger colleagues have done is buy a house in areas they are from (Milton K, Birmingham & Liverpool) rented it out so that it covers the mortgage
& stay renting in London. Not for everyone but seems to be working for them, they are on the ladder but not compromising on their London lifestyle.

If your budget is £290k then Croydon is a good area to look. East Croydon has brilliant transport. Some parts of Croydon are much better than others. If you would like to be in south east London to be nearer family, Orpington may have cheaper property and Dartford is definitely cheap.