To not have a clue where we should move to. Have narrowed it down to somewhere with easy access to Waterloo or Victoria. That still leaves most of the South East!

[TheSnickeringFox]

My dh is trying to persuade me we should move to Surrey. Has anyone seen the thread on Surrey in Property/DIY? It's bloody terrifying.

We are very definitely lower to middle middle class. Our income is most certainly double, not triple figure and we are not professionals in the strict sense of the word.

The only thing we can agree on is that we need somewhere with easy train access to Waterloo or Victoria for work. Other than that, who knows?! Currently in London btw so realistic about house prices. Realistic as in we know we are looking for a maisonette.

So, any ideas about where might be a good match and we won't be laughed out of town? Somewhere with young families on a not sky-high income, somewhere nice to walk the dog...?

oh, just seen you've got a £250k budget, Tonbridge is the next station out from Sevenoaks and you can get more properties for that budget there.

Cocoflower no don't worry! I was half joking

snickering, you should move near me, after all i did suggest the winning outfit for your fancy dress party, so clearly i am RIGHT!

i live in Crawley. it has a bad reputation because of the bad areas, but the nice areas are, in fact, very nice.
it has everything you want. direct line up to Victoria from Three Bridges (3 bridges is one of the nice areas and you could get a nice house walking distance from the station)

Well come a visit. Its a lovely place (in some area's)! But it is very expensive so unless you need to be here I would maybe not put it first choice...

type of house you might get for your money:

here, 4 beds!

nice 3 bed

close to station

good size garden

Have been there, went all over Surrey on weekends exploring places and prices. I had to be dragged kicking and screaming out of London by DH, but have been here over a year now and really enjoying it.

Progress came for us when we realised we had to compromise between length of commute and the size of the house.

Epsom Downs/Tattenham Corner/Woodmansterne are all cheaper than Epsom, and although less commutable there are stations within easy walking distance, e.g. Tattenham Corner to Victoria and London Bridge (55 mins) (can always get a seat as is end of the line) or, if you can drive to a station, can still go from Epsom or Ewell to Waterloo.

Winkfield Row (Berkshire).

Yes, Surrey's expensive, but still cheaper than central London. I know it's a balance between house price and commuting costs though!

Thisisyesterday, Crawley is probably a bit far out but I could just send ds over if you'd like? Are you happy with the facial hair shown in the pic or shall I add sones sideburns too?

yes, he looked fab!

Dozer, that is exactly the compromise we are facing. Where did you end up?

We are looking for somewhere long term as in a few years time we will be in a much better financial position (finger's crossed, I know nothing is guaranteed) and will look to move into a larger place then. In the right area!

All down to you TIY!

What about Beckenham - train lines into Victoria and Waterloo (East) and Blackfriars - £200k would get you a biggish 2 bed flat or a smallish 2 bed cottage - www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33081908.html or East Croydon, again good, fast train connections and could get 3 bed flat or 2 bed cottage type property within walking distance of E Croydon station...neither of the se locations are particularly green and leafy themselves (Beckenham more so) but are both very close to good parks and the edge of countryside-ish areas within a 20 minute drive.

Why on earth do you want to buy just now?? You'll get a much better home by renting and saving your cash. House prices are falling and things are about to get much worse (have you not seen the headlines today about the Greek issue?).

Install Property Bee and watch house prices come down. Rent a place for a minimum 6 months and see how you feel after that.

No-one mentioned Dorking yet? Is that because of the other thread? Trains go to Waterloo and Victoria, and house prices far less inflated than Guildford. Try the surrounding villages if you don't mind driving to the station.

By the way, do your homework on parking and season ticket costs if you're commuting by train - parking can be highly variable. IIRC in Guildford you are paying around £30 a day for parking and a return ticket to Waterloo.

In some parts of Surrey house prices are rising though and certainly not dropping, especially in and near Guidlford (which is so high due to good train links).

How about Orpington? From Orpington you can catch trains into London Bridge, Waterloo E, Charing X, Blackfriars and Victoria. Very much on the commuter belt!

Look here

CoCo - that old chestnut again (have you been speaking to EAs by any chance?) If you have property bee installed you would see the reductions that vendors are making in order to sell a property. How do you think in this financial situation prices would be rising?

Guildford
Average house price
£392,560

House type Average price
Detached £636,322
Semi-detached £309,449
Terrace £267,975
Flat £213,775
Annual change in house price
+7.6%

As you can see the prices have risen by 7.6%

Mole Valley
Average house price
£407,358

House type Average price
Detached £598,730
Semi-detached £364,096
Terrace £302,217
Flat £188,698
Annual change in house price
+6.9%

Epsom and Ewell
Average house price
£356,552

House type Average price
Detached £538,335
Semi-detached £328,640
Terrace £310,023
Flat £210,434
Annual change in house price
+13.7%

Yes there are area's in Surrey with a fall in prices (Elmbridge, Woking etc) but area's that are immune to the nationwide housing market and effectively have their own 'bubble'

Coco - which report did you get those figures from?

Hev, that's a good point. Tbh we've done our sums and we are aware that we would be better off renting. It's just...we want our own place! We're sick of not being able to do anything or really feel that it's 'ours'.

However, we certainly haven't ruled out renting . It would be a good way to check out a new area.

They've even got a Japanese nursery there. It would be perfect. Anyone want to lend me an extra 100k?

:o

Come and buy my house! It's 200K 4 bed with large garden

We're on the South Coast, but a bit further to Waterloo than you'd probably like (about 1hr 20). We're a mile from the beach on one side, and have the Meon Valley on the other.