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...?

sugarplumfairy - bargains in Onslow village??? These must have been next to the A3 yes?

OP - Do not move to Redhill - lived there for 3 years and was ecstatic to leave. Also known as 'Deadhill'.

Also have lived in Worthing which someone suggested - don't do it! Nothing to do, high chav ratio/knocked up teens (don't care if this makes me middle class, saying ti like it is!). Haslemere and Petersfield could be good options - good links to london and much more reasonable prices, with countryside etc.

You could also try Walton on Thames/Hersham - there are some 3 bed houses there for just under £250k. Some areas are a bit meh but the town centre has been smartened up hugely and although not huge on wide open spaces there is the river to walk along and a great leisure centre. Also possibly Molesey and Chessington.

What about the Surrey-Hampshire or Surrey-Berkshire borders? Towns like Farnham, Aldershot, Fleet, Farnborough, Camberley, Bracknell have affordable houses, good rail connections and lots of nice places to walk the dog and/or kids.

BBC.

A home.co.uk report specific to my postcode (full postcode kept private for obvious reasons)

Median Property Selling Prices in GU (£000's)

Apr 2010 Apr 2011 Change

Detached £607,500 £1,330,000 +119%

Semi £750,000 £320,000 -57%

Terraced - £225,000 -

Flat £287,625 £490,000 +70%

And a neighbouring village:

Median Property Selling Prices in KT (£000's)

Apr 2010 Apr 2011 Change

Detached £763,750 £647,500 -15%

Semi £362,000 £567,875 +57%

Terraced - - -

Flat £180,000 £252,500 +40%

Coco hasn't managed to get back yet so here's the RICS report for her perusal. It's probably the lease biased one and it's interesting to read the EAs reports at the end of the reports (although remember they ARE biased). They need to sell houses to make a living.

www.rics.org/site/download_feed.aspx?fileID=9950&fileExtension=PDF

There were also a lot of high price houses sold recently because of this www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/property/clock-is-ticking-for-buyers-of-1631m-homes-as-they-rush-to-save-thousands-before-aprils-stampndashduty-hike-2231649.html which also scewed the average price of houses up.

I'm off now. But to the OP - I think you need to put your practical hat on again and think about this carefully. What are you going to do if you have another child? What are you going to do if paycuts or redundancy comes along - as it has for lots of people? What are you going to do with interest rates go up?

Renting is a great freedom. I don't do it now - but did for several years in wonderful houses all around SW London.

As I said BBC. Its all very netural

Anyone is welcome to look, also check at home.co.uk but try a few postcodes to get a clearer more specific look.

That report is not for specific areas though as we have discussed.

Can't believe you posted this as an example! It shows that a certain price bracket of houses went up 119%, a certain bracket fell 57%. There were too few houses in a specific terraced house range to report on etc etc.

Apr 2010 Apr 2011 Change
Detached £607,500 £1,330,000 +119%
Semi £750,000 £320,000 -57%
Terraced - £225,000 -
Flat £287,625 £490,000 +70%

Why?

Its realisitic and gives a broad view. I.e some area's of the county are experiencing significant rises (119%), some stagnant; some fallen.

Its the whole picture, not just a 'one size' fits that all prices are falling everywhere.Its best the OP realises prices might be rising depending on her postcode, type of property etc. She might be lucky and find its fallen or by horrified to see they have well doubled.

A flat would now be out of reach in GU for example.

Its well know certain area's have their own bubble, the nationwide market is not accuate

I give up!

Good idea.

Did I start a fight?!

snickering I Live in Epsom waves to Gwendoline

Second the fact it's lovely, plus it also has the advantage of direct trains to Waterloo and Victoria. Handy, plus different train lines, so if one goes down you can use the other!