To ask for your thoughts on this flat

[MarikaPepper]

Before I post a link, can someone tell me whether this would be a good idea?!

TatianaLarina I know you can get mugged anywhere in London. Thats my point. I was telling OP there are areas just as nice which are more safe even.The notion of that Muswell Hill / Crouch End are "prestige" areas when I stepped in dog shit twice the other day and was bewildered at the growing litter problem is fanciful bullshit that only status seeking people see. Theres a Tesco express, a couple of smoothie places and a ice cream place. I don't see the fuss TBH. I grew up there and know it well. The houses are nice and they are just as nice in Palmers Green. Nelson road past the clocktower is notorious for drug dealing and anti-social behaviour, they are all victorians but council tenants (not that that matters but you don't need estates for bad behaviour)

And you're misinformed about Muswell Hill. Even the Giraffe has shut down. Do your research. 5 businesses went bust last year. They never last long these days. Again - Not particularly clean or safe. All hype. I personally think that because there are less "ethnic" people there it seems nicer to some people. Yep I said it. The houses in Finsbury park are gorgeous but the odd chicken shop and brown face makes it a shithole.

What a peculiar little post. Chippily attributing invented views to posters in this thread, and presumably the OP, that none have actually expressed. And a bit racist to boot.

Muswell Hill and CE aren't prestigious areas, CE is a bit of a dump and MH you have to get a bus to/from Highgate tube. I wouldn't choose to live in either, but if your budget is 500 grand for a 2 bed, it's not going to be South Ken.

Businesses start up and shut all over London, dogs shit too. This is city life.

Lovely interior but I'd check sound insulation and who owns the freehold, rise in service charge, ground rent etc.
Would you consider looking at purpose built flat blocks? If we could push to £500k, there's some lovely ones in N London but they seem to screw you over re: service charge.

It's a lovely flat, but I remember looking at a similar one in Leeds about 20 years ago (admittedly a tad cheaper think it was about £35k ) but I was put off by the lack of parking. It was just on the street which was a bit too student digs for me. It also smelt of downstairs's cooking. The real deal breaker was it being freehold which is usually a whole world of pain for a flat. I ended up getting a flat in a purpose built block with a private garage instead.

Where is that in London other than just N8?

TatianaLarina I'm black silly. God, nothing like some MN irrationality. People honestly argue about things on here that they NEVER would in RL. I was saying the reason Bowes Park and Finsbury park are seem as shitholes compared to crouch end and Muswell Hill is because of the brown faces and saggy pants. It's the truth. The real estate is the same. So what if FP has the odd chicken shop. House prices there are soaring anyway because of this fact. It's amazing what a starbucks can do to make people feel safe.

Makes no difference what colour you are. Claiming some people would think an area nicer because there are fewer 'ethnic' people is vile whatever.

BP and FP are more run down areas. The colour of the inhabitants is irrelevant.

I think it looks lovely - it's very similar to our first flat (ours only had one bedroom though and was about a tenth of the price!).

As mentioned earlier, you may get a lot of noise from the people upstairs unless the developers soundproofed when it was split into flates.

Its better laid out than some flats in london but vvvv small and vvv pricey. Just made me glad weve left. If you can afford it and compared it to other flats re what you can get. Things to think of..Is it leasehold, how many years left, whats annual fee, whats the area like..id visit local area at different times of day and days. What are other people like in the block. Outdoor space..how maintains it, access... Any parking issues. Wheres the nearest tube station. How far a walk. What did last flat sell for. If you moved slightly further out could you get more for your money. Good luck x

It's absolutely gorgeous and if I had money I would totally go for something like that.

No idea about anything else but previous posters have given good advice.

Gorgeous. What are your reservations?

welcome to London and its crazy prices. Which is why I still rent.

It is lovely but there is almost zero storage space.

It is nice, but not a lot of space. Depends what you need? To me, it doesn't seem worth the money compared to other parts of London - you've said you love the area though, so if that trumps the amount of space then go for it.
We used to live near ish there - moved around in Holloway, Finsbury Park, archway, Highgate, Hornsey type of area. I really loved the area cos we were settled with friends and baby groups etc but because of the prices we took the leap to move out to zone 5 and I've never regretted it, we got a 3 bed place for a good price and have extended it into a 5 bed, and most of the friends I had in north London ended up moving outwards anyway too.
But, it'll probably keep its price so you may be okay with it?

Nicely presented, two god size bedrooms and actually decent sized living area.
I like the way the kitchen is kinda separate but not fully.
650sqft is a 'normal' size for 2 bed.

I don't like the lack of outside space and the lack of a 'useful' cupboard e.g. to keep hoover, shoes, suitcases etc in.

I really do not like the distance from any kind of decent train stations, and think it is overpriced for the area.

I wouldn't buy this flat.

I also don't like being 1st floor. Would want to be top floor in a building like this.

I love it. I get London prices but could you get a do upper and add the value your self
LOL
The concept of 'adding value' via a doerupper is a laughable notion in London. Anything where one MIGHT add value will be bought by a developer. Building work is massively expensive. unless you can do it all yourself you will prob make a loss on the works and 'added value'.

What nonsense, I've done loads of doer uppers in London.

It's a good place to do so because prices rise faster there than anywhere else.

I wish people would broaden their horizons when looking in London. It took me too long.. to give up my postcode obsession. I live now in a fantastic part of London (but little known) where prices in London terms are amazingly good value, transport is amazing, similar properties to Muswell Hill but with real gardens and near open spaces with lakes and parkland, yet 15-20 mins by tube line (yep trains every 2 mins) to the City, not much more (25 mins) to the west end. Walk around this area... Check out flats like this one... www.purplebricks.com/property-for-sale/2-bedroom-flat-london-253313/# or little cottages like this one... www.tradingplacesproperty.com/particulars.aspx?id=57785