What would you do?

[itsmehere1]

Clearly we cannot find the perfect house in zone 5/6 London (searching for almost a year), but aren't clear in our minds what we should compromise on.

Negatives are:

• 1 hour 30 minutes commute to work for both me & DH (as compared to current 1 hour 15 minutes)
• A bit above our budget (although we think the price is worth it being a detached and close to schools) asking around 560k – budget was around 530k

Positives are:

• 4 bed detached (in reality 2 double bedrooms and 2 slightly bigger than box rooms)
• 7 mins walk to primary and secondary school
• Good storage avenues ( garage, built in wardrobes, loft etc)
• Potential – conversion of garage is possible, opening of kitchen to an open plan also possible (not a load bearing wall)
• Medium-ish garden but easy to maintain as we like
• DH & I both always wanted to live in a similar looking house

We could move a bit further out, get a either a good house with lesser rooms with a lower budget, or we can move a lot further in and get a similar house with higher budget, but have a shorter commute (by 10-20 mins at-least). Should also add there are many 3 bed houses semis in the same area between 500-550k

Do we just hold on for longer and keep looking, but risk prices going up or go for this house. We are confused. What would you do?

Is Brexit likely to make a difference to house prices, so if you hold out, they'll drop?

A similar house might come up in your budget.

But if I loved the house and it ticked the boxes, I'd go for it.

I've never done such a commute to work, though. The most I've done is an hour.

I used to live in zone 6 and commute to zone 1 every day. 3 hours on public transport daily minimum, and much more with the frequent cancellations/delays/strikes etc. It was utterly soul destroying and I hated it so much. We are now in zone 3, smaller house, but are both so much happier.

I used to live in zone six, lots of my friends still do and the commute is horrific, which part of zone six? Transport options would make the difference to me

@Birdsgottafly - I'm not sure, the area hasn't grown massively since 2008. There were properties wich were sold at 330k in 2004-2008. It doe s tick most of the boxes which is making it even difficult to let go.

@DinglyDoorDancer That's my fear. However my current commute is approx. 75 minutes but doesn't feel that bad due to majority being on the train

@MrsStrowman that's good to know. This is in Orpington

Go for that house or look for one outside of London and relocate before you have children if you haven't already had them.

@ brizzledrizzle We don't have kids yet but planning to ttc coming year. Hence the move from current renting in a flat to buying the house.

I've heard that London prices are going to drop even further as we get closer to brexit. Friend of mine has a flat that was worth 550K about 2 years ago, now worth 450K. In Zone 4.

@itsmehere1 other side of the water, I was in Upminster area, there are often long delays and train cancellations. Not sure about Orpington sorry

In that case I'd relocate out of London now.

Also prices might well drop next March. Would you be willing to wait until then? And within Greater London I find it isn’t the commute time per se as the number of changes / alternatives. We live 45 mins from DHs work and 30 mins from mine but it’s one tube line and if it isn’t working then we can take a bus or walk to another tube line or train line etc. If it’s only one commuting option will work be okay if you’re delayed in getting there if it’s disrupted? Will your childcare be okay if you’re late to pickups? (Assuming both of you are working).
We eventually picked a garden flat closer to work than an independent house further away because of these reasons. But if you’re driving to and from work then it isn’t relevant

Why would you want to live in zone 5/6 if your commute in over 1 hr? You can live outside of London where the commute is shorter no?

Do you have children? I think my biggest concern with a commute like that would be making sure the nursery/school hours fit with you and partner’s working day plus commute time. Most nursery’s open at 8am, then you would be at work at say 9.30 at the earliest then would have to leave again by 4.30 at the very latest. I don’t know about the transport links in Orpington but where I lived it could be quite unpredictable with frequent signal failures/people on tracks etc and it would have been so stressful knowing I might be late to pick up my child, and have to pay £1 a minute after 6pm!

@DinglyDoorDancer I live in a commuter area and nurseries are mainly 7am to 7:30pm, but a point worth checking out definitely

Would you live in east London? We're about to put our place on the market if you're interested!

@ZaphodBeeblerox Brexit seems to be a huge issue however no one is sure I feel.We are okay with waiting but what if the prices increase? Childcare timings are definitely bugging me. Most of the childcare I researched close by 6 pm. I'm thinking of asking an earlier start. Currently work 9-5, will ask for 8-4 to include any buffers

@hubby which areas would you recommend

@DinglyDoorDancer no but planning next year. Childcare timings are definitely bugging me. Most of the childcare I researched close by 6 pm. I'm thinking of asking an earlier start. Currently work 9-5, will ask for 8-4 to include any buffers

@gingernutrichtea We haven't explored that option, but we are open if it is within the catchment of schools (both primary and secondary). Could you please pm me the area?

We used to live in a large 4 bed detached house in Tonbridge- my husbsnd’s Commute to St. Paul’s was 1hr 5 mins door to door. We are currently abroad but when we move back, plan to move to Sevenoaks which will make the commute to be less than 1 hr.

Bromley is also good for commuting

Having re read your situation, I would move further in. London prices will probably appreciate more than outskirts. Then you can always move further out later. A baby doesn’t need that much room but does need its parents around as much as possible. So no need to waste time commuting .

In that case I'd relocate out of London now.

Ridiculously simplistic. How do you know this is even an option for the OP?

Honestly for the first year or two I’d just move further in to London. Your baby will probably appreciate having you home more and doesn’t need much more than a tiny space for a crib and a changing table. I had visions of a playroom etc before I was pregnant but DD (11 mos) plays in the lounge while I cook and potter about and play with her. If I had a playroom I’d be stuck there most of the time too. But I definitely appreciated DH coming home in less than an hour after a long long day of looking after her!

In that case I'd relocate out of London now.

Ridiculously simplistic. How do you know this is even an option for the OP?

I don't, but like I said it's what I'd do - and have done.

Sometimes journeys from outside London can be quicker than say zone 6 to zone 1 because of fast train services. Eg. Cambridge to Kings Cross is 48 mins on the fast train. Not that I am suggesting Cambridge as it has its own microeconomy but it would be worth researching other train routes into London.

We live in zone 6. Our commute is never more than an hour (apart from the odd occasions where there's signal failures etc), and that includes a 15-20 minute walk to the tube. I lived in zone 2 before and it took me longer than that to get into work.

Realistically a 1hr30 minute commute is going to really get to you when you do have children (plus you'll need to put them in childcare longer potentially costing more money).

But depending on where in London you both work, surely there's an area of zone 6 that wouldn't involve such a long commute? We specifically chose this location because the tube line goes direct to our work

@cyantist thta's good to know. Would you please let me know which area do you live in. I understand that this particular location is not working for us as majority of the delay is because of bus commute from the station to the house.