To think this house is worth it and London won't crash?

[Yazhi]

After searching for a long time we have found a house in an area that both DH and I like. DH thinks we should wait and see if the prices drop in London. Flats seem to have dropped and he's hoping houses follow. Who do you think is right?

That's a beautiful part of muswell Hill. Alexandra Park at your doorstep, Rhodes school is a great primary in catchment. 10 min walk to mh roundabout, and waitrose. Pm me if you would like.

Rhodes avenue is an outstanding school ofsted-wise but has a reputation for being snooty parent wise. It’s not a very mixed catchment area by london standards if that’s important to you. Great for parks, coffees, restaurants, village feel . Shite public transport for 1.65m

I live in that area. It's really lovely, very green, has free parking, and as mentioned it's a lovely 15 minute walk to a tube or Overground, or you could get the bus.
The catchment for both Rhodes Avenue or Muswell Hill is tiny, but I think you'd get into one of them.

@MiloAndEddie

Well that’s a stealth brag if ever I saw one

Quite

I like the first one! Muswell Hill is very nice. A bit far from a tube station but I suppose that doesn't matter so much now we are in a post-pandemic world.

If you like it, go for it. Bite whilst you have teeth!

'less mediocre' 😂

House 2 has markedly more kerb appeal. They're both eye-watering expensive considering you could've got them for low six figures when Artful Dodger were last bothering the charts. But you can clearly afford them so good luck to you: I'm in the 'He who is tired of London . . . ' camp. I still love it.

Can’t help comparing with what you could buy in Scotland - literally a castle. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73054528#/

Muswell Hill will keep its value. That’s a lovely house, my friend’s mum is on Cecil Rd, just round the corner. It’s a great area.

As an aside- nice to see no matter if the house is on for £90k or £1.6m, there’ll always be an IKEA Kallax in there somewhere... the last great social leveller...?

[quote Undersnatch]Can’t help comparing with what you could buy in Scotland - literally a castle. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73054528#/[/quote]
You're essentially avoiding paying for private school fees though with the London houses.

Can’t help comparing with what you could buy in Scotland - literally a castle.

I have to admit. The houses are lovely, but I can't help compare to what I could get here.

My Boss is worth millions, probably about 50 million. He house is a proper mansion and was about 900k.

I suppose that does really help op though if they need to be in London.

But I loved this place

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/105290456#/

Lol, how rich are you?!

It's lovely - if you love it buy it.

this is a very desirable area and its a house with an outside space, i doubt it will ever drop.

As lovely as Muswell Hill is, people are completely deluding themselves if they think that there aren't just as nice and better value places to live which have equal commute times into central London. The public transport from muswell hill is pretty awful- whereas there are lots of just as lovely places out of London that are on super quick train lines in.

Yes the state schools are good (APS in particular is excellent) but again, many beautiful commuter times have schools just as good if not better, and for that budget OP could buy a far, far superior house and surroundings. I honestly think sometimes people who buy in cut off parts of London like muswell hill are kidding themselves that it's ok because they're buying in London. More fool them, I say!

Nice house, an Edwardian house has sold in my road recently . Much bigger garden but not quite as nice as that one but not far off but is only 400k.

Ooh, both lovely. Difficult decision.
House one seems to have more potential to add value.
I'd park up outside both of them for a good long time and get a feel for the immediate neighbourhood.
I'd also ring the local schools and check out what are the chances of admission.

I love that first one op, buy it!

Example of what you could get in a pretty market town with super fast and regular trains into London and a much better change at getting into outstanding schools. If this isn't to your taste then are also plenty of Edwardian style houses akin to the ones you listed, but bigger for the same price.

People spending that many £££ in London outskirts are fools! Especially for a house that doesn't even have its own parking!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/80403462#/

A lot of what is nice here is the furniture....

Lived in Mussell Hill for a year when I was much younger.
I have such fond memories, it’s a beautiful place to live.
I like the second house better, other than the kitchen.

I wouldn't call Muswell Hill 'cut-off.'

@Peoniesandpeaches

I really love the lampshade in the child’s room with the birds… so cheers for sending me down a rabbit hole trying to find where it’s from

I love the bed in the kids room! Anyone know what brand it might be or what search terms I should try in google?

To be safe, and I assume from the prices of those properties you are not short of a few bob, budget on the basis you have to pay for private school if in London. Most Londoners who live in houses that size do not bat an eyelid at using the independent sector.

Other posters talking about the catchments being so small you practically having to live on the doorstep of your local school to get in are not kidding. If you are in a high birth rate year particularly for your first child, that is 100,000s of pounds in school fees for one child from reception to sixth form. Which is kinda the difference (plus some) in cost between the 2 houses.

@Ickythefirebobby

Gorgeous house. Who the heck has a hanging rope in a children’s bedroom though😮

When I read that I thought you meant a noose!

No one has a crystal ball. No one can predict what markets will do. If you like the house and are comfortable that you can afford it (including if interest rates rise) then by all means go for it. It’s a lovely house. Inflation rose more than was predicted this month so just don’t rely on the rock-bottom interest rates we have got used to.