To ask which areas of London are still ‘affordable’ for buying property?

[Acapulco12]

Looking for some advice on which areas in London are best (ie most affordable) for buying a property.

I’m a first time buyer looking for a house (rather than a flat), but willing to compromise on space for location and condition. I’d prefer to have a smaller house - but which doesn’t need a huge amount of work immediately - in a more central area that’s close to transport links. I’m happy to do work on the house over the years though - just would prefer to move in somewhere that doesn’t need a complete immediate renovation job.

Any advice on areas I could look at please?

I’ve been looking mainly at Streatham and really like that area (nice parks, good amenities and shops, have visited the area a few times and it still seems kind of affordable-ish). I also looked at Ealing and Acton, but I think those are out of my price range. I know this is a tricky question, as lots of variables, but grateful for any advice.

what about Walthamstow? Seems to be where everyone is moving these days so very up and coming

I work in Victoria, so should be able to commute from most places.

Ah yes - I’ll look into Walthamstow thanks. I hadn’t really thought about it as I thought it would be over-budget but will look into it.

Walthamstow will be (just) in budget I reckon and if you work in Victoria would be perfect as its on the Vic line!

North East? Wanstead, Walthamstow, Leytonstone, Woodford Green.

South: Beckenham is nice and you can get trains to Victoria.

South Norwood/Selhurst/Norwood Jcn. The latter has v fast transport links and it's all close to the nice shops etc in Crystal Palace. Have a good look around that whole area as it can vary a lot from one street to another but some nice places and affordable houses on your budget.

If west id go to Sudbury town area they're more affordable. Or south east

Look at stations on the victoria Orpington line

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138906539

This is in my area. This house is a 15 minute walk down into Woolwich for mainline trains, DLR and the Lizzy Line. Easy bus into Blackheath and Greenwich. It's a really family friendly area- further up towards Shooters Hills feels more suburban and down towards Woolwich is more urban.

Ah, didn't see you work in Victoria, it's an arse to get over there from SE18!

Streatham is fine. Access to lots of green spaces, great housing stock and well performing schools. Trains from Streatham Hill to Victoria and good links to tube stations.

The house next door to me in Streatham sold for £800000 recently. It's a very normal 3 bedroomed end of terrace house needing modernisation.

That's a good price, Op. My only concern would be that the recent low traffic neighbourhood scheme means that the traffic is horrendous at times in that area so if driving towards Streatham Hill / getting the bus via Brixton then the journey is a long one.

DH and I bought a flat in Streatham in a leafy street not far from Tooting Common and lived there in the late 00s and loved it. We still go back every so often to keep an eye on flat and tenants etc and it's still leafy and green!

Haven't been to Streatham High Rd for years though, but it was fine when we lived there. It had a good gym, the Odeon, Lidl, a huge 24-hour pharmacy and there's a big sainsburys down by the Common (imagine it's still there). I liked the area around Streatham Common less than where we lived. Streatham Hill was a bit nicer.

I grew up in a different part of SW London and Streatham used to be considered a place you just went to for the ice skating rink (long gone, sadly) and then left asap! But then again, in those days Balham was also a total no-go area!

Also very easy to commute to Victoria from there, plus you can take any bus to Tooting Bec and get the tube, or it's about 15 mins to walk.

Bromley! Great rail connections to Victoria. A small town in its own right in a way (shopping, restaurants, cinema). Beckenham also nice but not as convenient for travel as Bromley.

You could get a nice place in Highams Park or North Chingford with your budget.

This is a good site where you can put in your work destination Victoria and desired length of commute and it gives you areas of London to consider moving to:

www.commutefrom.com

There's a new ice rink in the gym there! Also still a big Sainsbury's and joined by a big Tesco's and a M and S food hall!

You could get this sort of thing in Bickley/Bromley (in great catchment area for both primary and secondary) and train straight into the City and Victoria - https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86691252#/?channel=RES_BUY

Sorry to piggyback on this - where in North London would you suggest @bunnypenny ?

Nunhead or Peckham?

Oh hey! I’m in South Tottenham, and 15mins walk from the Piccadilly and Victoria Lines. There are parks nearby and I can also get the bus straight into the City. My kids are also at an outstanding primary but the other schools round here are great! You can easily get a two bed house for less then £550k and turn it into a 4 bed for an extra £100k. Please DM me if you’d like!

I really like Streatham for all the reasons you mention here - it seems very convenient and has everything I need. It’s so interesting that Balham used to be dodgy - now it’s unaffordable! I imagine most of Streatham will go that way soon.

There is still a rink there!

I put 600k 3 bed with garden into Rightmove with a 5 mile radius of Central London and thousands of things came up, including a beautiful house in Wimbledon - but it is right near the train depot.

Not technically London, but just outside, in Kent, and quicker to get into central London than many other places- Bickley/Bromley.
15 min to Victoria from Bromley South or 30 min from Bickley.
I’ve just moved here (from Greenwich), and absolutely love it. Best of both worlds - close to London, loads of shops nearby, but less than 10 min drive to beautiful forests and countryside.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143908529