R.E where to buy if you're Black

MotherOfRatios · 2023-10-24T18:42:02+00:00

*In case this comes up on Trending or Active, this is the Black MNetters board and I’m actively looking for opinions from Black women only!* hi, I am in my mid 20s, and I'm currently avidly saving and anticipate to buy in 3/4 years. I really don't want to do shared ownership, but if I don't want to do shared ownership or any of the first time buyers schemes, it looks like I will have to move slightly out of London. I would prefer to say on sort of a London border kind of like Bromley is London and Kent. I don't intend to have children and I would like to be single, so school is not a priority for me however, being in an area that feels very black/diverse is important. So feel free to suggest areas close to the M25, or just in the M25, but pretty diverse. budget max £350k Thanks

theduchessofspork · 24/10/2023 21:17

Reading - and on the Eliz line

DrinkingMyWaterMindingMyBiz · 25/10/2023 01:39

What sort of properties are you looking at? (As in house/flats, how many bedrooms, etc.)

Enfield is just within the m25 and you could probably get a flat within your budget. Very diverse.

If you go a bit further out to the Hertfordshire borders you’ll get a bigger property for your budget but, from my experience in some of those areas, they weren’t the most diverse or welcoming towns. (This opinion is based on experiences 5+ years ago so things could well have changed since then. For me personally, it’s a no, but still worth having a look for yourself.)

I know a lot of black families have been relocating to Wellingborough which is just outside of Northampton, so a little further out than it sounds like you were anticipating, but everyone I know who has moved there has been really happy. Most say they still have to go into Northampton for specific shops, but with the amount of black families that have been moving there over the last few years I imagine the shops will become more diverse soon enough.

Original poster

MotherOfRatios · 25/10/2023 07:21

DrinkingMyWaterMindingMyBiz · 25/10/2023 01:39

What sort of properties are you looking at? (As in house/flats, how many bedrooms, etc.)

Enfield is just within the m25 and you could probably get a flat within your budget. Very diverse.

If you go a bit further out to the Hertfordshire borders you’ll get a bigger property for your budget but, from my experience in some of those areas, they weren’t the most diverse or welcoming towns. (This opinion is based on experiences 5+ years ago so things could well have changed since then. For me personally, it’s a no, but still worth having a look for yourself.)

I know a lot of black families have been relocating to Wellingborough which is just outside of Northampton, so a little further out than it sounds like you were anticipating, but everyone I know who has moved there has been really happy. Most say they still have to go into Northampton for specific shops, but with the amount of black families that have been moving there over the last few years I imagine the shops will become more diverse soon enough.

1 Bed flat

Wellingborough seems a bit to country/village vibes, I don't drive so I really do need somewhere with stuff in walking distance etc

OP posts:

BattleofBeamfleot · 25/10/2023 09:10

Croydon might tick your boxes if you need a commute into central London or will in the future for promotions/moves etc. Loads going on, very diverse, great transport links, fabulous food options. Also lots of lovely places to get out in the countryside nearby.

It also has more than its fair share of detractors and there's a lot of (mainly historic) snobbery about it, but as a place to live, I don't think it's any worse than any other urban centre and on the way up - there's a lot of regeneration going on.

Original poster

MotherOfRatios · 25/10/2023 19:45

BattleofBeamfleot · 25/10/2023 09:10

Croydon might tick your boxes if you need a commute into central London or will in the future for promotions/moves etc. Loads going on, very diverse, great transport links, fabulous food options. Also lots of lovely places to get out in the countryside nearby.

It also has more than its fair share of detractors and there's a lot of (mainly historic) snobbery about it, but as a place to live, I don't think it's any worse than any other urban centre and on the way up - there's a lot of regeneration going on.

I do need to commute in central London and I keep being offered flats in Croydon. However, my problem is if I was to sell apparently is really hard to sell a property in Croydon.

OP posts:

JamSandle · 25/10/2023 19:58

Croydon - well connected and very diverse.

Reugny · 25/10/2023 20:20

In terms of London I can think of Bexley and Enfield.

Outside I can think of Reading and Milton Keynes. These are places were people I know lived happily who couldn't drive.

And you should be able to get 2 bed flats/houses in those areas. This means you will want to look at properties that you don't need to move from for at least a decade

Doubtmyself · 26/10/2023 00:01

You can re-sell in any part of london OP, including Croydon, (which is a pretty big place and many different areas to it).

A single woman, you want to be somewhere a bit cool like Brixton , West End in minutes, but loads to do if you stay local.

I'd look at places on the market for 375, and offer 350 final bids, as you're not in a chain some buyers would go for it. All London property has around 20-30K wriggle room at the moment. You could go for a place around the 300K mark and put a bid of 280K.

Brixton has everything, its relatively safe, gentrified with cool chic bars and eating , its been invaded by white upper middle class hipsters, but still plenty of the old school blacks in the area.

Or Peckham, which is exactly the same, loads of gentrified bars and eating, hipster hang outs but down to earth Black folks around.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130239536#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137588915#/?channel=RES_BUY

Bexley and Enfield , Wellingborough are DRY!

Check out this 1 bedroom apartment for sale on Rightmove

1 bedroom apartment for sale in Galatea Square, Peckham, London, SE15 for £300,000. Marketed by Pedder, Peckham

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137588915#/?channel=RES_BUY

Original poster

MotherOfRatios · 26/10/2023 18:56

Doubtmyself · 26/10/2023 00:01

You can re-sell in any part of london OP, including Croydon, (which is a pretty big place and many different areas to it).

A single woman, you want to be somewhere a bit cool like Brixton , West End in minutes, but loads to do if you stay local.

I'd look at places on the market for 375, and offer 350 final bids, as you're not in a chain some buyers would go for it. All London property has around 20-30K wriggle room at the moment. You could go for a place around the 300K mark and put a bid of 280K.

Brixton has everything, its relatively safe, gentrified with cool chic bars and eating , its been invaded by white upper middle class hipsters, but still plenty of the old school blacks in the area.

Or Peckham, which is exactly the same, loads of gentrified bars and eating, hipster hang outs but down to earth Black folks around.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130239536#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137588915#/?channel=RES_BUY

Bexley and Enfield , Wellingborough are DRY!

I have lived in Peckham and I really like Peckham, however, with gentrification price houses just seem to be rising.

I went to view a shared ownership property in Brixton last weekend, and I was really tempted, currently looking at resale properties for shared ownership in South London like Brixton and there's quite a few that are nice

OP posts:

Nonamesleft1 · 26/10/2023 19:00

If you’re looking at Bromley, lewisham is very diverse, with large Nigerian, Ghanaian and Caribbean populations.

brockley, Catford, Ladywell, Crystal Palace, Forest Hill, Honor Oak, croften etc

I’m a bit out of touch but I think you can get small flats around your budget.