I hate where we’ve moved

[IHate]

Finally bit the bullet last year and moved out of central London. Young family, needed more space/garden/access to decent schools/the usual.

Bought in Sutton. Our research made it seem we were buying in a ‘nice bit’, we got a decent house (£625K, as wanted to make the most of being first time buyers re stamp duty), lots of green spaces, the nearby primaries are good and the grammars look great.

We hate it, though. There’s no sense of community. Everything is a bit downmarket. It’s not diverse. There’s no ‘vibe’. I really don’t want my kids growing up here.

We really want to decamp somewhere. We love Wimbledon, but can’t afford anything decent there. And all the places further outside London might have the same issues we’re experiencing here. Also, we just bought, it was a super expensive process, and we’ve spent about £50K doing up the house. Moving again would be madness, right?

What would you do?

I'm sorry the move hasn't worked out as you hoped. I'd probably stay put for 2-3 years and assess the situation then. Would you even recoup your costs now if you sold?

Can you build your community around hobbies or things to do?

Sorry. No words of wisdom but lack of diversity can be surprisingly disconcerting however, also an opportunity to educate but hopefully you won't have to - kids are kids and when they're trying to describe another kid it won't be by skin colour but more likely 'you know Fred - the one with red coat'.

I know Sutton pretty well having worked in a school there for a decade. It's not a place Id like to live, I understand. Its very expensive for a sort of uninspiring kind of place. Out of interest, which is the "nicer" bit?

Why not move in a few years...Molesey? Sanderstead? Purley?

Focus on the positives; you have got on the property ladder and should be able to sell relatively well in the future.

What age are your children? Pre-school, primary or high? I’m just wondering why you’re not finding it diverse as I consider it pretty mixed for just outside London.
I know Sutton very, very well. Please feel free to DM me.

I would hold fire for a little while. We’re all being priced out of London now so chances are diversity will soon reach you!

That sounds miserable.

Why not start with getting your house valued and go from there?

I read that interest rates are supposed to be dropping poss 4 times this year so the market is sure to boom

Cheam Village.

Preschool. And I might take you up on the offer to DM you. Thank you. 💗

Thanks, everyone!

Cheam Village is most certainly a lovely part - quite possibly the most salubrious area in the Sutton borough - but you’re right; not particularly diverse and there is not much going on there. You’d need to direct yourself towards Sutton to find diversity. I’ll DM you if that’s ok.