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Original poster

How important is location?

17 replies

luckywinner · 06/10/2010 14:28

We live in a flat in a really lovely pretty part of London. It is opposite a park. It has a tube 5 mins away. It is really nice! However, we are outgrowing the flat. It is not so much bedroom space (there are 3), but the living space, and also although we have a communal garden, we do not have direct access to it. We absolutely cannot afford to buy somewhere bigger where we live now. But if we go 1 mile away, we can afford a 3/4 bedroom house with a garden and a bigger kitchen and sitting room. The area is up and coming! I have fallen in love with a house in this new area but my dh is just not convinced. What does anyone else think?

OP posts:
mintyfresh · 06/10/2010 14:45

Location is really important to me - we've paid a lot of money for a less than perfect house due to school catchment and village location (must be mad!!).

'Up and coming' sounds good as long as it really is - I know a few areas of Bristol where we moved from which were meant to be up and coming but have still to make it! I quite agree that having a garden and space is really important with kids - imagine it is really hard to keep them entertained in a flat with a small amount of living space.

Would there be any issue with school catchment area etc?

Original poster
luckywinner · 06/10/2010 16:22

It is an up and coming area, just not hugely fast, but I have lots of friends on the other streets around. Both my dc are in a school that bizarrely, despite being v oversubscribed, has no catchment area. It's a faith school.

I don't think you are mad minty. You do what you have to, especially around schools. I am just starting to feel a little couped up in our flat, although it is such a lovely flat. I think that is what is making it such a hard decision.

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bitzermaloney · 06/10/2010 19:34

How much would you be losing in terms of location? Is there another station nearby or other ways to get to where you need to go? I do agree location is very important, but if you are feeling cooped up it will only get worse as your dc get older.

Original poster
luckywinner · 07/10/2010 09:13

We live in a seriously nice part of London. To be honest, we are spoilt. We can walk to school, walk to cafes, local shops etc and it is a really pretty area. I really really love the area. But to buy something bigger in the same area we would have to win the lottery as we would have to spend a lot of money to even get an extra bedroom. I am a sahm so more ready for space. The other house has a deli and a cafe 5 mins away as well as tube, but prob 10 mins away. Not such a nice walk back from tube at night but I don't often do late night partying! No walk to school though. Aarrrgh, am driving myself mad!

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lalalonglegs · 07/10/2010 09:37

I think up and coming is a much abused description in London. Do you know anyone in the new location that could speak frankly about it? A mile (even the other side of a busy road) can make a hell of a difference in London. We are in the same position as you - we live in a maisonette, near common, near tube, near shops but to buy house of similar size with garden and larger kitchen would be #300k jump. For the time being, I am putting up with using the common as our garden and learning to love my "ergonomically efficient" kitchen... Wink

fluffles · 07/10/2010 09:39

do you use the tube daily, it's a time big difference going from 5min walk to 1mile walk twice a day.

Original poster
luckywinner · 07/10/2010 09:57

Lala, I totally agree! But this area has been slowly slowly getting nice. It has new delis and cafes and even gastropubs! We would have to spend at least an extra £500k to get what we need in the area we are in now, and there is no way we would ever have that kind of money. And also I think it is obscene that that is enough to buy a seriously nice house outside of London.

Fluffles, I probably use the tube once a week. My dh usually cycles to work. I use the tube because it is so close! I know I would miss that convenience a lot. I guess it's about compromise isn't it. But it's such a big scary decision.

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mamatomany · 07/10/2010 15:07

I would keep and rent out your flat and the rent a house in that area as a trial run first.

bluemango · 07/10/2010 16:05

What areas are you talking about, maybe that would help?

As others have said, london's a strange one because so many things influence location, and so many areas appear to be up and coming. Some, of course, thrive but others which should, just struggle and wither regardless of how well they should do, logically speaking.

How well do you know the new area, do you know anyone who grew up near there or knows its issues (I grew up in an 'up and coming' area that still hasn't made it, but growing up there I'm not surprised), how long are you planning to stay (you don't use the Tube much now but are you happy for DCs to be walking that far, on their own, at night etc).

It's so frustrating, we're in the same position and I don't really know what to do.

violethill · 07/10/2010 16:20

Location is everything IMO

Original poster
luckywinner · 07/10/2010 17:18

The area is Kensal Rise. I have lots of friends there who all really like it. It is still a bit rough around the edges though. We are currently in Maida Vale which is beautiful and hard to beat, but completely unaffordable. This would be a very long term move as dh works in london and will do for the long term. I have been won over by this beautiful space and house, but I look out of my kitchen window and see lovely lovely maida vale!

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Original poster
luckywinner · 07/10/2010 17:20

And violethill I completely agree with you! This is why we are having such a dilemma. I know you have to compromise. I just don't know if it's a compromise too far.

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lalalonglegs · 07/10/2010 19:04

Oh Kensal Rise is lovely (and Maida Vale is too but almost unreal-ly so: full of bankers and expats whose company pays their rent). Move - I would in a flash, I thought you must be talking about somewhere really scuzzy. Kensal Rise upped and came ages ago. Grin

Original poster
luckywinner · 07/10/2010 19:25

Woo hoo! I love your reply lalalonglegs Grin. I am going to tell dh (who isn't a banker, thank god) that mumsnet said kensal rise good. I really like it and am ready to move, he is just taking a bit of time. You are right about maida vale. There is this slightly lofty unaffordableness to it. Like we are not quite good enough for it. Tis lovely but completely unaffordable to us.

I have been thinking about the house all day. That can't be a bad sign can it?!

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Laquitar · 07/10/2010 19:58

I agree with lalalonglegs. I love to go to Maida vale for a cuppuccino but not sure i would like to live there (i would dread the school run and the 'playdates' there Grin). Kensal Rise is lovely and has more community spirit. Bohemian West Hamstead is very close.

P.S. Was Kensal Rise the area in 'white teeth' bestseller?

Original poster
luckywinner · 08/10/2010 11:18

Ahh yes the playdates of Maida Vale. Luckily my dc have all made friends with the kensal rise kids. I am going to be printing out this thread for my dh.

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pigindisguise · 08/10/2010 17:46

do it, definitely

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