Norwood Junction OR Thornton Heath/Selhurst?

[fourwalls]

Which would you choose? Schools aren't an issue but will probably be using Norwood Junction rail for East London Line but Selhurst/T. Heath would be good for access to Victoria.
Looking in the up to £200k maxxximum so not the swish end of the market.

What are the areas like - are there any subtle differences between say the Portland Road end of Norwood Jnct and Thornton Heath especially around the Crystal Palace football ground - are there any major issues concerning transport, after dark life, supermarkets, crime etc that would make you choose one over the other?

Example of a nice flat (with share of freehold) in your budget on a lovely road in Upper Norwood/Crystal Palace (much nicer area)
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-23816253.html

Those maisonettes worth a cheeky offer:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33406048.html
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-32784076.html

Or the maisonette within budget:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-21164307.html

Thanks pink - great area intelligence!

I think we're tempted by houses because of the whole freehold thing, really owning something - not paying service charges and so on.

And there is a degree of compromise we would make in terms of the location/area/general atmosphere, in order to get a freehold but... the sense we're getting is that the value of a freehold in certain parts may not be enough to outweigh the area downsides - whether it's safety, or neigbourhood facilities/appearance or just the general atmosphere - all of these things seem to be telling us that it might be better to put a house to one side and go for a flat and that the location will compensate for the negatives of a leasehold.

Although, I can't resist continuing to look at the roads off Portland Road to see if any more houses come up.

The maisonettes you've linked to look good but we're not too familiar with Beulah Hill and West Norwood.

It's hard to get a sense of how the market is there and whether people are taking cheeky offers - but I guess that would be down to an individual vendor's circumstances.

West Norwood is less appealing for us because it doesn't have the direct access to the East London Line (although I know it's just a couple of stations and a change at CP away).

It definitely looks like our main stations for searching around are Norwood Junction and Crystal Palace ( we never realised Thornton Heath had such a poor rep but nobody seems to recommend it) so, I guess it's back to rightmove!

If you get a minute(s), we'd appreciate your opinions on any of these (I know I'm asking a lot - don't feel any obligation - but if you get a chance to look at any of the links and any of them simply scream noooooooo! or even yessss - that would be very kind:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-22949619.html?premiumA=true

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-23433741.html

Same building but in better nick/possible longer lease: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-38497256.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-26701558.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-23187993.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33503254.html?premiumA=true

I don't know the areas so can't comment on which would be best. Having owned both a flat and now owning a freehold house I would definitely always try to get a house over a flat if possible.

With a flat, whether just leasehold or if it comes with a share of the freehold, there are always potential unknown hassles connected to the fact you own part of a building with common parts that require maintenance. There may be a management company, who generally seem to be useless, never get anything done promptly and then whack on additional fees to everything that's done. Alternatively you need to liaise with the other leaseholders. They may be fine, but chances are there will be some problems.

In my case it was the woman who lived upstairs who refused to accept anything that was clearly a collective liability was anything to do with her but then tried to make everyone contribute to repairs that only related to her flat. It doesn't matter then who is right, it's just added stress. With a house you you will be responsible for maintenance of the whole building, but you can just deal with it a you want.

Sydenham, Penge, Anerley and most of Crystal Palace are all a thousand times nicer than South Norwood/Selhurst in my opinion. I've lived in South Norwood, Anerley and Penge so I have knowledge of the areas. I'd be quite happy going out alone at night in and around Penge, in Selhurst I wouldn't dare!

My sister has just bought a lovely 2 bed house in Anerley with big garden, new kitchen, lots of space etc for £205,000.

Thanks Brug and Mum - your replies sum up our dilemma/quandry - get a house and free yourself from the tyranny of landlords and other tenants who love 'their music' but then put up with the 'fear' factor of the area.

It's a real dilemma. In south/south east London,, I think the only areas where you can buy a house on our budget are Woolwich, Plumstead and Norwood Junction - none of which are rose gardens!

Norwood and its environs are the only places where we can afford a house on the east london line - but is it really worth living with the 'fear'?

I just don't know

The bit around Norwood Junction - like the house/flat near the Lakes - really isn't too bad at all. Likewise the streets near the country park are fine. Have you been and explored? It totally changes from street to street and you can tell very quickly if it's dodgy.

Like I said, Thornton Heath is pretty horrible in my opinion (used to live at Norbury end of it), but that bit up near Grangewood Park (the doer-upper house you linked to) is nicer than central TH and is worth considering. Might be a better investment than some of those flats even though they're in nicer areas - especially if they have short leases or ugly blocks or have some other catch which a low price might imply.

Stay positive though - you should be able to get some decent for your budget, be it a house or a flat, near to your required transport links. Just keep looking, in person not just on the net. And come back and ask about specific streets / areas anytime!

I don't think any parts of Norwood are particularly scary tbh. Some parts are more rundown than others, definitely. Last year I was getting public transport home from work - getting the last tram to Croydon, waiting around until almost 1am for a night bus, travelling through South Norwood/Beulah Hill and walking through West Norwood at 1.30am. I'll admit, I wouldn't want my teenage boys doing that, but most of the problems around here are to do with gangs (according to the media, never seen it myself) and drugs (sadly I have seen evidence of that) and that just isn't something that impinges on my life.

IDK, maybe I'm just very thick-skinned or blinkered. I've lived around here for most of my life, and I don't always recognise what I read or see in the press as what's surrounding me.
I like my road (despite the fact there was a well publicised stabbing here 2 years ago) I hate the High Street, but that's not because it's particularly scary, it's just grubby and too much concrete and crap shops and too many chicken takeaways and I'm a snob.

Thanks guys - all the info has really helped in reaching a decision. Because we need the ELL train and a Victoria line, and taking into account all the tips and advice genwerously given, we're going to put those houses to one side for the time being.

We'll focus our search for a flat in the areas served by these stations: Crystal P, Gypsy Hill, Anerley and Sydenham - and at the same time keep an optimistic eye out for any houses that appear in the Country Park area off Portland Road/Norwood Junction.

If we get nearer to plumping for something - I may be back to pick your brains

We recently bought a two bedroom house in Thornton Heath, as every day passes I appreciate what a good investment it is.

Lots of regeneration in the area with the recently opened box park and upcoming Westfield and some planned regeneration in Thornton heath itself. Coupled with the good transport links, only a fool would think the area won't improve.