Advice needed - where can I buy in London/SE on 190k budget?

[stargirl0412]

Hi folks, I'm afraid I have a pauper's budget - single woman with no partner in a poor-earning profession (by London standards), but in my industry London is where the work is.

I've looked into shared ownership but I'm getting on a bit and think that shared o/ship is fine if you're in your 20s and 30s but not if you're older.

I have a decent deposit (around 70k) but combined with my income, it still won't get me much.

I really hate myself for admitting this because it sounds so snobbish but I just can't bring myself to buy an ex-local authority flat in London. The main reason (I think) is because ex-LA buildings just look so ugly and depressing.

I would also be worried about tough neighbours/drug problems/ gangs etc, not to mention the fact that you can be landed with enormous repair bills. (I've heard of people being asked to cough up 30k plus).

A colleague has just bought an ex-LA flat in Charlton but she is a braver woman than I am.

I can't afford Forest Hill and Sydenham, wouldn't dare live in Peckham, but would consider moving out of town into Kent, Essex or Surrey.

I'd like a two-bed, ideally, but realise I can probably only get a one-bed if I want to live somewhere decent.

Greenhithe looks affordable - does anyone have any advice about this place as I don't know it at all?

I can afford Belvedere and Welling, but hear that both are pretty grim. I don't want to move to a chav town particularly, but realise I'm on a limited budget.

Anyone got any bright ideas? I need to be on a train line no farther out than 45mins from London stations.

Thanks

that was, tiny 2 bed house for about 250 - the section jumped.

Are you all about london or just proximity to london? Head north?
Market harborough 50 min into pancras on east mids trains- beautiful villages for 200k youd get a cute cortage or Rugby 56 min by train into euston on virgin and for 200k you could get a 3/4 bed house... Loads of nice villages round about too

if you search br6 7ah on right move theres a 2 bed flat for 210000 it is outdated. I think it will go for cheaper as recently a more up to date flat in same road sold for 207000. good luck

Catford is a nice place to live, if you chose wisely a one bed Victorian flat is achievable under 190K within a friendly conservation area. There are two areas being developed soon, one by Barrats if you wanted a new build.
Catford already has two train stations into central London in Zone 3. I condider my self lucky enought to live in SE6, with an active neighbourhood group, highly rated school and local shops. If you wanted I can show you round the area and take you out for a drink just to sample Catford!?