Buying in London. Come here and share your stories

[Flowers2014]

So we are trying to buy in London and the market is crazy. Everything that we've seen has gone for 10%-20% over the asking price. Because of DP and his work we can't go too out of London which is making this whole process much harder than it needs to be. We have a good budget but in this market it's just not enough.

I'm tired by the process now so we are taking a break from it. We have until Nov to move out of out rented flat so we are going take the spring off and try again in the summer.

Anyone else in the same boat of trying to buy in London? Come share your stories with me!

[AgaPanthers]

ROFL at

"people who want to live in Hackney/Stoke Newington but can't afford it"

people have gone mad.

In what planet is this affordable.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-39810346.html?premiumA=true

[Flowers2014]

Horse there is definitely crazy-ness because of help to buy around 500k.

Also managing expectation is huge! I grew up in a different European country and frankly housing stock in general in the UK is pretty bad in comparison in terms of space, quality of buildings, insulation etc. I've had to make pretty big living comprises already so it's been a ride in terms of housing. IMO housing and education are two reasons I want to move abroad again later on

[Flowers2014]

Dancing I'm drooling at those houses I need to show DP this thread!

[badtime]

Walthamstow: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45495554.html

Leytonstone: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29574507.html?premiumA=true

E4: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43636618.html?premiumA=true

[pancakesfortea]

Have you considered ex council houses? We live in a not very pretty 3 bed ex council house in Vauxhall, Sw8. Still selling for under 500 grand. Not.glamorous but no less safe than a private development in the same area and the price difference is huge. Nothing period or in a private modern development would be under 800k for 3 beds. We are freehold with a small garden, 25 minute walk to Westminster.

And yy to whoever said forget the spare room. Another bedroom would cost us 3-400 grand. There's a travelodge at the end of the street for 80 quid a night!

[badtime]

Sorry.

Walthamstow: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-45495554.html

Leytonstone: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29574507.html?premiumA=true

E4: www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43636618.html?premiumA=true

[HRMumness]

You could get something nice on the Harringay ladder and you could definitely get a nice family house in Tottenham. I know people look down on the area but it's actually really improved in the last couple of years since we bought and think it will only get better as the areas around are way more expensive / lots of young families moving in.

The place across the road from us is going for double what we paid for ours and we only bought at the end of 2011. It's also less than 20 minutes into central London on the Victoria Line.

[TheCyclist]

Leytonstone is also very handy for Stratford International (not that it goes anywhere International) - 7 minutes to St Pancras.

(I regularly do Tottenham Court Road in 20 mins from Leytonstone on the Central Line. More like 10-12 to Liverpool Street.)

I don't really 'get' Walthamstow, although I can sort of see the appeal - especially the so-called Village (which is much smaller than many real villages). It reminds me a lot of what Hackney was like about 15 years ago.

[Flowers2014]

I sort of need a 2nd bedroom so that I can have an office right now and eventually can be turned into a nursery when the time comes. My parents will be welcome but the 2nd bedroom isn't really for guest

There have been so many areas mentioned that I've never heard of so I'm really glad I started this thread! I was expecting it just be a bit of a collective moan with other London buyers about the crazy market but you all have found me new areas to look at

[horsetowater]

www.commutefrom.com/index.html

Try this - type in Farringdon, then go for the 10-20 minutes option.

[horsetowater]

If you are thinking of occupying the nursery at some point you ought to look at local healthcare as well. Check out the GP surgeries and hospitals. Also you need a park or green space within walking distance.

[horsetowater]

Actually if you are already thinking of children you should move straight to Walthamstow or environs and rent out the spare room. It's a gamechanger IMO. It's not the babies themselves that use up the space, it's all the clobber that goes with them.

[Flowers2014]

Horse you are my new favourite person! That site is great. Am definitely having a longer nosey on it when I get home from work!

[Flowers2014]

Children are on my mind but not DP's yet so that's more a 4/5 year goal.

I think I'm coming across as really precious and demanding but really we just want somewhere to make a home for ourselves. I'm going to follow up on some of leads you all have provided and going to see a flat tonight on clerkenwell and hope we don't go to sealed bids again!

[affinia]

If you are thinking kids in the next 2-3 years you really need to think about this move very very carefully. Stamp duty/solicitors/estate agent fees are all % of property cost so moving is a massive expense. You need to think about the longevity of the property/area you move to.

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

How much time do you have to look OP? Your place is out there - You just need the time to find it!

I must have looked at 100 places over the course of about a year and a half before I found this place!

We moved in knowing it would eventually be too small for us but then did an extension after a few years after we had saved up some more money.

[Flowers2014]

Hearts - I guess until November. That's when the tenancy agreement ends, though we could probably extend for another 6 months easily. Our landlord is a company not a person so they are pretty easy going with extensions, etc.

Children are on the cards but not in the next 5 years. I'm just getting back on the career ladder after a retraining and DP would like to wait and save a bit more until we could actually afford for us both to take leave and for us to afford child care and other child related costs. So I'm not worried about a 1-2 bed place becoming too small too soon

[horsetowater]

Ooo look at me, favourite person!

When we bought our house we thought it would be just for a couple of years until dcs started school. We are still here 15 years later. Actually it's a 15 minute commute from Farringdon (North). Bear in mind that your 4 or 5 years might come quicker than expected, especially if you're cosied up in a new love-nest - that's exactly where it starts!

[Quinteszilla]

2 bed flat you say:??

600

500

495

485

www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/property-39743998.html465

425

400

[affinia]

Yes we crossed posts. We were in our first London flat for 4 years before having kids, and then it became the nursery for a short time. Wouldn't have exchanged the 5 years of city living for life in the 'burbs either!

Good luck!

[Flowers2014]

Ooh horsetowater now I have to be nosey and ask where do you live?

[horsetowater]

You can be nosy and ask but I'm not telling you!

North of Farringdon ;)

[Flowers2014]

Haha fair enough

[StepfauxWife]

Someone mentioned the Harringay Ladder further up, which might be a good shout. It's getting increasingly expensive but lots of young families moving into the area, good transport links and a short walk from the unaffordable but lovely Crouch End.

[CountessDracula]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-41674654.html

How about St John's Wood? Granted it's the dumpy end of it