Help please-Where to buy in London 3 bed max £450k

[Millymai]

Hi Everyone

me and my bf are currently starting the daunting process of narrowing down areas we would like to buy (afford to buy) in London

we have a budget of 450k and would like to get a 3 bed house

we both work in the city so having a good transport link would be key for us

as we looking for 3 bed.....i guess being near good schools would be something we should consider for the future.

as we are young professional......we would like an area where there are restaurants and shop. i currently live in south london (where 3 bed are way pass our budget) and he lives in east london

we have started to look on right move and the areas that pop up are:

Abbeywood-crossrail potential
Plumstead
Kidbrooke
New Eltham
Lee
Bromley
mottingham

mitcham
thornton heath

colindale

does anyone have any recommendation or views about the above area. i know i should consider visiting the area, but would love to hear local opinions and suggestions.

maybe i have missed out a potential area

thank you for all the help :)

Whereabouts does he live in East London?

How about Upminster? You may still get a 3 bed for that much and very good primary and secondary schools, also the c2c line is very good into Fenchurch St or Limehouse/West Ham for Canary Wharf

Thornton Heath and Mictham are a bit grim. If I were you I'd look a little further out at somewhere like South Croydon. You'll get more space for your money and it's under 30 minutes into c. London terminals (Victoria and London Bridge).

hi

thanks for your reply

@werenotreallyhere - new cross gate, upminister never considered before, will def check it out

@LBOCS, i know mitcham a bit grim, but was considering about coming home late there are night buses. not consider croydon before, maybe an option

thanks

Is it worth considering a two bedroom flat for a first-time purchase in London? It's going to be a long time before you need three bedrooms and you could live somewhere really nice/suitable for your needs at the moment. Rather than having more room than you need and compromising on area so much. Just a thought!

Why not somewhere like Leyton/Leytonstone? £450k can still buy a 3 bed house (especially if you are prepared to do some decorative work yourself) and there is loads going on around there- pubs like The Red Lion, Leyton Technical, the Northstar, new cafes like Wild Goose and All You Read Is Love, new restaurants opening like Little Saigon. Being Zone 3 Central Line means getting to the City is just 4 or 5 stops.

Sutton is a sligtly southern than mitcham and not grim.

If you are willing to go out of greater london into the commuter belt consider woking.

I don't know about the places you've listed but how about this...

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52331744.html

Under budget, walk to work, near good schools and open spaces??

Abbey wood would be good from an investment potential. The signs at the station say once crossrail is finished it will be eleven mins to Canary Wharf and I think 22 mins to Bond St. Prices are going to go up I reckon.

I don't know the area that well, though am sat in a caravan in the middle of abbey wood right now! We come on holiday here most years.

I've never seen a restaurant, there's a cafe and some take aways and General store type shops. It feels fairly safe.

I guess once the crossrail is built and if it becomes a property hotspot then the nicer shops and restaurants will come.

How about woolwich is that in your price range? You've got the dlr there already.

Catford is in your price range and on the up. There are some ugly bits and some lovely bits but it is safe and has a great pub (Catford constitutional) plus close to cafes in Hither Green, Lewisham for shops and the wonderful Model Market Street food market and an improving restaurant scene.

Bromley is great. Good schools, 15 minutes into London Victoria from Bromley South, good shopping, and within your budget. Friends have moved there in the last year and are delighted with it.

Zero kerb appeal, and needs to be completely gutted. Village location, near a "good" school, two lovely parks and 10 mins walk to the station. London Bridge is 20 mins. Lots of supermarkets etc nearby
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48590758.html

Over budget but it's only an asking price. Transport links not so good but v popular with families
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51687224.html?premiumA=true

Why not Woodford/South Woodford? Quick into the city and some really lovely areas.

I'm in bromley - you'll struggle for a three bed in the nice parts. Two bed cottages are around £400 at the minute.

Don't be fooled by the Charlton "village" location, no restaurants or decent pubs in that bit. Catford should improve. I'd agree with the pp who mentioned Leytonstone, you seem to get a decent amount for your money there. Also Lee has a couple of good pubs and restaurants but think you'd need to do a recce and pick your roads first (not sure about schools, sorry)

I think Leytonstone prices haves rocketed recently, I think you'd struggle to get a 3 bed there now. Apparently it's the Hackney ripple effect as everyone is priced out of there....

I agree re Charlton. Hither Green is coming up - inn it sure what the prices are like but lots of nice Victorian housing stock.

Beckenham is great if you could find something in budget.

Beckenham.

this

Not many in that range but it is a great place for young families. Plus easy to get to the city on the Hayes train line.

Bromley is nice with good transport to London, have a look around 'chatterton village' which has some smaller but pretty houses (although haven't checked property prices lately). Slightly further out is Petts Wood where you get much more for your money.

Personally I'd want to avoid Thornton Heath but Croydon itself is ok with v fast trains to London.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-50904065.html

Here's a chatterton village house in budget.

We are 30 mins from London bridge ( coulsdon)

I live in Blackheath so near to Kidbrooke and Lee. Both are becoming much more upmarket as there's a lot of investment being made in the local infrastructure. I'd think anything you bought in either of those areas would do well in terms of future price growth.

This is nice:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-52451585.html

Petts Wood is lovely, 3 bed is about £500 though unless you get a 'doper-upper' or have one that is both in a main road and backing into the railway. budget areas that are really nice nearby include Crofton where you can get a 4 bed townhouse for £400k or 3 bed for around £375 and walkable to Orpington Stn but a bit of a longer walk than some like. Good schools, good community feel. I wouldn't live anywhere else.

Auto stupid correct meant 'dooer-upper'! Not Doper! Ha ha!

I do like petts wood...

Loughton, Essex but on the central line. Good high street with shops and restaurants.