About to buy my first flat and I'm in a complete panic

[user1467739772]

I'm a week from exchange on a flat in London. I had doubts about it before because it's very small and near a school. I work shifts so I'm worried it'll be too noisy. Now all the Brexit stories about there potentially being a recession are terrifying me.

Would you pull out and hope that prices fall in the next few months? Or would you just go for it? If prices go up, I won't be able to afford anything else. I'm feeling very anxious about the whole thing and not excited at all.

Whereas your new place?

We are having to move out of our preferred area (Peckham) into a one bed in New Cross but we think we can make it into a two bed which is the only reason we took the place in the first place. Any chance you can extend / rejig some walls?

kirinm - No, it's a flat so no chance to extend. It's in Leytonstone. Both Peckham and New Cross are great areas!

SpaceDinosaur - I went once in the morning to see what traffic would be like but it looks like it's mainly people walking to school. Don't think parking will be an issue. The thing is the bedroom faces the school. That's my only worry.

I live in Leytonstone so am very biased about the area (it's great!). On a more balanced note, which direction does the bedroom face? As a fellow shift worker the worst thing about my current house is the huge bay windows in my south facing bedroom. It still gets incredibly light despite the black out curtains and is nigh on impossible to sleep in..

Hadn't thought about that EllenTheEgret. It's NW which means it shouldn't be too bad in the morning.

My bedroom faces the school playground. It goes playground, fence, my garden, me.
My living room faces the school's staff carpark and playground. Our nursery faces the playground as well.
It's fine!

You absolutely get used to the sounds of children playing, screaming and shouting at playtime. We always have the window open too. It's not unpleasant noise. Also, large open spaces, the sound spreads. It's not like having a single screaming child under your window!

"you absolutely get used to the sounds of children playing, SCREAMING and SHOUTING at playtime"

I wouldn't! I wouldn't even view a flat that near a school. You sound like you are unsure OP. Gut instincts are usually correct.

To add a bit of balance - my old house backed onto a school.

I was annoying, for about 30 mins at break time and 30 mins at lunch time ONLY if the windows were open. With double glazed windows closed it was not an issue.

Never had any issues with traffic or parking or anything like that.

OP - I'm Hackney and also don't want to leave! But might have to for a bigger place, so feel your pain.

Also- the area I didn't love that I bought in in 2007 was Peckham, which you say you like, so it goes to show how much things change! I've been to Peckham recently, its ace.

And when we moved to Hackney, while I rented my Peckham place out a few years later, it was nice enough but I wanted to live in islington. Now i love it and prefer it over islington!

I've heard great things about Leytonstone. It seems to be where lots of Hackney people are going.

I'm not trying to persuade you - just reassure you a little if you do decide to take the chance and buy it. When I got the keys to my Peckham place I sat on the floor and cried. It was so small and my neighbours were so unfriendly. It felt like a disaster. But... It did work out really well.