If you had £1.2 million to spend...

[Sengah]

On a house in London and two children 2 and under to be state schooled, where would you spend it? We've just been gazumped, and now the property market is so slow we are trying to be creative. Anyone with good advice to share?

[HumpHumpWhale]

Or this one! It's huge! It's more Tulse Hill, though, whitch isn't as nice. But close to herne hill.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-68394182.html

[poddige]

Sorry - in no way did I mean £50k was a trivial amount! It's already been reduced once, maybe it's negotiable.

The market is so slow and stagnant up here, I've been searching for houses out of budget for us, knowing that it's more than likely they'll accept lower offers.


There was method to my madness I promise!

[RicStar]

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51920178.html trying again.

[MyBrilliantDisguise]

I'd go for somewhere like this in Beaconsfield. Frequent trains to London, takes less than half an hour to get to Marylebone.

[Sengah]

Thanks Humphump I will investigate

[Sengah]

@poddige perhaps you are right that we should be more ballsy. It just seems such a large amount. We haven't been viewing anything over our budget. How long have you been looking? We've been on the hunt since August last year and we are chain free so hoped it would all move quickly.

[Sengah]

Pradaqueen in his current job he works from home but sometimes has meetings in the city.

[Sengah]

Have never heard of Beaconsfield. Area description sounds lovely. I'm going to have my work cut out for me doing research on schools in all these places.

[RandomMess]

Brockwell park is gorgeous lovely playground and so much open space etc.

[tethersend]

Victoria Park would be ideal location wise.

[JassyRadlett]

We went from Clapham to Surbiton for space/money. Nice high street and good indie cafes/shops/restaurants. Kingston nearby for bigger shops. And the schools are lovely.

The commute is 16 minutes to Waterloo. You’d get a lovely 4 bed for your budget.

One of the big questions is which mainline station works best for you?

[800msprint]

Oxted, Tun Wells, Chelmsford outside of London all have good links and schools. Also Sutton.
Stick with Muswell Hill in London or try Wimbledon, Teddington. All have good Primary and secondary schools.
What do you want from an area and house? Where are your family and friends?

[sunshine7981]

Winchmore Hill - a lot further out but good train line

[poddige]

We're in Yorkshire, been half heartedly looking for a year thinking we'd put ours on market if we fell in love with something. We never did - so bit the bullet and went on the market before Christmas.

We have a second viewing tomorrow, and two more next weekend. So fingers crossed we get an offer, may have to go into rented if we do though, as nothing appeals to us at the moment. And our search area is huge! Hoping there will be a big spring upload to rightmove!

[onwego]

Have you thought about Walthamstow village?

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/fullscreen/image-gallery.html?propertyId=70806350&photoIndex=27

Does this link work?

It’s a beautiful house, very under budget, near Henry Maynard primary school (Ofsted outstanding) and is in an area full of young families.

[Sengah]

I am flexible on where I work. As is DH. Realise this may not always be the case but there is only so much you can plan ahead for. Family are overseas & Swindon, in laws in midlands but we don't see them often currently. DH and I want different things from the area - I would rather stay in London and be close to amenities, nice activities to do with the kids and a few shops cafes etc in walking distance. I don't have that many friends in London but am keen to make some so having this as a possibility feels important. DH, however, wants maximum sq footage and garden size and peace and quiet. He would rather move out of the city but I think this is just because his current job happens to be wfh and in time if he had to commute he would hate it. However, we are united on having good school access, ideally for primary and secondary. Don't want to move any time soon! Or is it mad to try and plan for secondary now as well?

[OutyMcOutface]

Honestly, I would move outside of London andfo yhe responsibie thing and privately educate. If you have over a million to spend on a house you have no excuse not to bare the financial responsibility for your childrens' upbringing.

[kirinm]

What bullshit @OutyMcOutface

[Sengah]

@poddige good luck with the second viewing - and here's hoping for a spring rush north as well as south, hey?!

@sunshine we actually looked at palmers green for a while - close to winchmore. But it seemed to be a black hole for schools and the estate agents said most go private or are Catholic. We can do CofE but are not Catholic.

@onwego yes agree house is beautiful but I find Walthamstow not the nicest area - village a slightly odd island therein. I mean no offence so feel free to educate me!

[Sengah]

@outymcoutface we are carrying the cost by our property location - which is why it is proving such a difficult search. £1 million is a huge amount I know but it doesn't mean you are rolling in it in London by any means. We could stay in our current flat but the money for our next house deposit would not stretch further than privately educating both children for 4 years. Then what?

[WeeM]

How about a complete change to Moray?! this is what that budget could buy you in Scotland...it’s practically a castle!
search.savills.com/list/property-for-sale/scotland#/r/detail/gbbrrsbhs090031

[poddige]

Call off the search OP - @OutyMcOutface has solved your problems!

Best of luck, hope we both find something soon.

[poddige]

Holy Cow @WeeM surely that IS a castle!?

It is immense! Imagine Cleaning that bad boy!?