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Original poster

Where would you buy a house in London for 500k. Recommendations pls

47 replies

butterbeanplant · 07/07/2019 19:47

Hi all,

DH and I were debating / arguing merits of buying flat vs house in S. London. Posted on MN and everyone agrees with him Angry Angry.**

So....here I am asking for suggestions for a freehold house, at least 2 beds, 500k or a bit under (to stay under FTB stamp duty). Decent connections to London, good schools, up and coming.

Have looked at Catford / Lee / Brockley. Brockley gets a lot of love on here. Personally I found catford too suburban but open to changing mind. One MNetter said Sutton, Bromley or Kingston, not Lewisham. Someone on here said South Woodford?

**Original thread here, if anyone’s gonna rail in on my side Wink Wink
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/3631889-Flat-vs-house-settle-a-debate-between-DH-and-me?pg=1

OP posts:
AwkwardPaws27 · 07/07/2019 19:56

Which part of London do you need to commute to? Eg. Working near Liverpool Street Vs Westminster will make certain areas a much shorter commute.

Original poster
butterbeanplant · 07/07/2019 20:21

@awkwardpaws27 I'm Liverpool st, DH is Embankment, that's why we were kinda thinking south-west...maybe London Bridge as compromise. Open to any suggestions really.

OP posts:
UrsulaPandress · 07/07/2019 20:25

Saw your other thread and would have said flat. But then thought about hideous neighbours so decided not to post.

still think flat

Original poster
butterbeanplant · 07/07/2019 20:26

@ursulapandress Grin you know what, i'm still counting you in my camp!! Smile Smile

OP posts:
BananaBooBoo · 07/07/2019 20:34

Have you thought about East London? Forest gate or Stratford have direct link to Liverpool Street and some lovely Victorian houses in your price range. Your close to Westfield , Olympic park and some lovely independent coffee places.

AwkwardPaws27 · 07/07/2019 20:36

South woodford is nice, or Wanstead, there's some other nice bits on the central line. Leyton / Leytonstone are buzzy and less 'gritty' than they used to be.
I'm from Walthamstow but have ended up in Romford, we got a period 3 bed semi on a leafy road for £350k. We're quite outdoorsy and like being near lots of country parks and open spaces. With your budget you could look at Gidea Park which is very nice, 30 minutes to Liverpool Street, zone 6, and we've got the new Elizabeth Line trains (with air-conditioning!) about 50% of the time now Grin

LaurieFairyCake · 07/07/2019 20:36

I'm 'flat' too.

We looked at Catford, Brockley, Lee when we moved here 3 years ago and could have bought a house. (Children grown up)

And they were too 'suburban' for us - we moved from a big house/garden/sheds/garages so didn't want all that again.

We settled on Blackheath/Blackheath Standard/Greenwich/Maze Hill/Westcombe Park. We have a 'flat' (different levels) with no neighbours, no noise and it's leasehold (with no service charges). It's so perfect (garden too).

I know the above areas really well so will post a few good 'uns. Don't discount Hither Green (if I can find anything you can afford) - amazing transport links, 14 mins to Charing Cross

Kwackerly · 07/07/2019 20:48

Eltham, SE9? Looks good, area is nice (I know it well, it's about 1hr commute into Liverpool Street. Might be too long for you. Nice house though.

RicStar · 07/07/2019 20:52

I posted on your other thread west norwood or west dulwich 2 bed house with potential to expand when you realise how great the area is and dont want to move for kids. Brockley is nice but I dont know if you can afford it ok £500. I lived in catford (renting) and I didn't like it but that was years ago - just put me off.

Pipandmum · 07/07/2019 20:58

I vote Kingston. Trains to Waterloo, the river, great shopping.

Original poster
butterbeanplant · 07/07/2019 21:01

@BananaBooBoo honestly don't know east London. been to stratford like once! I'll investigate on rightmove though. @AwkwardPaws27 what did you think of Walthamstow and why did you leave?

@LaurieFairyCake please post on blackheath...very interested. heard good things about it but when i investigated it was too confusing...some areas great, others not so much.

@Kwackerly yeah, kinda long for us!

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 07/07/2019 21:02

Not big, but nicely done - nice garden. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-83025482.html

Do not worry about Lewisham being close by at all. It merges into Blackheath and Hither Green and they're both 'naice' - I also like Lewisham - it's nowhere near as bad as people think honestly.

I've lived in this road, right round the corner from station. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63500886.html

Westcombe Park - near station. 10 minutes walk to Greenwich Park https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-79188377.html

Very close to Blackheath station - the only one without a private garden but has share of freehold. Neighbours above and below. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-61929012.html

Ugliest of lot with no garden but you get the top 2 floors and it's OPPOSITE Greenwich Park. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-81405215.html

I moved to where I live because of Greenwich Park, because of the transport links and because of all the bars, restaurants, shops. You walk down through the park and go to Greenwich Market - it's lovely - masses to do all the time.

Hope you like at least one Grin

Original poster
butterbeanplant · 07/07/2019 21:03

@RicStar what's west norwood like?

OP posts:
Fudgenugget · 07/07/2019 21:08

Bexleyheath? We’ve been looking there recently.

AwkwardPaws27 · 07/07/2019 21:10

I grew up in Walthamstow, it was pretty rough in the early 2000s. Then it started getting nicer and I couldn't afford to stay. It's nice now, but like any bits of London has deprived and rougher bits still.
I feel safe in Romford walking home from the station at 10pm, I couldn't say the same about Walthamstow Central when I moved.

Kwackerly · 07/07/2019 21:13

If you want less than an hours commute, I guess keep within zone 2. We are in Blackheath and its an hour into London (Westminster) would be about same to Liverpool Street. You could get to embankment in around 35 minutes though if you timed it right!

Kwackerly · 07/07/2019 21:19

So really I think east London is more promising! Crossrail will improve links from se London to Liverpool Street whenever it eventually materialises Hmm so up and coming in this area.... Woolwich Riverside?

MoverOfPaper · 07/07/2019 21:37

Gidea Park is v nice, with a train into Liverpool St and Crossrail. Gidea Park looks like Hampstead and has some nice schools.

Wowzel · 07/07/2019 21:54

I live in Walthamstow, we have lived here since 2010. I still like living here, it is gradually getting nicer. I don't feel unsafe here - although I don't normally walk around on my own after about 23.00 ish.

Transport links are good. Houses are a reasonable size. There are lots of 3 beds around the 500k mark.

JoJoSM2 · 07/07/2019 23:11

OP, I'm the one who suggested the boroughs of Kingston, Sutton and Bromley Grin

Just want to share the links of where to check schools and crime rates.

www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/find-a-school-in-england

www.met.police.uk/sd/stats-and-data/met/crime-data-dashboard/

Svalberg · 07/07/2019 23:37

Morden. Tube takes you straight to Moorgate (for Liverpool St) in half an hour, or Embankment if you get the Charing Cross branch. This house (one of several) is in a nice quiet area, 15 mins walk from the tube, good primary school on your doorstep. All the shops of Wimbledon within an easy bus ride.

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/63446652

JoJoSM2 · 07/07/2019 23:41

If you were to move Sutton way, I'd recommend these sorts of houses:

Cheam Village location (nice shops, fab Nonsuch Park with a big mansion and remains or a wall from Henry VIII's biggest palace, David Lloyd club, tennis, cricket and rugby clubs, high achieving local primary, for secondary 5 grammar schools with a fall back of an outstanding, high achieving comp).
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-62617197.html

Near Sutton town centre (a good selection of restaurants, cafes and pubs, refurbed cinema and some useful shops). Outstanding primary with high attainment. Carshalton Village not too far (very pretty with lovely parks).
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-63240294.html

Prices around here have been doing well and it isn't uncommon to just have an open day followed by offers by Monday noon. The draw is that it's the borough with the lowest crime rate in London + school attainment at the top of national league tables. Sutton high street has a fair bit of room for improving but recently we've had more independent pubs and cafes open + the biggest pound shop is just being replaced with a designer department store. So definitely good potential for the future.

Wishiknewthen · 08/07/2019 01:53

No to flat. Freehold every time! Leaseholds are being used more and more as income streams for greedy landlords so you need to be very careful. You have a decent enough budget. If you are sensible and willing to compromise you should get a small house for that. Edgware is a nice area (northern line) and not too pricey.
Like another poster said I believe that Leytonstone is up and coming.
South Woodford is nice also as near the forest but not sure if more expensive.

Grumpasaurus · 08/07/2019 02:26

We have a freehold 2 bedroom flat in the lovely Hither Green. Love it! Good schools, good transport, lovely community feel. We paid 415 in March 2019.

BlueSkiesLies · 08/07/2019 09:52

South:
Hither Green
Forest Hill
Sydenham

East:
Leyton
Leytonstone

You should be able to get a 2 bed terrace for