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Original poster

Anyone want to play Phil and Kirstie? Find me a nice house in Essex...

32 replies

Karcheer · 02/09/2019 13:49

I grew up on the Essex/east london borders but have been living in Bucks for nine years. We are planning on moving back to Essex, but I really don’t know where to go to. I don’t want to go back to where I was before but that’s about all I do know. I don’t know which areas are good and which aren’t :/
DH commutes to london a couple of times a week.
I’d like 4/5 beds, need two Ensuite was my fil stays sometimes and a study preferably downstairs for when dh wfh.
I’ve a cat so no main roads.
Ideally we’d like a new house as I’m diy’d out!

Help! :)

OP posts:
PinkysEars · 02/09/2019 17:02

What's your budget?

AwkwardPaws27 · 02/09/2019 18:14

Leigh on Sea is lovely (unfortunately my budget wouldn't get me anything with a sea view & DH is too attached to our local pub, so I'm sticking with my shorter commute from Romford for now Grin ). There are some nice village locations around Colchester and Chelmsford, and Billericay is nice too.
If your DH only commutes in a couple of times a week, you could look further out - there's some gorgeous places in Suffolk.

Todaythiscouldbe · 02/09/2019 18:18

Budget? Lots of lovely new builds around but prices vary significantly from one town to the next

Chewbecca · 02/09/2019 18:24

Leigh on Sea is an obvious choice, southern side, i.e. near the station. Not many newer houses though, 1930s is usual though many are very well maintained. Here's a newer house that meets your criteria
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-71192041.html
And another (except study)
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-69693589.html

But I'd been more inclined to this classic style
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72098881.html

Original poster
Karcheer · 02/09/2019 22:19

Sorry been out all day.
We made some very good property investments in the early 00s so we are lucky enough to go up to about 1.3

I hadn’t thought of Leigh on sea at all, so will take a look at those, thank you!

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 02/09/2019 22:23

Danbury is a nice village with all the usual services, good access to Chelmsford for commuting to London and lots of green space.

PoshNorthEssex · 02/09/2019 22:31

20 min walk from station with regular trains to London. More bedrooms than you asked for, but is it possible to have too many?!

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-70184239.html

Original poster
Karcheer · 02/09/2019 23:17

@poshnorthessex it’s lovely but too big and too old. I really don’t want something that’s going to need lots of effort in upkeep.

OP posts:
PerspicaciaTick · 03/09/2019 00:06

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-83470811.html - just north of Chelmsford

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-83470757.html - lots of character without it being a project. In town if you don't fancy rural.

Chewbecca · 03/09/2019 08:17

In that case, you can afford this new build in LoS. Crap garden tho.
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73524856.html

Original poster
Karcheer · 03/09/2019 17:05

@chewbecca that garden is dreadful for the money isn’t it. I’m not a gardener but would want a bit more.

I’m a bit worried all of these (north of Chelmsford etc) will be quite a long commute for DH.

Does anyone know what Bulphan is like?

OP posts:
Inferiorbeing · 03/09/2019 18:00

Have you looked at notley? Yeah commute will be crappy but some gorgeous houses

UncomfortableSilence · 03/09/2019 18:42

Bulphan is nice but quite isolated, what about Upminster, great for commuting, great schools.

ShirleyPhallus · 03/09/2019 18:44

Wow @PerspicaciaTick that first house is absolutely beautiful!

DorisDaysDadsDogsDead · 03/09/2019 18:48

Manningtree? Fast route in to London, and a very pleasant place as well.

DorisDaysDadsDogsDead · 03/09/2019 18:52

Or this one?

UncomfortableSilence · 03/09/2019 18:58

Or Shenfield. If you are looking at further out in Essex you really need to look into the trains, Upminster and surrounding areas will be regular,C2C is generally a great line but you will still be in Zone 6 so can use the underground too likewise Shenfield is a quick regular service into Liverpool Street.

Original poster
Karcheer · 03/09/2019 19:02

I think my husband would prefer a fairly quick link into london, he isn’t used to more than about 45 mins door to door, and I think he would moan about longer.

Upminster/Shenfield and surrounding villages look like good options. There are some nice new houses in bulphan which might be a good option...

OP posts:
UncomfortableSilence · 03/09/2019 19:10

I've seen those new builds in Bulphan but I don't think Bulphan itself has a station so you would be looking at a bus or driving to Upminster to get the train from there.

Original poster
Karcheer · 03/09/2019 19:14

@uncomfortablesilence could you not go from west horndon? Looks quite close on the map? Would be a short drive?

Hard when you don’t know these areas at all 🤔

OP posts:
UncomfortableSilence · 03/09/2019 19:21

It's about a 5 min drive to West Horndon but the C2C branches off at some point so you would need to check that as I don't think they all stop at West Horndon. If you need schools I would look at Upminster/Shenfield and surrounding areas.

Chewbecca · 04/09/2019 11:09

West Horndon isn't a particularly well served station, and is very smelly.

Upminster and Shenfield are good, both just 20mins on the train and nice areas.

Mooycow · 04/09/2019 14:49

Look at Chafford Hundred , walking distance to 2 mainline stations, both 45 mins from Fenchurch street. Young families , good schools etc .
Just up the road is Lakeside shopping center , good links to Kent.

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