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Original poster

Help us find good place to buy house under £350K

55 replies

msbhatti · 20/12/2019 12:48

Hi there,

We are renting flat from last 5 years, Rather than spending more dead money in rents, we were thinking of buying atleast 2 bedroom house (not flat/apartments) under £350K in a good locality that's safe to live in, commutable from central London under an 1 hour and 10 minutes, and has good affinity for schools (my our son is 2 years old now).

We have checked online and shortlisted few areas like

Hemel Hempstead
Harlow
Cheshunt

Barking & Dagenham
Thurrock
Romford

Kent Areas like : Dartford, Grays, Tilbury, Erith (or any recommend in surroundings of these areas)

Crawley
High Wycombe

Farnborough or Bracknell
Slough

Personally we love Sutton, Carshalton, Wallington area but unfortunately those areas are out of our budget.

Would people living in and around London/Greater London advise of some good, safe, commutable areas to buy a house?

Many thanks!

OP posts:
Iggity · 20/12/2019 12:59

Ruislip but you would only get a 1-2 bedroom flat and not a house. You would need to go further out. Maybe you would get a house in High Wycombe for £350. Bear in mind Bucks and Berks are grammar school areas which pushes prices up.

JoJoSM2 · 20/12/2019 13:25

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

That’s where you can compare schools.

For safety, go to police.uk and

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

I think you’ll find some of the areas on your list a bit stabby.

If you’re going to work in London, then you need to factor in £££ for the cost of a season ticket.

So it’d make the best sense to stay in/around Sutton as you’ll get cheaper commuting, highest attaining schools in England and very low crime rates.

350k is just about doable for a small house. Some houses are on the market for 360k but have been on the market for a long time so you might be able to get one for under 350k.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-81571043.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-80573603.html

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65346498.html

Or if you are willing to give flats a try, then in South Sutton there are some very lovely, leafy roads with huge, light flats, often with a garage too.

JoJoSM2 · 20/12/2019 13:41

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-64917939.html

Here’s a huge maisonette with a private garden and only 5mins from the station.

pinksquash13 · 20/12/2019 13:45

Personally, I would not live in Thurrock or any of the Kent towns mentioned.

Original poster
msbhatti · 20/12/2019 13:51

@Iggity - thanks for sharing - our preference is only house, 2 bedroom atleast as we have a one son.

@JoJoSM2 thank you very much.

I was checking on rightmove and zoopla and was filtering the properties comes in market in last 14 days - that's the reason i was not able to see the property you have mentioned here in the links.

@pinksquash13 please advise then which area you recommend in our budget

OP posts:
AuntSpiker · 20/12/2019 13:58

What about the area around Royston?

Finfintytint · 20/12/2019 13:59

You’d get quite a lot for your money in and around Colchester.

4amWitchingHour · 20/12/2019 14:14

I grew up in High Wycombe and still have friends around there - it's not special but not terrible either - mostly good schools, gorgeous countryside right outside it, decent enough town centre, and easy commute into Marylebone. As far as I know it's still really safe - couple of areas you might feel uncomfortable in but crime rates lower than similar areas (https://www.police.uk/thames-valley/N409/performance/compare-your-area/?section=msgcomparison#msgg_comparison

Can't speak for any of the other areas you mentioned, but hope that's a little bit helpful :)

GuyFawkesDay · 20/12/2019 14:22

What about Banbury?

Original poster
msbhatti · 20/12/2019 14:31

@Banbury Royston and Banbury looks good and they are too far from central london.

OP posts:
MaisyMary77 · 20/12/2019 14:40

You thought about Didcot and surrounding areas? The fast train takes 35-40 mins into Central London. My DD commutes every day.
Also Oxford is close by-beautiful place to mooch around and great for shopping.

superking · 20/12/2019 14:48

East Grinstead? Not far from Crawley (but a lot nicer!) Trains into Victoria and London Bridge are under an hour. Good schools at both primary and secondary and lots of beautiful countryside nearby if you like that kind of thing.

Original poster
msbhatti · 20/12/2019 15:10

@superking Just checked and loved "East Grinstead", beautiful area and properties are coming under my budget too.

Thank you for that. have added in my list of areas searching property.

OP posts:
Lightsabre · 20/12/2019 18:07

Dartford is cheap and eventually it's likely Crossrail will extend there. It has some very good Grammar schools nearby. The Bexley Borough also has some houses in that budget - try Welling or DA15. Again, very good schools and good commute - Zone 4/5.

househunter19 · 21/12/2019 13:15

@msbhatti, you'll really love this tool called SearchSmartly.

You can add in your commute destination (e.g. central london) and travel time, and also select your 'must haves' for the area, e.g. good schools, shops, supermarkets, public transport, etc. It'll then match you to the best homes within your budget.

IMO this approach can help you save time (and your sanity) because you can focus on learning about the area around the homes you like to make sure they are right for you, rather than filtering one neighbourhood at a time and trying to find good homes within each one.

Best of luck!

Original poster
msbhatti · 21/12/2019 17:25

thank you @househunter19 and @Lightsabre

OP posts:
Skinnychip · 22/12/2019 09:27

Sorry if this us stating the obvious but bear in mind the further you move away, often the houses are cheaper but commuting becomes more expensive.
Flitwick
Bedford
Biggleswade
Hitchin
Letchworth

Katisha · 22/12/2019 10:41

Leighton Buzzard

PleaseNoFortnite · 22/12/2019 11:14

Just a couple of things - it's worth noting that the grammar schools in Sutton may be very high attaining, but they're also very selective, so if your kids aren't in the top 5% or so academically, they won't get in. I don't know about any comprehensives though, they may be worth checking out.

Also - I've lived in East Grinstead, and still know people there. It's not a bad place to live. The rush hour trains are good (every 15 mins into London, and because it's the first stop you always get a seat). Non rush hour is every half an hour. Check out season ticket costs though, they're pretty exorbitant, and trains finish fairly early if you're used to London, so no late night shenanigans after work!

Silencedwitness · 22/12/2019 11:19

What about Saffron Walden or Bishops Stortford? My cousin lived in Saffron Walden and really liked the town. We went to visit a few times and it seemed nice. Elsenham? I wouldn’t touch Harlow personally.

JoJoSM2 · 22/12/2019 11:31

@PleaseNoFortnite Sutton grammars are very selective indeed - they take about the top 10-12% of applicants. The non-selectives are excellent too - many of them very high achieving + offering specialisms in STEM, performing arts or sport etc so a lot of options. One of them is a National Teaching School too.

PleaseNoFortnite · 22/12/2019 11:36

Thanks @JoJoSM2, I have to admit I only know about the grammars so that's good to hear.

JoJoSM2 · 22/12/2019 11:41

Sorry, in case anyone is interested in the Sutton grammars - you probably need to be in the top 5% to be guaranteed a place if you’re from outside the area. However, many of the spaces are reserved for local children so it’s possible to get in if you’re in the top 20% only.

reefedsail · 22/12/2019 11:42

Burnham (edge of Slough) has some nice roads.

There are good primary schools and a grammar school. Burnham Beeches is a brilliant place to play and walk and if you have NT membership you can use the playgrounds in Cliveden as your local park.

Crossrail station coming.