What would you buy?

[quesomanchego]

I finally decided to buy a flat in London and I'm going round in circles trying to decide between the following options:

1. a "cheap" 1-bed, around 350K - this would be good for now, and would mean a very comfortable mortgage that I could overpay and cover with rent if I want to leave.
2. a more future-proof 2 bed around 450K - would give me more space and could fit a partner & a child, should I have both in the future, plus if it comes to the worst I could maybe rent out the spare bedroom, but the mortgage would be considerably higher. If I want to move out, I would not be able to cover the mortgage payments with rent after paying the taxes (I'm in the 40% band), so would need to sell.
3. There is obviously also option 3, a very cheap 2 bed, and option 4, a nice expensive 1 bed, but I have ruled them out for now.

What would you do? I'm single and I don't know what my plans for the future are. There is a possibility that I will want to move abroad at some point, or not, so making the flat as easy to resell as possible is probably key.
Both options seem risky, just differently...

Mine is a 1st floor flat btw.

That flat is not on the right side of the tracks either - it's still an ok area but it's the Catford side - the other side of HG is more desirable.

The other side of HG IS more desirable (god knows why) but I live on the "catford side" and it's really nice. You literally pay 100k more for a flat the other side of the Hither Green just to be very slightly closer to the park and the station.

Do any of them have an outdoor space? I would use that as a major deciding factor.

Even if you are "not the gardening type" you should definitely be looking to have some outdoor space. This will help with resale.

And negotiate hard. It is proving difficult to shift London flats, this places you in a good position.

We've never been fussed about having outdoor space, even at the height of lockdown. It honestly doesn't matter to everyone.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-84936754.html

Posted too soon: blackheath postcode- near the only se London tube and next to a station :)

If I were you I’d try to pick up a central (zone 2?) London 1 bed cheap, some are really struggling to sell and you might be able to get something a lot cheaper than expected. A 2 bed is a lot of commitment if you don’t know where you will be working and partner situation 5 years from now—id go 1 bed with the highest and quickest repayment you can afford, with aim to flip within the decade.