If you had £800k - £900k to buy a house where would you buy?

[GreenGarden22]

I've been WFH for a year due to lockdown, as has my DH. Jobs are both in Secure sectors and as stable as can be without a crystal ball. WFH could be possible for both of us permanently.

Currently live in Surrey which is mega expensive so we are in a 3 bed semi. It's nice enough and we have a ground floor extension so a large kitchen diner. But it feels a bit squashed with 2 young children who are growing rapidly.

We are now thinking of moving but can't get much more bang for our buck if we stay local. So we are looking at relocating!

Our budget is £800k ish with some left for decorating and / or renovating.. Could push for £900k if needed but wouldn't have much (if any) left over for renovations.

We need:

• 4 double bedrooms

-Medium - large garden.

• Quiet ish road
• Walking distance to local shops
• Parking for 2 cars.
• Local schools - kids currently at primary but secondary is most important. Would only move to areas with great secondary state schools.
• local kid's sports clubs like swimming & tennis.

Apart from that, we are open to suggestions so please fire away with your inspiration!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/75324999
Nice village feel although it's a suburb, 2 of the top 10 state schools in Scotland in the catchment area.
Downside is the weather.

Leigh-on-Sea in Essex. You could get a lovely period semi-detached for your budget, and you could be walking distance to the train station and into Central London in about 40 minutes. The area is lovely, the schools are good, lots for kids to do, near the sea, nice little shops and cafes too.

The parking isn't great, so I'd want to have my own driveway. Something like this would be my ideal:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E791&maxPrice=900000&minPrice=800000&propertyTypes=&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=