Moving to Surrey with a smallish budget. Is it doable?

[Wingingthis]

Looking to move from kent to Surrey due to DH work. We have a budget of max 500k and that doesn’t seem to give many options! Need a 3 bed preferably 4 but not sure if this is achievable? No idea in the areas to look, we don’t need to commute to London as DH drives to work and isn’t London based. Would love a country side feel and need good primary schools.
Any help would be brilliant Thank you :)

It is doable if you look further out or at a smaller 3 bed. Inside the m25 will be more tight on that budget than outside.

This looks nice and is £425K so well within your budget

I don't know the area but it looks ok and is next to a park.

There are 33 pages of properties in Surrey, min. 33 bedrooms, within your price range on Zoopla, so hopefully you can find something!

Bear in mind that Surrey is a big area, and includes Croydon - which is much less pleasant than other places in Surrey.

Croydon did used to be in Surrey but isn't any more. If you look up Surrey in Google maps it shows the border

Whereabouts in Surrey does your DH need to drive to? We live in North West Surrey, both work locally and have 15-20 min drives to work which we love.

@SeaPinks

Croydon did used to be in Surrey but isn't any more. If you look up Surrey in Google maps it shows the border

... but if you search Zoopla for Surrey, they do include Croydon

You’ll get something in Staines.

.. but if you search Zoopla for Surrey, they do include Croydon
They would do as they are marketing houses. If you live in Croydon you pay council tax to the London Borough of Croydon rather than one of the Surrey boroughs like Tandridge.

I think it should be ok as you don’t need to be near a train station for commuting. But Surrey is pretty massive, where does he need to be able to get to for work?

I work in Surrey but live in Hampshire which is cheaper as further from London. My drive to work is 30 mins which is fine.

@BIWI - Here is a list of London boroughs
directory.londoncouncils.gov.uk/

Croydon is part of Greater London.

It has been since 1965.

Lots of parts of London even some that are now in zone 3 have county addresses e.g. Middlesex and postcodes e.g. SM5 that are left from before London expanded in the 1960s.

Redhill could be your place. There are some 3-4 beds around 500k on the newer estates like Watercolour. You'd be close the country side, links to London and 'nicer' towns like Reigate.

I don't need that @RedMarauder - I live in London!

I was just pointing out the OP that a) Surrey is a large place and that b) it can include Croydon. As Zoopla does!

Surrey starts just south of Coulsdon(although it still has a Surrey address!).

Regardless of where the border is, Croydon is still in the same place it always was, geographically speaking. Either way it would help if we knew where OP needed to be near.

What about this in Upper Hale, OP:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77592852

Within budget, decent square footage and enough bedrooms, close to Farnham for feeling like you’re in “posh, leafy, ooh look an old building” Surrey – and you’ve got Farnham Park on the doorstep for countrysideness. Short drive to more countryside – Alice Holt forest, Frensham ponds, the north downs.

Or you could have a quirky layout listed cottage in Farnham itself, so added bonus of being close to train station for jaunts to London, half a mile to South Farnham primary (Ofsted outstanding, it’s been a loooooong time since I went there but I largely recall it as nice):

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108036998

That Bridge Square one in Farnham is charming - but no parking.

At the top of your budget here's a modern 3 bed (they say 3-4 but one is really the sitting room) townhouse in Hindhead. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108951692#/

Close to the Devil's Punchbowl for lovely walks, about 3 miles from Haslemere for train station and shops, and an easy drive to Farnham or Guildford. Your local primary would be Beacon Hill: www.beacon-hill.surrey.sch.uk/virtual-tour-1/ Grayshott C of E is also only about a mile away: www.grayshott.hants.sch.uk/

Brockham is lovely. I wonder if you could convert the garage if the 4th bedroom would be an office?
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108088847#/media?id=media0

Whereabouts is your husband to be based? Surrey is pricey but some parts are super pricey!

You're moving to Surrey for his work so where does he need to drive to? That makes a huge difference to advice!

Surrey is pretty big - driving from one end to the other can take a while and is not always a pleasant experience! Where is your DH driving to?

Yes, where in Surrey? Because if close to a county boundary a neighbouring county might be even better wrt travelling, schools, housing etc.

Also wondering where in Surrey - I live in Hants in a lovely village which is only 30 mins drive from Farnham / Guildford.

We paid £535k for 4 bed detached so would def get a 3 bed here and we have excellent primary and secondary schools.

Definitely consider Hampshire if your DH's work is near enough, some really lovely towns with great schools. You'd get a decent 3 bed here for £450k, no problem.

Sorry all I should have been clearer!! He works in film so depends which film he’s on and where it’s based- generally Shepperton studios/pinewood in slough but also can be leavesdon. They are the three major ones. We have family in Maidstone kent which is also a consideration but realise we can’t have it all!