Affordable commuter towns near London

[Bodakyellow]

We are looking to buy our first family home. We need a minimum of 3 bedrooms in a town with transport links into SE London or SW London - East Croydon, Clapham Junction, Wandsworth Town etc. We have a tiny budget of £380k. We are really getting disheartened as it does not seem achievable with our budget. I’ve come to mumsnet for suggestions of affordable commuter towns

I think you've possibly missed the boat with that budge how far out into Hampshire have you looked?

Would you be better off buying a small cheap buy to let property elsewhere in the country and continue to rent or adjust your expectations to either a flat or a 2 bed?

Redhill?

Slight curve ball but Coventry has a direct line 55m train to Euston and your budget would buy you a nice home with a garden and drive. Schools are very good in the south side of the city and plenty of open green spaces around.

This has sold pretty quick but is a good example of what you could afford around Redhill way: www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/113897273#/media?id=media0&ref=photoCollage&channel=RES_BUY

there are a few at that price in Tonbridge

Rugby’s similar to Coventry. 55 min direct train.

You can get a 4 bed semi for that budget, or obviously cheaper for a 3 bed and use some budget on a rail season ticket.

@StylishMummy

Slight curve ball but Coventry has a direct line 55m train to Euston and your budget would buy you a nice home with a garden and drive. Schools are very good in the south side of the city and plenty of open green spaces around.

Euston is the other side of London. That 55min commute doesn't account for the OP then having to travel across London to get to SW or SE London, neither of which have direct routes from Euston. The commute also doesn't account for the OP travelling to the Coventry station and back. They will have at least an extra hour on top of that commute when you factor the above in!

Dartford, Ebbsfleet, Gravesend, Ashford?
Not the most beautiful areas in the world but good links to SE London and significantly cheaper.

I don't know the area but Crawley?

Do you have to be in London everyday?

You may just be able to get a compromised house for that budget in Horsham, one like this with a downstairs bathroom:
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/118907099

It is expensive to get into London but a great town to raise a family.

There are 58 3-beds for sale in Reading for under 400k which would take you to SW London. For SE London, you could look at places in Kent along the high speed line like Margate, Canterbury, Ashford and Deal which would take you to St Pancras, so handy for SE if you take the Thameslink train. Season tickets are pricey but you could definitely find a 3 bed for that price.

Crawley is good with trains to LBridge in 40 mins.

I think Reading is a good bet as above

Hayward’s Health is possible but I bet the commute is expensive

You wouldn’t consider Croydon?

Otherwise if you can make East Greater London work then Barking/Dagenham, Bexley, Newham

It’s doable

Horley, Three Bridges, Leatherhead? I would not go as far as Crawley itself as you are off the mainline with fewer trains.

Basingstoke is another one within budget. Aldershot too but I don’t know it, and hear mainly bad things.

You could get something for that budget in ashford.

Kentish towns. Maidstone, Canterbury, faversham, Ashford.

@Luredbyapomegranate
We would definitely consider Croydon but would like the quieter areas. Which I think are out of our budget.

@LIZS
Crawley has been an option but I have no idea what are the nice parts of Crawley. For context we have two teenagers and a year 7; so safety, transport and school move would need to be factored in.

In that case I would really look at Reading -

Obvs need to consider train costs early doors

3 bedroom terraced house in Burgess Hill for £330K, 0.1 miles away from Burgess Hill station.

3 bedroom semi detached in Burgess hill for £325K, but is 0.9 miles from Burgess Hill station, although 0.4 miles away from Wivelsfield Station

Have a look at Selsdon and Forestdale for Croydon. There's nothing around at the moment because there's very little on the market but 3 beds tend to go for your budget. They're quiet suburban areas, good for families, decent schools - not that close to stations but you can drive and park at south Croydon/Sanderstead, or get the 64 down.

Avoid New Addington, it's horrible (but cheap).

You might be able to get something around Woking? There’s a few around knaphill which is nice. Woking is excellent for transport links and there are a good selection of schools.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/map.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1474&minBedrooms=3&maxPrice=400000&numberOfPropertiesPerPage=299&radius=1.0&sortType=1&propertyTypes=&viewType=MAP&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&viewport=-0.696846%2C-0.439354%2C51.178%2C51.394&keywords=

Leatherhead and maybe Dorking

How far out are you looking?

Your budget is low for Newbury, but could get something like this near the station. There are good schools.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117720866#/?channel=RES_BUY

Its a shame you can't go north rather than south - more for your money and more exciting cities nearby for the teenagers.