Where in London to buy for 900K for an international family of four?

[internationalfamily]

Hi everyone,

Sorry for yet another where to buy thread, but we could really use your help and insights.

We are planning to buy a house for our family of four. We have been exploring some areas and viewing houses over the past few months, but really struggling to make our mind up..

Here are the key factors...

Budget:

• Ideally somewhere between 750K-850K, but we can stretch to 900K.

Location:

• Needs to be relatively easily accessible to City (to both London Bridge & Strand)
• Excellent primary schools for our DD (who will start reception in 2023).
• Safe
• International community: both my DH and I are Europeans, we would like an open-minded and welcoming community
• Access to green space
• We currently live and like SW, but are (especially DH is) open to move other parts of London.

House:

• Three bedrooms
• Ideally a house with some outdoor space (one of the areas we disagree with DH who prioritise location over house and is fine with a flat too)

Our shortlisted areas are: Wimbledon Town (esp. Dundonald/Chase areas), Balham (Hyde Farm/Nightingale Triangle), Colliers Wood, East Dulwich.

Where would you buy from if you were in our shoes? Are we missing some other suitable areas? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts/suggestions...

If you like SW London I would widen the search to Raynes Park, New Malden, Worcester Park.

Personally a house would be much more preferable than a flat say in Balham. However lovely a flat you are always having to cope with the restrictions and annoyance that comes with that type of property.

Colliers Wood could be worth a look, but if it were me I would be looking in the places I suggested.

Furzedown - access to tube (tooting bec), green space, overground (Tooting)

Fab area loved living in ladywell

Can’t you rent before you buy? It’s a big investment to make when you don’t know all your options. I highly recommend the South East, Blackheath, Greenwich, Hither Green etc..

Newly on the market in Wimbledon- Dundonald www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123932687#/?channel=RES_BUY

But please note, catchment area to Dundonald school is ridiculously small, and not guaranteed even this close to the school. Lots of excellent private alternatives though.

Op I'd look into Ladywell, Brockley, Greenwich, Hither Green. Great transport links, lots of green space, safe, and awesome schools.

@Summerfun54321 that’s a sensible option when we actually can decide/agree on an area😂

Also in South Wimbledon, close to Pelham primary (state) and St Mary’s (only accessible if you are assiduously practising catholic though)

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124613660#/?channel=RES_BUY

This one also in South Wimbledon - you will love the neutral decor 😁

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114085940#/media?channel=RES_BUY&id=media3&ref=floorPlanPage

@Yellownotblue I know—the catchments for Dundonald / Wimbledon Chase are ridiculously small. We actually made an offer (alas didn’t get) a house 0.2 miles from Dundonald and found out that it was not in the catchment area. Church schools wouldn’t work as we are not religious.

Felt exhausted just looking at the pictures 😂

uffington road is lovely
Julian’s and then dunraven -can’t go wrong
great community

Surbiton is a sensible family suggestion - great rail connections to London and Wimbledon and close into kingston for shopping but close to river

Something like this OP??

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/122905484

How about Tooting OP as another suggestion. I love Tooting , my sons first house share was on this road - it's very multi national but got good vibes . Also really handy for Wimbledon and lots of greenery round Tooting Bec- this house is really near Thameslink too for London Bridge and massively under budget for you

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114258137#/?channel=RES_BUY

You can get a 3 or 4 bed terrace in east dulwich for £800k

You would only get a flat in Balham but Wimbledon Chase is a good bet as good primaries & secondaries but again may struggle for 900k. Some are defo on at that price but seems to be a shortage.

The best bits of Streatham hill are the Streatham hill side or top of Tooting common.

Personally I would try & go for house as flats prices haven't really done much & dont expect they will.

What about Kingston or Sutton?

I know lots who have moved to Streatham but they always go to Balham to shop, eat which seems pointless imo but the high street is very congested.

West Norwood has good stock & high street but I don't really know about the schools.

Colliers wood is good for tube & proximity to Wimbledon but not sure re secondary schools. The high street is a bit grubby but you are close to Tooting which has lots going on.

Places in Suttton to look at would be Cheam village, Carshalton Beaches & Worcester Park which is also a bit of Kingston. Could look at New Malden/Raynes Park etc too as close to Wimbledon.

@internationalfamily my friend he trying to get into Dundonald & finding it so hard, she has gone into rented

I did read that somewhere like Kingston will be more insulated if there is a house price hit with interest rates but who knows.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/123823187

This one also good for schools/ transport etc and people seem to like living on these streets. You get more for your money than on the Victorian options.