Buying in Upper Holloway

[Onaladder]

Hi DH and I have been house hunting for a while

We found a large flat near Crouch End (10mins walk to the Crouch End clock tower) and near good schools at the top of our budget range
We really like the place itself

Last evening we took a walk around the area and realized other than the street we are on which is lovely, we are surrounded by large council blocks all the way to Archway station, and technically the street where we want to make an offer is not in Crouch End but in Archway (N19)

and my DH is now nervous thinking about potential safety and resell value

There is no recent sale on our street to compare, but i think buying at 800-880£ per square foot is not a bad deal (compared to all the others places we have seen in various areas in London)

We are bit torn, and wanted to see other perspectives from people who either live around there or are more experienced in properties (we are first time buyers)

Any advice would be super appreciated! Thank you

How long do you want to stay in the flat. I personally wouldn't buy a flat now at the top of my budget unless you are happy to stay in if for 10 yrs.

we are thinking min 5 years...we cannot seem to find a garden flat that is not at the top end of our budget unfortunately

I just think in this climate you need to future proof as much as possible

Are you talking about the estate on Waltersville road onwards?
You are right in that there are estates everywhere there but it's really not very problematic until you get to Finsbury park. I used to babysit a lot in that area and there are some loaded kids at Ashmount mixing with kids from those estates. The community is lovely. Roads like Mount View road, Dresden road, are filled with bankers or old money and kids in private schools. That area is very much part of crouch end community though. Most of the middle class kids go to NLPAC and clubs around MH and CE and don't really do play dates with the kids from the estates. Almost all move onto parliament hill school or Highgate wood with a few going private or moving for fortismere or APS. Coleridge is the sought after school but ashmount is lovely.
If your flat is in a house and not on an estate, is near a bus stop going to a station, and not on a huge hill, I wouldn't worry about resale value.

Just to add, it's much better being under Islington than Haringey. Haringey are a massive pain.

and my DH is now nervous thinking about potential safety and resell value

You guys really shouldn’t be living anywhere in Zones 2-4 with this mentality

Thank you super helpful! we just wanted to hear from people who live around or know about the area

@SavoirFlair I think it's important to think this bc London zone 2-4 varies very much by street I've lived in three very different areas in zone 1-3 so I've experienced how different it can be....

@Onaladder you're welcome to DM me if you want. I'm very familiar with it.