Advice on location for a FTB

[Juniperxmas]

Hi mums!

I'm in a bit.of a dilemma and maybe you guys might give me some advice.

I'm looking to buy a house very soon as FTB and was looking for something with 3 bedrooms house for around £500k.

The thing is I live in London and was looking with something around 1h ish travel commute and with good schools.

I've been looking around Purley, Sutton, Mitcham, Carshalton. Pretty much around the south of London. But it is difficult to really know the area.

I've been renting in Wimbledon but this is now absolutely out of my budget!

Any advice on areas to buy from your
experience?

Edit: forgot to mention that my partner rides his motorbike to work while I commutes by transports. 1h and something riding works but more he might struggle.

How about coming out a bit from Purley?

Kenley/Caterham etc.

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/65707594/

What about this?

That's lovely, is that a nice area? Don't know those parts very well.

Garth road is quite busy, sort of main road like with some industrial units in the middle and the local Crematorium the other end but it's also a popular road and area. It comes out to the road where a bus goes straight to Morden tube/end of northern line so getting into London is easy. All Sutton's schools are good and there's a primary and secondary school very close by

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66243520/

This is walking distance to Morden tube

I've lived within the KT4/SM3 area all my life and wouldn't move away.

Any particular reason? A friend mentioned to avoid St Helier area but i guess he was wrong...

Morden is close to St Helier. I would go for Sutton over Morden. Sutton is a really safe borough with excellent schools and although the High Street isn't amazing, it's better than Morden's. Sutton council are also improving the High Street over the next few years.

Bump!

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/66312152/

At the bottom of Sutton high street off on a side road. Collingwood rode is a busy road but this is off that road.

Coulsdon?

We are in Mitcham. You do have to be careful in some parts, but there are perfectly nice parts (especially on the Colliers Wood / Tooting side). We are basically on the border between Mitcham and Colliers Wood. Lovely quiet road, lots of families in our street. 10mins walk to Morden Hall Park, 20mins walk to CW tube. Our neighbours sold their 3 bed (2 double + box) for £450k a few months ago so there will be things around within your budget.

We were also told to avoid St Helier when we bought 5 yrs ago, but no idea if its any different now.

Another factor might be to consider whether you are happy to be reliant on the overground. We like where we are as we can walk to Mitcham Eastfields for overground or up to the tube. My London born DH gets twitchy if he's reliant on one form of transport only 🤣

Bexley Borough?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86669736

Never been there. Is it lively in a good sense? Haha

Oh my! That is lovely. Unfortunately we only have 50k currently. Hasn't been easy saving.

SE Lindon has a different vibe to SW London and Sidcup is a suburb (but not as suburban as Sutton imo) on the overground train line. However it is close to Blackheath and Greenwich, very easy to get into LB (16 minute train ride) and central London (23 mins) as its zone 4. Primary schools are excellent and there are lots of top rated grammar schools for secondary. Easy to get out into the Kent countryside or to the coast. You can easily buy a 2-3 bed house for £450-£500K.

Have a look around these stations: Sanderstead, Riddlesdown and Warlingham (though the Warlingham train station is far from the village centre). They are all on a good train line that goes to either London Bridge or Victoria.

Purley is fantastic for transport links. Coulsdon South is also worth looking at - it's on Thameslink which is great as you can get a direct train to London Bridge, Blackfriars, Farringdon and St Pancras.

The Caterham line is slower but a nice area - Kenley, Whyteleafe, and Whyteleafe South.

Thank you! I'll surely give it a look. Got a offer refused today in Purley but will push through!

If you want to be further in, then Norwood Junction is 12 mins to London Bridge. A diverse area and rough round the edges but improving - and nicer than Mitcham IMHO!

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137570852#/?channel=RES_BUY

We're in Mitcham too - close to Figges Marsh. Transport is good - within walking distance of Tooting overground (Thameslink)/Mitcham Eastfields (Thameslink/Southern), 25-30 min walk or short bus ride to Colliers Wood/Tooting tube stations. Plenty of green space (Figges Marsh/Lavender Park/Mitcham Common/Morden Hall Park). We've made quite a few local family friends via school/nursery. It's scruffy in parts and litter/fly-tipping can be awful but I like the fact that there's lots to do within walking distance (I don't drive), we're happy with primary/nursery so far and people are nice. I've never felt unsafe. I think houses are nicer in the Cricket Green area/around Figges Marsh/near Tooting overground/towards Colliers Wood. Good luck with your hunt!