Buy a flat in central or a house further out?

[tunton]

Looking at buying my first home in London with dh. We are approaching thirty. Plans for dc at around forty (adoption).

We can either buy a two bedroom apartment somewhere in Zone 1 or Zone 2. Or we can buy a three bedroom house and garden somewhere like Gipsy Hill, Blackheath, or maybe Teddington. All places within London but take quite a long time to commute in and out.

What would you do? I don’t mind a small flat if it’s in a great area, whereas dh likes middle class areas and space (hence move out).

You and your DH need to discuss how you envisage your life playing out.

Personally I'm in the small central flat camp, go out a lot and enjoy walking home from the theatre etc. The thought of trekking to a mainline rail station to then get a train home doesn't appeal any longer (I've done it in the past).

However, I have friends however who rarely go out into central london and relish the space, greenery and large waitrose their more suburban location affords.

I also have a friend who did the bigger place further out and is now back (after much expense) in a very small flat in a very central, very chi-chi area.

You and your DH need to discuss how you envisage your life playing out.

Good advice. Think about whether you want to stay in a flat etc as stamp duty makes moving ££££. Is there a reason you are putting off adopting, it is a very long process? Tbh I would prioritise dc & schools so think about how you want that to play out.

We had a flat in z2 but moved to z4 for a house & I love the off street parking & space & the fact it’s more family friendly for my dc as they get older. My brother & sil don’t want dc & love their z2 flat & will likely stay there forever. If I didn’t have dc I would have likely chosen the smaller house in z3 but you make compromises depending on what you want.

I was about to say central based on your ages belt if your partner wants more space you need to find a location you are both happy with. You probably need to be near a tube but also close to green spaces so not zone 1.

How about somewhere like Streatham Hill? Still middle class with some green space but not way out like Teddington.

What is your budget?

I wouldn't be clamouring to move to a house to fit in dcs which you don't even want for another 10+ years

Budget? I would love a central London flat but would need some outdoor space and share of freehold, the service charges can be very high. If I was planning adoption a house with a garden, near good schools and parks would be better long term. Where do you need to travel into, the underground network goes quite far out. Standing at a mainline with rain, cancellations is miserable but some journeys are easier than others.

Could you get a house further out somewhere with good tube links back in work? Blackheath is an arse to get into town from, Greenwich is a bit better.

I wouldn't be clamouring to move to a house to fit in dcs which you don't even want for another 10+ years

whereas in this economic climate & looking at London flat prices over the last few yrs I would only buy a flat if I was happy to stay in a flat.

As previous posters have said, adoption can be a lengthy process. Only you and your DH know how you’d like to spend your last child free years (my preference would be for a central London flat, and I say that as someone who left zone 1/2 for zone 3/4), but I think you need to spend some time researching schools who understand the narratives of care-experienced children and plan from there. You will not need to worry about catchment areas, but will probably want to be near enough to the right school, and avoid moves once you have children if at all possible.

Can you say where you are now/what you like about it? Of the areas you’ve mentioned, I like Blackheath the best.

you need to write a list of what you want, what you need and what would be nice.

personally I would like parking, outside space, low/no service charge

Hubby would like a room for himself etc

good luck