FTB: Feeling nervous about moving to zone 3 London.

[Silksonic]

I’m 30 and currently live in London Z2, no children yet but actively trying to find a partner as I would love to start trying.

All of my friends are similar age/ no kids/ no partner.

We all live in Z2 but scattered around N/E/S

My rent is going up another 25%. I'm tired of moving every year so I finally started looking to buy last year. I wanted to stay in Z2 SE but my budget of £400,000 hasn’t gone far. I haven’t managed to find a 2 bed that has the size I’m looking for.

I did find a modern 2 bed but the service charge was £3800 p/a.

I came across a 2 bed on Collingtree Road in Sydenham that ticks all my boxes. It’s SoF, needs some modernisation but good condition.
My friends are starting to make me feel nervous about being isolated and far from everyone as well as not having access to the tube.

I would have preferred to be in Forest Hill/ Honor Oak or Brockley as they have better restaurants/ independence stores, cafes, which is what I’m interested in but what I viewed in my budget were smaller or had short leases.

I think I just need reassurance that my social life isn’t going to collapse if I continue with this purchase and that there are actually things to do (eat) in Sydenham.

@WoolyMammoth55 what area did you live in before you moved?

Even zone 4 is fine, I lived close to Crystal Palace station, it's lovely there. That said you wouldn't persuade me to move back to London now, I moved years ago, much prefer seaside living

How about Lee/Blackheath?

DS's ex lived in Sydenham and he hated it. After a long day at work in East London the schlep to go and see her was just too much.

Have you widened the RightMove search to Brockley plus 1/2 mile?

How about this one?

Or this in St John's ?

https://www.timeout.com/london/news/an-expert-guide-to-food-in-sydenham-by-mystic-bureks-spasia-dinkovski-041724?utm_source=adobe&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EAEB07281FD277B62A3F77535F78721B5DF02C1BD379A820B8E3A3EDCC9EC0D7&utm_content=Tue%20Apr%2030%202024%2015%3A00%3A00%20GMT%2B0100%20(BST)&utm_term=editorial&crmid=341ea086-e9ee-4a59-bb74-95893b822985&user_id=e01afe51ed70b8c3881ccf3c379eb77a9b4258c8524a90a22d5caa68df7ae901&deliveryName=DM58952

Sounds like you could have a one-bed in Zone 2, or a two-bed in Zone 3. Do you need the second bedroom as an office or for a lodger? If not, are you attempting to future-proof?

You might be able to just afford a 2 bed in Tottenham Hale (definitely a 1 bed). It’s on the Victoria Line, has about 200 breweries and tap rooms if you like that kind of thing, and takes 10mins to get to Shoreditch. There is a huge Argent Related development (same people that did Kings X). I have a friend that lives there and there are some lovely walks along the canal down to Stratford and through the wetlands. I often meet him at one of the breweries so often don’t make the canal walks!!

I moved from Hackney to Sydenham 7 years ago. I may have drunk the kookaid but I love the overground and hate getting the tube now!

I do caveat that with the fact that I moved as a couple and had friends in the area already but I have two single friends who have moved here separately in their 30s so I’m hopefully it will continue to grow as an area and pick up more of a Forest Hill or CP vibe.

@WoolyMammoth55 what area did you live in before you moved?

It doesn't help you much I'm afraid - we were in Stroud Green, close to Finsbury Park tube, but that's out of your budget now.

Zone 3 if your friends are all in the neighbourhood would be awesome! But if you have to travel to friends scattered across London before every night out then stay as central and connected as you can.

Just my opinion but I think (unless you need a lodger or have some other immediate reason for that 2nd bedroom) that you are more likely to meet your future partner if you're in a 1-bed in a place that supports an easy active social life... Best of luck whatever you decide!

Sydenham is a fab place to live. Always a lot going on locally, some great cafes and pubs etc, well connected and you would be close to the overground. FH is very close to that part of Sydenham and E Dulwich aand CP a short bus ride.

If you are looking to the future, it is an even better place to have kids- it is safe, lots of green space and family friendly. I loved living there (but the caveat here is that I was already in a couple) and I miss it (live out of London now for family reasons)

My favourite ever restaurant Trattatoria Rafaele is in Sydenham, I mourn it often now that I live no where near.

Our friends have always lived all over the place so there has never been a draw to a particular area so we’ve just moved to where we could find what ticked our boxes. It sounds like space is really key for you but if you want to be closer to friends then you might need to compromise on space. So worth spending time thinking about what really matters for you. Not having a tube isn’t a problem, I preferred the overground to my tube commute I have now, but does require better timing and planning.

Have you looked at Leytonstone or Walthamstow?

I used to live in Sydenham. We live slightly further out now but for the money, I think Sydenham is a good shout. Decent transport links, gyms, good pubs and close enough to FH, Crystal Palace and Beckenham for more food options. Nice green space close by. I also think the market there (when it recovers more generally) hasn’t peaked so you will get something decent for your money.

And YY to the Italian mentioned by @pinkpetunias !

Ooh I LOVE Trattoria Raffaele.

I'm more of a rural girl so no practical help with the London zones condundrum but at 30, with a view of wanting a family, I wouldnt base your home ownership on your friends. I mean, especially moving from Z2 to Z3.

Instead, I'd be thinking about what's in the local area. Is it safe? Somewhere to park a car? Near good primary schools? Outdoor space locally? That way, if you do meet someone and they decide to move in, you're ready to go. All the best!

I miss Sydenham, I had a good friend live on Collingtree Road, you are not far from Forest Hill or Sydenham Train Station.

I agree with this.

it is a great area!

Sydenham is a very friendly place.

Honestly the suggestion that Sydenham is somehow out in the sticks is ridiculous. It's on two separate overground lines to start with which run really frequently (albeit not as frequent as the tube).

Telegraph Hill is nice. There's a 2 bed on for £385k (sorry I can't do links)!

There's this on Stroud Green Road near FP tube which is on Victoria and Piccadilly lines and has lovely theatre, bakeries, the parkland walk etc nearby.

Sydenham's great but if I were single I would actually look a bit further out at Crystal Palace. I think your budget could work for a 2 bed there. There are lots of bars, pubs and restaurants. Great views as well. Transport wise there's Gipsy Hill station as well as Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace is only a very short bus ride or walk from Sydenham though.