£200k deposit and can't afford a family home

[Catcakes]

We have a sizable deposit, household income just shy of £100k and we can't find a basic 3 bedroom house (that's not a flat) that we can afford. Our budget is circa £600k but everything in our range is either a total dump, in a dodgy area, or we get totally outbid. I know the housing market is bad but seriously, what the hell is going on? We have don't have time or money for a big renovation. Where is everyone getting all their cash from to afford these basic houses?!

And yes we're in the SE and sort of in the London suburbs. And no we can't move to the north East 😂

You would get a palace by a beautiful beach for that in South/West Wales!!

Do you really need to live there? Traffic and smelly air!

I was looking for similar last year. 600 would get an OK estate house in Bracknell. Bits of Chertsey. Staines. We ended up in Staines and love it. Great connections, river, shops. My children are older though so don’t know about schools.
I feel for you. For a solid large house near a station with decent garden and good schools in commuter belt Surrey you really need 800+.

I don’t think you’re correct OP, for all the reasons others have stated. I live in Zone 2, south London, in a good area with cafes, schools, parks etc up the wazoo. Within a mile of my home there are houses (houses, not flats) for everything from £400,000-£1.7m.

If you are settled on Dorking, you may battle because it’s an expensive area. Something needs to shift, and it won’t be Dorking house prices.

Oh! We’re down the road from Dorking and standard houses are generally £500k - £600k ish. Can be in London in an hour. Glorious nature all around. Every amenity you could possibly want within 15 min drive.

400k house in zone 2?!

You wouldn’t call those dumps?? 👀

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147858017#/?channel=RES_BUY

Detached house with garage in Reading - easy commuting to London.

I think you're not quite telling the truth OP

Have you looked all along the new Elizabeth Line tube stations - it goes out to Reading in the West and Canary Wharf etc in the east?

I have just wandered over to RM to check @Bigredpants and, yes. Not many, but they exist. You’re welcome to PM me for info if you like.

You need to do what every single person in history has done in your position- either widen your search area or accept that you’ll have to renovate.

Some of the richest people IN THE WORLD live around Dorking- it’s called the stockbroker belt for a reason. It’s not uncommon in that area to have a household income of 500k plus. So you might also need to adjust your expectations- I don’t think you’ll find anything “exciting” there, that’s for sure.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144731888#/?channel=RES_BUY

@Catcakes I live locally and there are LOADS of options. Try Horsham, Southwater, Reigate, Banstead

I used to live in Leatherhead in a 3 bed we sold at £550k 18 months ago :) have you considered it? I like this: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146373248#/?channel=RES_BUY

I sympathise OP, we live in Tonbridge - Kent which is further out and you aren’t getting anything decent for under £650k

I know you didn't ask but I'm going to comment anyway lol ,don't live in Croydon, Tottenham (north London) Edmonton green (London), Handsworth ( Birmingham).I am sure there is lots of other areas I missed also, if you are a different race I wouldn't bother with Scotland/Ireland ( relocated from there due to the high demand of racism going on )...Btw i heard North east has cheaper pricing.

I work in Croydon and not a chance I’d live there. Particularly not with children. It’s the knife crime capital of London and it’s gone downhill an awful lot in the last couple of years. I always used to defend it as I’ve worked there over 20yrs and never had a problem but it’s getting bad and I wouldn’t spent 600k to live in Croydon. Not sure why someone should grow up because they think that. You can live somewhere much nicer with the same budget

Presumably you mean West Croydon though? As many have mentioned Croydon is a borough.

I have colleagues & friends who recently bought in New Malden, Worcester Park, Guildford & Ewell all for 650k ish.

If you don't have kids, I'd get a small run down house in a nice area. That's what I had to do, we completely renovated it over a year. We then sold that 5 years later, for something much better.

OP, it is entirely possible to buy a 3 bed in your budget - people have found you so many options. Can I ask if you have a requirement that you haven’t mentioned, such as you won’t look at anywhere without a downstairs bathroom and parking for 3 cars?

Here’s my my suggestion although not as big as some of the ones already posted, but in zone 6 and near Bushy Park:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146616434

Some of the comments like this on the thread are in pretty poor taste tbh. There’s so many people homeless who are desperate for a home and would happily live in any of the “dumps” 🙄

God the snobbery on here at times is vile.

Why exactly? Some of those houses were in really poor condition. And I live in Surrey and know Croydon and can’t believe people would pay 600k to live there. Cant see anything childish in that personally.

Yes you're right. You won't find anything in dorking/ reigate for that price. But you could buy a doer upper and live in it while you slowly do it up?

You are looking in the prime Surrey commuter belt, that is your issue.

Try Kent/SE London suburbs and you will find plenty at your budget.

Yes I think so too

Thanks for suggestions everyone, it's appreciated. Really would like to stress that we're not looking for property actually in London, and that includes Croydon.

We have 2yo twins, boy and girl, currently renting a 2 bed flat and it's getting tight! Ideally this will be a very long term move. We know so many friends and family whose kids get settled in schools, they eventually need a bigger home but they can't afford to upsize, even slightly, anywhere remotely in the local area.

For example this in West Wickham is nice. Yes it will need some cosmetic updating but is a big, decent house with a bigish garden. Bromley is a lovely leafy borough, good fast trains in to central London from Bromley South station.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144465959#/?channel=RES_BUY