House hunting in London - very grateful for your thoughts please

[GoldOnyx]

Hi all,

I’m a first-time buyer, looking to buy a house in the next year, and would be grateful for your advice please.

I live in London and would like to stay here for the foreseeable future. I work in London and also don’t drive, due to a medical condition, so would find it really difficult if I lived somewhere with fewer public transport options. I currently live in west London (Ealing), but don’t think I can afford it!!

More broadly, I’m looking for a house rather than a flat. That’s because I’d prefer to avoid the extra costs of ground rent and a lease and because I’d like somewhere that’s a decent size.

I’m looking for a 2-3 bed house, ideally, and am very open to buying a house that needs work, as long as I can live in it and do the work whilst I live in it (rather than buying a house that’s a full-on project). It would also be ideal if it was within walking distance of a train or tube station (ideally, up to 15 mins if possible).

I am very fortunate to have a budget of £700,000, partly due to a very generous family inheritance.

In terms of areas, I’ve been considering:

West London:

• Hounslow
• Park Royal

Northeast London:

• South Woodford

South London:

• Bromley
• Crystal Palace

Southwest London/Surrey:

• Kingston
• New Malden
• West Molesey
• Hampton
• Surbiton
• Walton on Thames

I’d be very grateful to hear your thoughts on any of the above areas please and on any other areas not mentioned that I could consider. In terms of potential areas, I’m hoping to be able to arrange a few viewings in one area and then spend the day there to do the viewings and look around the area.

Also grateful to find out your thoughts on the best way to house hunt. So far, I’ve been using apps (Right Move and Zoopla). Is it a good idea maybe for me to go to auctions as well (although I work full time), or are the apps my best bet?

Thank you so much.

Rightmove is good, and there are lots of houses there within your budget (I just searched for within 1 mile of Ealing Broadway station).

I'd concentrate on the areas of SW London you've mentioned. Well connected by trains and buses and not a million miles away from Ealing which you're used to.

Is there a reason you are looking out in the suburbs? Just looking at your list, not many are on the tube, which you also say is important. You could buy a house in Colliers Wood for £700k which would get you straight on a tube line or even maybe Tooting as you say you are interested in a doer upper. I don't know your other areas as well so can't comment on those but there might be places on the tube that are further in, which could be within budget (obviously ignore me if you want to be in the suburbs for other reasons!)

Hampton on your list is lovely, but not especially great trains. Have you also considered Whitton? Much better trains and buses and not far from the District Line in Richmond (by train or bus!) or the tube in Hounslow.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151494845#/?channel=RES_BUY/148604912#/media?channel=RES_BUY&id=media5&ref=photoCollage
or https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151494845#/?channel=RES_BUY

Thanks both! I appreciate your replies. @Sunnyshoeshine the only reason I’m looking in suburbs that are further out is because I’m not sure I can afford to buy somewhere further in. I’ll have a look at Colliers Wood and Tooting though - thanks!

A flat or maisonette doesn't mean leasehold necessarily - a lot are share of the freehold. You could get so many nice flats with big rooms in good areas for that money, OP, rather than looking at little cottages or the edge of London.

Thanks @FourthEdition! I haven’t considered Whitton yet as I’m not familiar with it. What’s it like? I’ll have a Google too. And the house you’ve posted here looks great - thank you very much.

West Molesey is quite isolated if you don't drive, the TFL buses stop around Hampton Court.

It depends what you're looking for really - I grew up on SW London so am familiar with all those areas but they can feel like a long way from London. Almost all my friends and family live in South London (Forest Hill, Bromley, Brockley, Hither Green, Crystal Palace) and I'd much prefer to live in those areas personally and the transport links for getting into London have improved a lot.

Surbition is lovely but expensive compared to very near other areas. Ewell is good value

I live in the Sutton/SM3 area and the bus takes you to Morden tube in about 15 minutes

It really depends on so many factors. You want public transport which is fine, but why a 2/3 bed house ? What do you want the space for ? I'd caution against a doer upper unless you have lots of energy (you mentioned a disability... so not sure how that effects things) and deep pockets as doing up in London is pricey
The areas you've cited are good, personally I'd stick with near your current area if ypu like it and have friends etc locally

Don't buy a house right on the edge of London, there's no need with your budget. I second pps recommendation for SE London. Decent transport, lots going on.

Sydenham 3 bedroom terraced house for sale in Lammas Green, London, SE26 (rightmove.co.uk)

Brockley - it is a flat but is freehold and is beautiful 2 bedroom maisonette for sale in Tressillian Road, Brockley, SE4 (rightmove.co.uk))

Quirky little house near East Dulwich station 2 bedroom end of terrace house for sale in Tintagel Crescent, East Dulwich, SE22 (rightmove.co.uk)

Lovely cottagey house in Sydenham again 2 bedroom terraced house for sale in Halifax Street, London, SE26 (rightmove.co.uk)

That’s a great budget. Where do you work, roughly, and are you with a particular hospital that you’d like to stay near? How about family/friends/going out?

I liked Crystal Palace a few years ago (but my knowledge is dated) and have friends in Sydenham and Forest Hill. I would consider that side of London if the Overground and buses would work for you.

I’d also look at Walthamstow, as that has great transport links including the Victoria line and the Overground, and there’s lots going on.

I would use Rightmove and potentially chat to estate agents in the relevant areas once you’ve narrowed it down - but at this stage, I’d spend weekends going for a wander round bits with houses in your price ranged getting lunch or a coffee and seeing whether you like it. I’d do this before arranging viewings if you’re not on a timescale.

Where do you need to commute to, where are you friends / family / people you want to meet up with?

West Byfleet is only 27 minutes on the fast train to Waterloo. 3 bed, £600k

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151639508West byfleet 3 bed

Where do you work? These locations all will have commuting routes that make more or less sense.

@pasta I love that last link you posted to the little cottage in Sydenham!

Next to Worcester Park station, 4 bedrooms @ £650k

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/64218338/

There's this in Ealing. Less than half a mile to South Ealing tube.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148272713#/?channel=RES_BUY

It's gorgeous isn't it. It's a very pretty street

I am trying to understand where you may work, if you're looking at such a wide range of areas.

If you work in the City/London Bridge/St Paul's/Holborn, hands down South Woodford is the most convenient of the areas you've mentioned- also try Highams Park (overground to Liverpool Street), Wanstead (on both branches of the Central Line), and Woodford Green. Even as far as Bond Street is fine.

Not an ideal area, even if the housing prices are competitive, for West London. Look at Walthamstow, if you need to get to Victoria.

Difficult to advise, without knowing more about your journey.

SIL has lived in Walton and Hampton Court. Feels a long way out, when we've done it, to the City compared to where we are. But again, no idea where you're employer is. If you're in Ealing now I'm guessing it might not be that inconvenient.

Look at the Dover House estate in Putney. Some of the done up 3 bed houses are marketed for high prices but usually sell around the 700-750 mark, if you want a project you'd be looking 500-600k depending on the state of the property (some need a lot of work, others less so). Maximum of 15 minutes walk to Barnes station for Waterloo, 30 minutes into Putney for the District line, plenty of buses too.

I used to live in Crystal Palace and still visit friends there fairly often. I love it.
Also Beckenham is nice. Various train stations can get you into victoria or London bridge or Waterloo or charring cross. I think maybe even the Thameslink goes there but don't quote me on that