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.

Have you considered Isleworth, OP? There are good trains into Waterloo, lots of houses that meet your budget, and easy access to Richmond, Chiswick, Twickenham and Ealing.

Three examples:
Top of your budget, very close to the station:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151871060#/?channel=RES_BUY

End of terrace next to a cute park:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/145513100#/?channel=RES_BUY

Great value on a nice, modern estate:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151527869#/?channel=RES_BUY

We do get some aircraft noise, but then so does everywhere in west/south west London!

Isleworth - be aware of Mogden.

I coudn't live in Isleworth in the Woodlands area due to the airplane noise. Hundreds of airplanes per day. Moving to Isleworth was the worst decision of my life.

Have you considered Ruislip (also Eastcote and Pinner)? There are a number of tube stations here and it's a nice area, lots of green spaces and brilliant access to London. Lots of people have moved here from Ealing. It's a family with kids kind of area so not a lot of night life, but some lovely restaurants and a sense of community.

Hi all, thanks for your posts.

I’m now thinking Mill Hill (Broadway or MH East) or South Woodford. I’ve heard good things about both place and they seem nice and well connected with transport links.

I’ve been to SW but not to MH Broadway or East, so planning to visit soon. I’d ideally like somewhere no further than Zone 4, to minimise big transport costs.

I also want to know why Kingston is great but Bromley is awful - they are so similar!

Plug for north east London too - alexandra palace / bowes park / Palmer's green is quite good value for house to money with decent transport. Also heard good things about Mill Hill and lots of friends have bought around Forest Hill / crystal palace/ sydenham area as well as Leytonstone if you go east

I’d be looking Hither Green, Lee, Catford way. It’s sold now but look at the size of this garden - www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/170911898

One thing to note, not all flats come with extra costs. I'm in a Victorian conversion, it's actually a duplex across 1st and 2nd floors - the loft part isn't a conversion and has full height ceilings. The only cost I pay is shared building insurance with my neighbour. You could get a large 2 bed flat in zone 3 with your budget.

That said... if I had your budget I'd definitely look at a house too!

Have you considered Hanwell?

Ruislip, Eastcote, Ickenham. Bit cheaper than Ealing and nicer. Great transport links too. You’d get a pretty substantial house for 700k.

Have i missed something? This thread from 2024 seemed to get randomly resurrected and yet the OP replied and is still looking for a house - is that right??

No - you assumed correctly.

It does. And not forgetting the tram links.
Also there's a waitrose.
I have aspirations to move there myself. I know se London well.
I'm quite a green area too.

Thanks for confirming! Gotta admit it's odd, to go from:

Isleworth - be aware of Mogden.

To a random reply about Isleworth at 2 in the afternoon years later, then it picks up as if nothing's changed. More normally a zombie thread. But good luck with the continuing hunt!

Wanstead is nice, but the central line is absolutely packed during rush hours. I imagine you would struggle to get on in the morning between 6am and 8.30am ish. I used to have to wait for a train or two to go by and then really push people to get on at Redbridge.

Barnet EN5 or EN4

@GoldOnyx This is in EN4 opposite a big country park and just under half a mile's walk to Cockfosters tube. End of the line on the Piccadilly so you'd always have a seat...at least on your journey into town. Lots of places to eat in Cockfosters. Caveats? No downstairs bathroom and it's on a fairly busy road. Might be worth a look as it's under budget and it's clearly just been done up :)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172527104?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

@GoldOnyx This has a choice of overground and Tube stations plus is closer to shops and has an Everyman cinema within walking distance. Says it's share of freehold.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/166677935?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY

I'd certainly consider S Woodford it's not awful at all, big Waitrose, M&S and there's a Gails now! Good connections on the Central line and house prices bearing in mind it's London are not too bad.
Wanstead is nice too but more expensive.

You could get a lovely flat for £700K - not all flats have management fees - that’s generally only blocks so you could fine a big conversion.
I’m in north London but also I can’t drive for medical reasons and I would caution against not being near a tube or train station which is well-served or at the very least a central bus hub.
South Woodford is quite nice but what about Wanstead? That’s the desirable location in that area (I have friends who live round there).
Bromley also decent - have a friend there but again, I’d be mindful of being near the station.
Also used to be b familiar w Kingston and Surbiton but again, a train in to central London. Harder to get north of the river if you need to (used to do that journey a lot).
Ealing is def your best bet for being central and easily accessible - I’d look locally first.

Sorry I didn’t see your update. I know Mill Hill area very well. The transport links aren’t amazing. Re the Broadway you have the Thameslink but no tube. Buses are mainly for local journeys. The Broadway is quite pleasant though re shops and it’s a decent area. For example I live about 15 mins drive away but it would take me a good hour to get there by public transport (less time than going in to central London and I’m a good 15 mins walk from my nearest tube).

I’m not as keen on Mill Hill East, yes it has a Waitrose but MHE is a branch line of the northern line. Trains only come once every 15 mins and it’s an open station so you’ll be waiting in the cold. Bus links not great. Again, pleasant area but I wouldn’t live there without a car and there’s not much ‘going on’.

Of the two I’d go for MH Broadway area.

If you can't drive for medical reasons have you applied for a Disabled Person's Freedom Pass? Then you will have no transport costs.

If you like South Woodford you might like North Chingford near the station. Lovely independent high street, right on Epping Forest, very civilised commute on the Overground as it is the end of the line so you always get a seat, and it is air conditioned!

Wanstead is also very nice (next to SoWo) but it tends to be more expensive.