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.

If you're already in Ealing and like it, is there any reason you're considering e.g. Hounslow over Hanwell? Some houses in your budget within a mile of Hanwell station and I would prefer Hanwell to Hounslow personally

I think you should consider the New Eltham area (zone 4). It has very fast trains to LB that take 14-16 minutes. You can get a 2 bed Victorian house for £425-£450 with potential to add a third in the loft. If you’re willing to have a 5 minute bus ride then you can live on the Bexley border side but still travel to New Eltham. Look in postcodes SE9, DA14. Safe and with good schools.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172428179

Sorry, missed your budget. There are bigger houses closer to Eltham station SE9 Eltham Park area. Eltham has two lines going through.