Advice on next move - closer to London?!

[BeDreamyWriter]

Help! Feeling paralysed about what move to make next. Context: Husband and I moved out of rented 1 bed in Fulham in 2021 to buy a 3 bed new build on the SE coast. Many pros to this (large 3 bed house with garden, mod cons, not a house in a big estate but rare one-off new build on old character filled road, healthier lifestyle, less expensive than LDN etc). While all this is great, our jobs are in London, Covid’s over, we (and our employers) want to be in the office more, we want to be closer to friends, London culture, socialising etc. Our house is currently valued at £500k. If we move we can potentially afford something in the region of £750-900k, depending on if we wait 1-2.5 years. Plot twist: we’re planning on starting a family. Non-negotiable: outside space, min. 3 beds, not a shithole within 1 hr or less commute of LDN, decent school for our non-existent child. While deep down I’d love a doer upper, I don’t think that’s right for our circumstances right now (how does anyone have the time / patience?!) It does not have to be a new build. I’ve come to the painful realization that unless we’re willing to downsize or buy a kip, I’m not moving back to Fulham or any dream boroughs any time soon (Notting hill, Hampstead, Chelsea). Don’t laugh- it might happen some day!! So - Where the hell do we go?!

I'd go for north east (e.g. Walthamstow) or north London for tube line access, or otherwise look at the Elizabeth Line - stations further towards the end of the line for easy access into London.

Agree with north east. Wanstead might be a stretch with budget but possible. South Woodford slightly cheaper. So many mums here - and so quick to central. Ps if you want to move back to London then do it, I think it’s great being a mum.

Where are your family(s)? Often the easiest way to choose a part of outer London is where gets you on the road to where you might want to go quickest. Also great to be reasonably close if grandparents might sometimes babysit.

Cobham? Leatherhead? Ealing? Kingston?

Look on the Elizabeth Line or in a large village or small town near to a station - Reading / Maidenhead / Marlow/ Henley / Bourne End / Cookham / Taplow/ Burnham /

Two bed flat in Fulham.

You can afford lots in London, close to tube and with decent schools for up to 900k. Will be zone 3-4 onwards but it's doable.

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all the suggestions. I’ve now realised if moving next year, actually our top end budget is £750k (£900k if moving in 2 years but realistically next year is better for us). I like the idea of end of Elizabeth line, I’m more drawn to west London because of family and friend connections (“getting on the road” is a good steer). I like the look of areas around Reading, Twyford, Sonning. Hitchin also stands out. Does anyone know what Colindale is like? Guessing there’s a reason it seems to be the last affordable area for new builds on that side of London?

My problem is the ideal next move is a detached home with a utility room, separate kitchen / living, at least 3 decent sized bedrooms with 1 en-suite and a garden. Off street parking a bonus. I do realise that for that price in the areas I’ve mentioned I’m looking at a semi-d or terrace. It pains me for that price I’m also looking to find another £50k from somewhere to make improvements, some houses are just in depressing conditions - and by that I don’t mean dilapidated just severely lacking in character / design!!

On the flip side part of me loves the idea of downsizing for a nice area like Fulham (2 bed apt ) but I just don’t think that’s wise given our circumstances. Once you get used to space I can’t see it being easy to go back.

Also thanks for the vote of encouragement about moving to London as a mum, I grew up in the rural countryside and lived in the city for 10 years as an adult and while I know there were so many benefits to my childhood environment I think you can have such an abundance of opportunity as a kid in the City and I’m excited by that prospect.

Should also mention we don’t like big new build housing developments so thats not a consideration

I would stay put. London sounds like a backwards move

Can you elaborate on that? Genuinely curious about your thinking… I am clearly quite undecided and staying put is not entirely off the table. I have a hunch that what I’m after is only really available with double my budget. I either stay put or sacrifice a few criteria

I am originally from Ireland and considered going back there to raise a family from the get go, but our jobs are keeping us here

How long is your current commute and direct is it? I live in zone 3 and it takes me 8 min walk to station, 30 mins into Waterloo, 5 min to get down to tube, and 15 mins on tube to my workplace plus 8 min walk into the building. So door to door that's an hour and that doesn't include time in between waiting for the train or next tube.

So sometimes moving closer doesnt reduce your commute time esp if your changing lines etc.

You're looking to start a family so perhaps moving closer to a bigger support system is better