Which neighbourhoods should I look in?

[ZippyFish]

I have been looking for 2 bed period conversion houses up to £450k for last 3 months with no luck in Brockley - Sydenham. I am a single female lawyer in early 30s with long working hours so want 45min commute to the city. Can someone help if I should expand my search to other areas? Not looking for ex-council or flats. Garden or parking is nice to have but not must have. Would like a non-grotty area. Currently living in East Dulwich but understand nothing is affordable here in my budget. Is this even realistic? Also, don’t want to do any work.

Do you need to be in London? There are lits of commutable areas that are 30 mins on a mainline train and far nicer at weekends.

I am considering Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks. Usually the commute time increases due to houses not being in walking distance from the station in these places and I don’t drive. Happy to if push comes to shove!

Crystal Palace you should be able to get something.

Which London train station do you need to get to for work? May influence which towns to suggest.

Sevenoaks is probably too pricey for your budget.

Thanks, it is on my list but haven’t been able to find anything yet.

Liverpool Street. Even 2 bed won’t be possible within this budget?

Just to add I have found the houses I liked in my budget in Honor Oak Park and Hother Green but was outbid which has made me revisit my strategy.

I used to live in a 2 bed conversion in Sydenham - think you should get something for 450ish…there is one on Byne Road that has just been reduced to 475k and might be worth a cheeky offer..
CP, Forest Hill and Brockley might be more difficult.

And I used to (and still do) work at liverpool street in law too. If you are working long hours, the overground to Shoreditch is great and I would prioritise commute.

What does "two bedroom conversion house" but "not a flat" mean? Flat in a converted house rather than a purpose-built flat?

Yes exactly flat in a converted house rather than a purpose built.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/162247013#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/155759888#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114337706#/?channel=RES_BUY

Ingatestone if you want out of London

Lots available in Catford at that price and less.

Thanks but is Catford good and safe? Have not heard good things about it.

What about Broxbourne, Hatfield, Lee Valley, Hoddeston, Roydon? You would get a 2 bed nee build house for your budget. Train to Liverpool Street

Very honestly Catford would be low on my list.

Bishops Stortford? Lovely conversion and 50 minutes to Liverpool Street. Walking distance to station (just). Downside, near Birchwood High School.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157637429#/?channel=RES_BUY

If you don't want a big block have you considered a maisonette? Once you go further south than East Dulwich the typical Victoian conversaion flats becomes rarer as a lot of housing stock is Edwardian, 1930s or younger and there are a lot of twentieth century private purpose built blocks in places like Forest Hill, Sydenham and Beckenham.

Somewhere further east like Lewisham or Lee might yield better results.

@Ginmonkeyagain and @whatsappdoc Thanks I will check these out.

What about east London on central line eg Wanstead or Leytonstone or South Woodford

If 2 bed is difficult does not make sense to look for one bed in E. Dulwich, Forest Hill etc. which is a bit bigger c. 500 sq ft or more and then upsize later on. I find it difficult to move to grotty places but conscious that selling one bed might come with its own challenges!

Bromley? Possibly Bickley?

I wouldn’t live in Catford,

I know you said not a flat but there a lots of purpose built flats in Beckenham on lovely tree lined streets, nicely set back, they look really good. Lots of different stations in Beckenham as well.

My early-20s DD is buying right now in Honor Oak, but it’s pretty much in a triangle between Honor Oak, Catford and Forest Hill-or is it Gate? It seems nice enough. Crofton Park is also nice.

Catford is fine. I mean the gyratory is a bit horrid but there are lots of quiet residental streets.

Have you looked at Nunhead? £450k may be a bit of a squeeze there but you could get lucky.