Outer London - why why why?

[PropertyThreadsName]

This is a post for me to vent. I could scream instead but I’m being considerate of the neighbours.
I’ve been trawling Rightmove for a few days now looking for a 3-bedroom semi (or better) in Richmond-Upon-Thames. I knew that our budget wouldn’t get us the house that we have now (we’re just a little further out of London), but I can’t believe how very little you get.
Anything affordable within our budget of £850-80K is either a small terrace or a 1970s build, which I worry is poorly soundproofed and has asbestos.
I don’t know what to do. I’m desperate to move to be in a more vibrant area with access to amenities but I can’t see how we’ll find anything suitable within our budget. If I returned to work, which I hope to do soon, we could extend our budget to perhaps £1.2-3m. But I don’t want to wait that long. Also, I’d rather use my salary for extracurricular activities for our DC and other things to improve our quality of life.
Is anyone else feeling at a loss about the egregious house prices of outer London? I want to move back in, but these prices are keeping me out.

Have you looked at Whitton and Twickenham which fall into the Borough of Richmond ?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/164386424#/?channel=RES_BUY

This is a 3 bed in Twickenham which looks nice.

How about Greenwich/Blackheath, it’s really lovely and popular for families

Does it have to be SW? I’d struggle a bit to find somewhere less ‘vibrant’ than Richmond! There are so many more fun and exciting places you could live in London!

The property market in Twickenham is quite sluggish at the moment,houses aren’t selling unless reduced or priced to sell++. There are quite alot of houses in Whitton in your price bracket. The primaries are mostly good and Twickenham school is on the up. Turing does have a few places for Whitton kids. Twickenham it’s self has a few 3 bed houses in your price range but mostly away from the centre like top of Meadway, or closer to Fulwell or down Staines Rd.etc. Hampton also has places in your price bracket. Maybe avoid Hanworth end.Again Hampton High is supposed to be improving. ( not so sure on that one) There is a Span House FieldEnd Strawberry Hill 1970’s award winning estate in price range. Maybe in catchment for Turing. Town houses aren’t currently fashionable but offer more space for your money.

This is nice area big garden

https://www.primelocation.com/for-sale/details/70663934

Parts of Ham are lovely but it has lousy transport links.

I happened to be in East Molesey this afternoon, OP (it has a superb indie kids' shoe shop). I like it there but it's basically like any other small town - hard to see how it would be a big improvement on wherever you are in Surrey.

Agree with @5andals
Our last house was a 70s build. Great home.

Why not move over to Kingston area? You’ll get more for your money there. Richmond is one of the most expensive boroughs in outer London.

Oh come on. Look in W3 close to tube lines (no aircraft noise and way cheaper than Richmond). Look in W13, look across the nicer bits of Hounslow borough which goes into Chiswick. Really look. Open your mind. Look TW7, look TW8, look. w4. But seriously W3. Look harder.

Richmond has crappy parking, is under a flightpath and gets quite rowdy at the weekend. Have a look around the area.

Huh? Why would I look in areas that I already know very well but have no interest in living in? That's not a pastime activity that appeals to me. But don't let that stop you.

Missing the laughing reaction right now😂

If you can't drop 1M on a house then you don't belong to Richmond.

You're joking!!

What is the appeal of Richmond? It just seems very difficult to get around London from there.

What about Thames Ditton / Hersham?

You acknowledge you can’t afford actual Richmond, so why not look at the surrounding boroughs? They’re pretty similar.

I grew up in this borough and still live there now. When we were looking to buy (17 years ago today), the more affordable areas were Whitton, Ham (Ashburnham estate) and Hampton (Nurserylands estate).

Depends which part of London you need I guess. On top of SW Railway (which might be what OP has already if in Surrey) you have District and Mildmay lines. And good buses. Lots of options if your usual route falls through. Could be a lot worse.

Oh ok, I have had nights out there as it was the nearest place for everyone and the journey back seemed to take hours. I think I just prefer the centre or by the green belt with a quick commute into the centre. It just seems remote although I know it isn’t. Just that whole part of London seems like the back of beyond whenever I am there.

I agree with that.

I have friends there and every time I visit them, I am baffled by why they chose to buy there. It's so over priced for an area that seems so average with not especially great transport links

I am baffled by why they chose to buy there. It's so over priced for an area that seems so average with not especially great transport links

Doesn't it have the excellent state school secondaries options? Lots of boroughs only have 1 excellent option. And I think lowest crime rate?

There are plenty of other areas in London with good state secondaries - depending a bit on how you feel about grammars. It's hardly the only option.

I know so much about crime rates - personally I feel like that's something that's always going to be an issue in London and you either accept that about a large city or don't. It's not like anywhere in London is somewhere you can leave your doors unlocked or whatever

There aren't plenty of boroughs with lots of excellent good state options though & only a few have grammars, plus some of those don't have catchment criteria anyway. Hence why so many families feel they have to leave London.

I feel like that's something that's always going to be an issue in London and you either accept that about a large city or don't.

What does this have to do with my post?

I don't live in Richmond and have never lived there but you are the one who is baffled by its popularity hence why I gave you some helpful pointers 🤷🏻‍♀️

It's also one of the greenest boroughs!