Where to buy around London?

[Vai]

I am currently renting in East Finchley (Zone 3 on Northern Line) and am looking to buy a house in the next few months when my contract expires.

The problem is - where do I look for properties? I have a budget of 250k (I could stretch another 10-20k but would like to take advantage of avoiding stamp duty being a first time buyer), but my only real requirement on location is that it is a reasonable commute to Zone 1 for work, which gives quite a large range of surrounding areas. How do I find where my money will go the furthest to buy a nice place without being in a rough area?

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good area to look in?

 

[Stretch]

Cambridge. 45 minutes to zone 1.

 

[cm1179]

anywhere but south of the river

 

[Cleeecooo]

anywhere but south of the river

not really. Croydon is a great area (not west though!)
15 minutes train, zone 5. (victoria)

Really expensive

Purley and Coulsdon and Kenley, zone 6, pretty posh and very very little crime.

20-25 mins train to Victoria

Quite expensive

 

[sHo0sH]

I personally really like Wanstead - central line zone 3 - 15 mins to Liverpool street.

Clapham and Brixton are good places, the south is getting a lot "trendier" and has very good links into central and you can still grab a bargain.

 

[Hades]

I used to live in Wanstead back in the 80's. Loved it then. Not sure what it's like now.

 

[sHo0sH]

Nice little villagey atmosphere, probably the same as before?

 

[Spook187]

250k would get you 5 bedroom house in the country up here,in london a bedsit above a chippy

 

[stockhausen]

250k would get you 5 bedroom house in [Cumbria] ...

If you happen to live in the area already and don't mind the fact that you are miles from anywhere . . . except an aging Nuclear Bomb

 

[Spook187]

If you happen to live in the area already and don't mind the fact that you are miles from anywhere . . . except an aging Nuclear Bomb

aye lol and the odd after effect of chernobyl for grazing cattle apart from that its ok

 

[Wicksta]

250k would get you 5 bedroom house in the country up here,in london a bedsit above a chippy

There is a very good reason for that though.

 

[woodpigeon4]

I live in Bexley which is about 30 minutes on the train from london bridge. Property prices aren't too bad - you should be able to get a decent semi for 250k

 

[piggeh]

SW London is generally nice, I live near Wimbledon, which is 10 minutes by train to Waterloo. Depends what size house you want. Clapham, Balham, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, or slightly further out, are all nice areas and easily commutable by train. Would avoid West Croydon, Mitcham.

 

[SuperTronNarwhal]

not really. Croydon is a great area (not west though!)
15 minutes train, zone 5. (victoria)

Really expensive

Purley and Coulsdon and Kenley, zone 6, pretty posh and very very little crime.

20-25 mins train to Victoria

Quite expensive

Oh god oh god you live in croydon!? Well howdy.

 

[MikeTech]

Swiss Cottage (London Zone 2)

 

[Cleeecooo]

Oh god oh god you live in croydon!? Well howdy.

Purley

 

[neil3k]

Bedford

45 mins to st pancras

 

[SuperBOB]

I would be looking somewhere north like St Albans.

 

[h00fzilla]

I would be looking somewhere north like St Albans.

I thought St Albans was crazy expensive.

 

[Hilly]

I live in Bexley which is about 30 minutes on the train from london bridge. Property prices aren't too bad - you should be able to get a decent semi for 250k

Christ

I got a semi for the price of Two bottles of WKD Blue.... Ahem.