Where to live Post Reply

[mum2babyboy]

Our house search is now entering its 8th month and I'm losing all hope. Our budget is £500k which I would have thought seemed quite reasonable, but estate agents are practically laughing us how tiny it is! We are looking for at least two bedrooms with a garden (happy with ground floor flat). Happy with a flat. Obviously, Richmond, Wandsworth, Putney are out of our league. We've moved from North London so don't know much about SW London. Can anyone recommend any other areas. Not concerned about schools yet because LO is 9 months old and planning to be on this home for about 4 years. Any advice appreciated.

[Jov3]

Have you considered some of the nicer areas of Streatham? You will be able to get something nice for your budget there.

[mum2babyboy]

I haven't considered Streatham actually. Don't know muh about it. Which are the nice parts?

[mum2babyboy]

Does anyone have any thoughts on Isleworth?

[instablonde]

Have a look on sw20 8 area, little roads off Kingston road. A friend of mine bought a lovely 4 beds house in 2012 for about £400k. The prices may have gone up but it is worth to check. Its is a lovely area close to Wimbledon village, great schools and a lot of shopping. Good luck!

[outnumbered]

Streatham Hill is a good area of Streatham. Friends have just moved there and you get a lot more bricks for your bucks!

[Nims]

Also consider Tooting - the streets near Tooting Station have good flats / houses for around the 500K mark. Although house prices round there are rising due to the potential Crossrail 2 being built there, but for now, you should find something to suit your requirements.

[pie81]

Brixton, Streatham, Tooting should have some 2 bed garden flats within your budget. All these areas have nice pockets and not so nice pockets so it really is a question of walking the streets and seeing which pockets have a nice feel/well kept properties and where doesn't. Tooting is on the up IMO, Brixton has already upped (v trendy these days). Streatham has some lovely bits and some very unlovely bits but the high street is being revamped in some places so it could be on the turn.

If you can go further out then take a look at Raynes Park (sw20), more of a suburban feel and you would get a house for your money.

If you are ok with modern houses then there is an area between Putney and Southfields with houses like this: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for ... 18467.html for your money. Worth a look.

Don't know much about Isleworth sorry.

[Tilly&Roo]

West Norwood and crystal palace also have a nice feel and lots of families who can't afford the inner SW postcodes move there. Also east Dulwich and Peckham Rye are very nice and a bit more central. I would say that if this is going to be your 4 year home then you probably do want to consider schools now. You will need to be living in the catchment area and start applying to schools in 2.5 years time. The easiest thing to do would be to buy as close as you possibly can to a good state school (catchment areas shrink all the time so don't rely on current catchment applying in 3 years time) . That way you won't have to move again too soon but will be free to move once your little one is in the school.

[btcmum]

Definitely look at Streatham!!

We moved here last year and haven't looked back since. You get A LOT more for your money and the community vibe is great. There's lots to do with young children (The Rookery is wonderful and rumour has it Bertie & Boo are opening on the High Road shortly...) and there have been many improvements in the area in the past six months which continue to smarten it up. Transport links are great too!

[Pop]

Furzedown might be worth looking at - the area between tooting bec and streatham. Good schools if you do end up staying longer and nice playgroups, playground, near the common and good community in the interim. The 'centre' of Furzedown is Moyser Road, which doesn't have a lot on it, but a couple of nice cafés have opened recently.

[bumpontheway]

Would you ever consider Chiswick?

I just had a look for you there is a ground floor maisonette 693 sq ft of living space (not sure how much you are after). You literally walk 10 steps and you are on the beautiful River tow path where all the Mums walk with their little one's or cycle. Pubs and restaurants along the route.

You are 10 mins from Kew gardens, you are 1 minute from an outstanding state school, Strand On The green.

There are a few nurseries in the area, lots of green space. Baby playgroups etc...not far from Kew Village, Barnes or Chiswick High Road.

The nearest station is Kew Bridge or Gunnerbury or Chiswick overland (26 mins to Waterloo and you get a seat).

I have lived in this area a long time and it's a bit of a gem.....you will also always do well with property prices (like most of London).

[bumpontheway]

Meant to say the 2 bed property is £475,000

[mum2babyboy]

Would you ever consider Chiswick?

I just had a look for you there is a ground floor maisonette 693 sq ft of living space (not sure how much you are after). You literally walk 10 steps and you are on the beautiful River tow path where all the Mums walk with their little one's or cycle. Pubs and restaurants along the route.

You are 10 mins from Kew gardens, you are 1 minute from an outstanding state school, Strand On The green.

There are a few nurseries in the area, lots of green space. Baby playgroups etc...not far from Kew Village, Barnes or Chiswick High Road.

The nearest station is Kew Bridge or Gunnerbury or Chiswick overland (26 mins to Waterloo and you get a seat).

I have lived in this area a long time and it's a bit of a gem.....you will also always do well with property prices (like most of London).

Well, thank you SO much everyone for all your advice and for even helping me with my search!! I feel quite touched that everyone has been so lovely.
I was really losing all hope of ever finding anywhere. We've been living abroad since 2008 and just got back, and at the worst possible time in terms of the housing market it seems.
I'm going to research all these areas this week.
Bumpontheway, I love Chiswick but never really considered it because a) I thought the transport links were bad b) I never thought we could afford it, but I will certainly take a look now. The ground floor maisonette you've seen,where did you find that?

[bumpontheway]

It was on rightmove under chiswick, price up too 500k.

I know that road really well, if I was looking for the same criteria as you I would go for this but it depends where you need to commute too etc.

My husband doesn't use the train he cycles or vespa's up to town and it is 45 mins door to door.

If you would like to know anymore about the area pm me x