MattOliver

Catford and Penge have crossed our minds actually, will have to look further into those areas. Will also check out Wanstead and Abbey Wood, we're looking to get on the ladder but also make a good investment in an area which is likely to appreciate, all the while being somewhere we may even enjoy living for the next 5-6 years... Probsbly too much to ask isn't it?! Thanks for the advice and discussion everyone, very useful and enlightening! Matt

Hey everyone, Myself and my girlfriend have been living in East Dulwich now for about 2 and a half years and have loved every minute. However, we've now come to a point where the landlord is selling up and its given us a kick to get ourselves on the ladder. As it happens due to our budget (around ?220k max) and 2 bed requirements we're looking to East London to hopefully discover the next ED in the making. To me Stratford seems like a great investment on paper, amazing rail links with imminent cross rail to be added as well as recent olympic regeneration and proximity to central. Now we both realise it ain't gonna be East Dulwich just yet but we're hoping one day in the next 5-6 years it may well be, however it is important that we survive unscathed in the meantime ;) Would love some of your advise on Stratford and the nearby areas (West ham, plaistow, upton park etc) and also some sensible critique of my logic please. Would like to know we've considered it all before making the plunge in 4-6 months time. Thanks in advance for your help! Matt

Despite the tongue-in-cheek nature of my original post there is obviously an element of genuine despair with the current London housing market. The issue is certainly saving the necessary deposit and not the monthly Mortgage payments (although it would be unwise of us to calculate what is an affordable monthly payment based on today's interests rates). Lots of sound advice here though, thanks for taking the time to reply and offer some wordly wisdom everyone! As a self employed music producer and songwriter I may just have to wait for Rihanna to take up my next tune and then I'll be sitting pretty ;) one can dream.

But that's impossible? ...that old Gypsy woman has been dead for TEN YEEEEEAAAAAARRRRRRSSSSSSS...

26 year old resident... just dawned on myself and my girlfriend that after the recent boom in prices we will be renting forever. Would anyone like to sell/give us their flat in East Dulwich. You will have to move out obviously. Thanks.

I used Jack the Polish mechanic yesterday and had a great experience. Reasonably priced, honest, friendly and he even returned my car washed and valeted.