Crissy

I'm familiar with the estates and they have improved considerably. A lot of tenants were moved out during some refurbishment. Also, it depends which block you intend to buy/live. Just check out you potential neighbours...

How about here?

Interesting about the discussion on gentrification... I'm involved in the South Norwood regeneration group and I can say that all of us (I recall there were about 30+ people in the meeting)want change in the area. The change being wAnting shops (cafe, butchers and bakers)other than the jerk chicken places, hairdressers and chicken shops. We're that desperate for a coffee shop and since no indies are opening up we would welcome Costa Coffee or Starbucks with open arms. I can say this we're no wanting gentrification, but just a few decent shops and a pub to go to. Instead of having to go to Beckenham or Crystal Palace. Believe me, there's a whole market of people not being catered, so you cannot blame us for wanting things that are considered basic in ED There are a lot of newcomers to the area that have come from West Norwood, Herne Hill and Crystal Palace that are used to these basics and wAnt them here (me too). The area is run down, but I love SE25, there's great community spirit. I just want to stay in my area rather than travelling to other areas for chilling out. As mentioned in a previous post, there are great parks (South Norwood Lakes and South Norwood Country Park). I notice that Norwood Junction station is changing - it's getting busier, especially the fast train to London Bridge. The road leading to the station will change too (if our plans come to fruition). Aldi are coming in February, so I'm sure that will help the area a little. To the original poster - do check out SE25 (the area near the Lakes and the Country Park). I came from ED (and met a couple who lived off Bellenden Road) and haven't regretted the decision coming here.

The 'fizz' may have gone out of the ED market..., but not my way in SE25.

I've just taken a bus 12 to picaddiy tube then stay on it all the way to Heathrow.

Can someone please attach some photos of the work done by vavabloom...?

This is an interesting: Ghost Gazumping! http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/mortgageshome/article-2582541/Gazumping-makes-comeback-house-prices-accelerate-sellers-pull-deals-dont-buyer.html

Sazzle30 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We have been trying to buy a home, we are first > time time buyers looking around crystal palace ( > cant afford ed!).we put offers on two properties, > one at asking price and one 10k over and both got > rejected back in Jan. > > Now both are back on the market at a 'fantastic > price reduction' according to the estate agents > emails I received.... > > We did successfully put an offer on another- ?5k > over,which was accepted... Our mortgage company > went to do their valuation and deemed it over > valued by 30k and wouldn't give us mortgage unless > the price was reduced inline with their valuation. > Nightmare! > > This made me think that this must be a common > occurrence in London with estate agents hiking > prices and buyers having to place sealed bids? I?m sorry that you had to go through that, it would really p*** me off! But I?m sure the buying frenzy will slow down after the General Election

The buying frenzy isn?t just located in SE22. We have the same thing going on in SE25, but of course the house prices are lower (hence the frenzy). For example, late last year 2 beds were going for under ?240 now they?ve gone up to ?270k, which I think is ridiculous for the area, but not for London as a whole. I understand that a lot of investors are buying down here, which I think is really unfair ( I know life is unfair), as I know a few first time buyers and second steppers trying to buy and are getting outbidded by investors/cash buyers. No doubt, I?m some of the SE22ers could by a home down here from their equity accrued after a couple of months of buying! http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-27475932.html http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43671284.html http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40771156.html

There always room for Chris (and other business that get charged extortionate rents) in South Norwood, Penge and Crystal Palace. :)

This was happening in SE25 too. It was knock on the door in the early hours of the morning and then asking for taxi money to get to the hospital.

strae Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Otta Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Just had to the call to say I've completed on > our > > flat in Penge. So I am now the proud owner of a > > whopping 7% of a property. And whilst it may > not > > be the home I always dreamt of buying (actually > > I've never really dreamt about buying a home), > I > > do feel very fortunate to be in this position. > > > > And I'm a 10 minute walk from McDonald's! ;-) > > I look forward to the inevitable article touting > Penge as the new hot spot! > Shortly followed by the also likely inevitable > post about on these forums about how Penge is just > not quite what it was! > > Jokes aside, congratulations and well done! Penge had a mention in the Standard about 4 weeks ago. Otta congrats and check out Virtual Norwood Local news forum website - there's a lot going on in Penge

GinaG3 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We have just heard our landlord is selling her > whole property portfolio. Rentals are on a high, > property prices are right if your selling but not > buying. I feel stuck in this situation especially > as the market is booming. I've looked in to buying > with the help of parents. We could possibly put up > 10% deposit on 250k. Mortgage quotes over 35-40 > years are then 1600pcm. We would need it to be > about 500pcm. My partner works FULL time on more > than minimum wage and only earns ?990 after tax. > There is no way we could afford it, even outside > of the SE22 postcode. No-one will rent to us and > no-one will let us buy, council wont house us > either as we're not priority. Where does this > leaving working families who are still struggling? It would seem that you are the right candidate for Shared Ownership. Alternatively, there are properties out there for under ?200k (examples below), but of course you have to sacrifice location. I saved for years, sacrificed not going on holiday on a regular basis, not owning a car and other things, along with location. Example http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/32008715?search_identifier=494f45c5bdc336d6123c7e95d7c50a25 http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/32008359?search_identifier=02f26d09c5a1b52f409b3324fe432d06 http://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/31981095?search_identifier=f69ea89f4b016a4ada31af07a1baeeba

Been reading this thread with interest. I rented in ED for many years and love the area, but as a first time buyer, unfortunately I couldn't afford to to buy there, which was really gutting. So, without the help of parents I had to settle buying (solo) where I could afford, which is South Norwood. Yep, it's a down at the heel area (it's got Crystal Palace up the road where I now go/hang out), and more multicultural than ED, which for me was a reality check (it's the real London). I do miss ED and it will always be in my heart, but the house prices are way too expensive. SE25 is zone 4 - I paid under ?230k for my 2bed house (prices have increased since last year, not like ED though, and property is getting bought quite quickly). Here's a 2bed flat (the most expensive) in SE25: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/property-38725409.html Compared to a 2bed in SE22 http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-43713686.html When it came to buying, I was confronted with an unfortunate reality check, I had no choice but to buy outside ED. Happy house hunting in ED