Should I Stay or should I Go?

[EvaC]

I would like your opinions please.

I live in ED and I?m considering in moving to South Norwood (zone 4)

I?ve lived in ED since the 80s, long before it became what it is now. As well choosing a nice house I made a sound investment on the location too. However, it?s time for me to make my next move?hopefully do the same thing again.

I?ve got quite a bit of equity and I?m considering moving to South Norwood because I can get the same property that I have now for at least half the price (and there?s lots of room for house prices to rise too). For example : http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-24838839.html In addition to that, there are good transport connections in South Norwood. I work in Old Street so I travel to London Bridge? ED to LB is approximately 12 mins and Norwood Junction (zone 4) to LB is approximately 12 mins. I would pay an extra ?13+ for travel.

South Norwood?s good points are transportation links and cheap Victorian housing. From my recce, I can?t see any decent pubs. Basically it?s not thriving like ED. There?s no fishmongers, bar or bakery (well there?s a Greggs!). I do love ED but I have to think of my future/retirement etc. I?m confused, should I stay in ED or should I go to SN?

[DirtyBox]

South Norwood is horrible, it's had great transport links for years and the property boom passed it by so I can't see it being anywhere close to nice anytime soon, some places are just too far gone.

[Jeremy]

South Norwood and Thornton Heath is essentially a "suburb" of Croydon, the area itself has very little of note. If your main criteria is a cheap house and a decent commute, then it might be OK. But don't expect it to become a new property hotspot.

Personally I'd rather have a flat in ED or Crystal Palace than a terrace house in that area.

[jimbo1964]

I think you'd find South Norwood a bit depressing.

[jimbo1964]

The area around the lake might be tolerable. I used to get the 12A there to go fishing.

[the-e-dealer]

Blimey I could sell up . Get to work Quicker and have some cash! See you there!

[the-e-dealer]

but thats NOT a luxury kitchen!

[right-clicking]

South norwood is a toilet!! Look at woodside green or addiscombe very near to the jubction but a lot less grotty

[Voyageur]

As someone else said, the area around S Norwood Lakes is quite nice and not far from Crystal Palace station, triangle and park. More expensive than much of S Norwood consequently but less expensive that ED.

Penge might be worth a look too - especially the bit closer to CP Park. After all these years there are signs of Penge pulling it's socks up http://www.virtualnorwood.com/forum/topic/12521-penge-it-gets-better/

[EvaC]

Thanks for your input.

Based on your comments it's making my decision seem easy, but one thing that intrigue's me is why is SN so cheap despite having great transport links (including the East London Line) and cheap housing? Am I missing something?

[Voyageur]

Well, as people have pointed out a fair bit of it is grotty - hence the low prices despite the transport links. It's simple as that really.

[Annette Curtain]

EvaC Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks for your input.

>

> Based on your comments it's making my decision

> seem easy, but one thing that intrigue's me is why

> is SN so cheap despite having great transport

> links (including the East London Line) and cheap

> housing?

Am I missing something?

Eyes maybe !

[the-e-dealer]

Well a fair bit of is grotty.

[DirtyBox]

I was looking to buy around South Norwood for exactly the same reasons as you - could get a large house for relatively little money and get to work in 15 minutes. On the way to meet the estate agent I happened to walk past the Weatherspoons pub on the high street at which point a tattooed freak ran out shouted "C*NT!" right in my face before running back in just as quickly. Now whether I am or am not is debatable but it's not what you expect to happen at 11am on a Tuesday....

[????]

Sorry about that, I'd had one of 'those' Mondays....

[Moos]

Laughter!

We were tempted by a gorgeous house on Wolfington Road, but plumped for Peckham in the end. Good decision.

But I think the question the OP was asking was not what am I missing about how shit SNorward is, but why hasn't it gentrified, and why do we think it can't? Apart from the minor handicap of Quids on a bender, that is..

[EvaC]

the-e-dealer Wrote:

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> Well a fair bit of is grotty.

Grotty I think I can deal with... Way back wasn't Dalston and Balham grotty too?

Anyhow, I'm really on the fence with this given how cheap the properties are...

[Voyageur]

Moos Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Laughter!

>

> We were tempted by a gorgeous house on Wolfington

> Road, but plumped for Peckham in the end. Good

> decision.

>

> But I think the question the OP was asking was not

> what am I missing about how shit SNorward is, but

> why hasn't it gentrified, and why do we think it

> can't? Apart from the minor handicap of Quids on

> a bender, that is..

Is gentrification always the answer?

[Voyageur]

EvaC Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> the-e-dealer Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Well a fair bit of is grotty.

>

> Grotty I think I can deal with... Way back wasn't

> Dalston and Balham grotty too?

>

> Anyhow, I'm really on the fence with this given

> how cheap the properties are...

It is probably wiser to ask the question on a local forum rather than the EDF, such as this one: http://www.virtualnorwood.com/forum/topic/12251-thinking-of-buying-in-south-norwood-advice-please/

[Sue]

I lived in South Norwood in the late seventies/early eighties, and not only has there been no sign of gentrification since then, it seems to have actually gone downhill (admittedly I've only been back about twice since then, but once was quite recently!).

It's always had good transport links so I can't see that affecting anything really.

Depends on your priorities, surely. If cheap housing is more important to you than a pleasant environment, then go for it. The bit around the lake's quite nice but that's about it.

It's true that Balham used to be quite grotty (as did Clapham), but they're both on the Northern Line.

[Moos]

Depends what the question is.

OP was after bar, fishmonger, baker etc. etc. Gentrification would appear to be the answer if that is what you would like near your house.

If the question is will my kids be able to afford to buy here, it probably is not.

[Jah Lush]

South Norwood has always been a dump and still is. As someone else mentioned have a look at Penge. Looks like it's shaping up, failing that Sydenham or Forest Hill.

[Jeremy]

There will always be areas which are a bit rougher round the edges, and escape gentrification. It's not really feasible for every area to be brimming with bars, restaurants, nice shops and 700K houses.

There are parts of London which are just so shitty, you can't imagine them ever turning round.

[LondonMix]

I suspect EvaC (first post) is actually trying to shift that house (she's either the owner or an agent). Despite several people saying they'd never consider living there as its wretched, she's basically said the comments on this thread have convinced her to move to the area!

[the-e-dealer]

Not Another flipping lying estate agent.