Trying to buy a house in this area is near impossible

[Voyageur]

PN33 Wrote:

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> LondonMix Wrote:

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

> -----

> > From your list I'd definitely choose Hither

> > Green-- particularly the side closer to Lee.

> It's

> > a bit dull but its walking distance to

> Blackheath.

> > Also, there are transportation changes

> upcoming

> > with Thameslink. Charlton is okay-- I've got

> > friends who live there. As others have said,

> > Beckhenham is very nice and not much further

> than

> > Anerly.

> A

>

> Thanks, there is a theme appearing! I suppose my

> only reservation about Anerley, or even Cystal

> Palace, is that it's a horribly hilly and long

> cycle into the city. It's just that bit far out.

> My office is relocating from Westminster to Old

> Street in April and that would perhaps be a

> stretch too far! I wouldn't let it stop me if we

> found the right house though I guess

Crystal Palace is on a giant hill as you say but you get used to it - good for the calves! Prices are shooting up dramatically though to the dismay of many locals. IMO Beckenham centre has become a bit grot and is quite unpleasant at night. Anerley has some good cheapish houses, is pretty close to Crystal Palace park and its shopping parade is on the up - locals won some money for regeneration and there are some nice little indie shops, e.g. gift shop, ice-cream parlour and a retro beauty salon.

[a fish]

Yeah, I'm starting to get tired of ED, and am thinking of moving back to CP. It's just got a better vibe to it.

[Voyageur]

There is life after ED!

[giggirl]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Random you say.

>

> Did it really take you all day to think up those

> three bits of wisdom. ;)

Professor Quids

[fromthedarkside]

If your budget is approx 200k then I'd like to stick in a positive word for Catford. I've lived on SE6/SE13 borders since 2002. I'm a woman (5 foot 2 and white if that's relevant) and I've never felt unsafe walking locally after dark; I often pop out for a pint of milk from the 24 hr shop in the wee small hours [insomnia is a bitch]. Your budget should get you a really decently sized one bedroom (with maybe titchy second bedroom) flat with garden on Mount Pleasant, Radford, Theodore, George Lane. Keep an eye out also for properties on the triangle of Rushey Green, Wildfell and Albacore. It's not an exciting area to live but in the ten years plus I've lived here every move has been positive. We have some really nice pub/restaurants now. We didn't have them 10 years ago. And it's within a short, single bus journey to Greenwich, Blackheath and East Dulwich. We have lovely parks. There is a real sense of community here. My mum loves it (and she lives in Holmes Chapel). Good, if not perfect, transport links to central London. Rushey Green/Davenport/Ringstead are also good places to look.

[JDR]

Also try around Ladywell. Again a hill but walking distance to Ladywell station and DLR in Lewisham. Feels safe at night.

In terms of why ED gone up so much, it was the perceived better area in SE London and then all the surrounding areas got the overground. People who would never have considered Honor Oak, Sydnham, Penge, Crystal Palace, forest Hill,Brockley and Peckham before now would and often having been displaced themselves from trendy east London, balham etc they are making the move this direction. ED still perceived the more desirable area so prices have climbed....

[Mick Mac]

Fromthedarkside

well said.

[SEnewbie]

.

[a fish]

Voyageur Wrote:

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> There is life after ED!

Hey Voyageur, is there a good local CP forum?

[Jo'sEnglish]

fromthedarkside - couldn't agree more! I live in the same area. I wouldn't like to live over the other side of Catford but the Hither Green side is nice, if a bit too quiet for some. There is a lovely park (Mountsfield) and some good shops along Hither Green Lane. There are lovely places on the Corbett Estate too. I agree about all the changes being positive, that is what we've felt since we've moved here. They are investing a lot into Catford now, there is a new monthly market, a pop-up supper club, they are re-doing the Broadway and they are finally developing the Catford Dogs site. I think in a few years it will be very different so if you are looking for a wise investment and don't mind the disruption for a while then it might be worth considering. But where we are we can largely ignore Catford anyway and just hang out in Hither Green!

Yes, the Lee side of Hither Green is a bit smarter, as is Ladywell but you will get a lot less for your money, and we are in easy walking distance of all those places, easy bus trips to Blackheath, Greenwich, Forest Hill and good train links to London Bridge, Waterloo and Charing Cross.

[Voyageur]

a fish Wrote:

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> Voyageur Wrote:

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

> -----

> > There is life after ED!

>

> Hey Voyageur, is there a good local CP forum?

'Crystal Palace Life' has been around for a while and is quite lively - especially on the controversial subject of a Chinese millionaire's proposal to build a new Crystal Palace.

http://www.crystalpalacelife.com/index.php/kunena/recent

[a fish]

Looks good!

[Jeremy]

I like Crystal Palace, and would quite happily live there. But a decent size house near the "triangle"... still not going to be cheap.

[dwe]

I think Penge is a good alternative.....lots of cheaper Victorian and Edwardian terracing....good transport links to different areas of central London. I think it will attract the same kind of people that East Dulwich attracted 15 years ago as it is affordable with lots of retail rental space. The schooling around there is also improving with the Harris Academies.

[Voyageur]

Penge has some lovely old housing stock - plus the Penge Food Centre for which I am most envious! It is turning a corner already as it now has a cupcake shop and some lovely cafes. (Awaits screams of derision re cupcake shop...).

[*Bob*]

Ultimately every 'desirable area' in South London was a dump once. It's just a matter of how far back you have to go.

Everywhere will get better. (Or worse - depending on your point of view). I'd say bite the bullet, wherever you can afford (with an eye on 6-8%, not the current extraordinary low).

How many times do you here "we didn't want to move here but we're glad we did"? All the time!

[Jeremy]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> Everywhere will get better.

Not sure I totally agree... I think there will always be swathes of deprivation in most big cities..

[a fish]

Jeremy Wrote:

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> I like Crystal Palace, and would quite happily

> live there. But a decent size house near the

> "triangle"... still not going to be cheap.

You do sometimes get lucky; we have a big flat up there with full ownership of the big garden. It needed a bit of work when we originally bought it, but it was still a good deal. But we want to sell in ED and buy another in CP, our worthless pensions being what they are.

[*Bob*]

Fair enough - 'within reason'.

But if you're buying in an area with decent houses (sorry, can't bring myself to say 'housing stock' without feeling the urge to kick myself in the slats) which is bordering on lots of other areas which have 'upped' then I think it's a safe bet.

[Penguin68]

Ultimately every 'desirable area' in South London was a dump once.

And before that, normally, desirable. Just look at the original housing stock (what's left of it). If you read Conan Doyle, when Sherlock Holmes comes out our way, it is to visit the posh and well-to-do. To get into town needs carriages/ railways from SE London, you can't walk in as you can from Islington. So it is normally for the better off. The railway was actually kept out of Dulwich because it was intended purely for the carriage trade.

[El Pibe]

HAve a waych of Secret History on CAmberwell Grove to neatly illustrate that point, if it's available anywhere.

...

housing stock

....

[*Bob*]

housing stock

housing stock

HOUSING BLEEDIN' STOCK

[stecoward101]

Just thought I would help or hinder with regards to Interest rates. They will not rise for many years to come. This is reflected with the long term deals that are currently available. Norwich and Peterborough offering a 10 year fixed rate mortgage at 3.84% here is a link http://www.nandp.co.uk/mortgages/full-mortgage-range/

[KidKruger]

stecoward101 - I'd really be careful before making assumptions on rates, it's sooo easy to stretch yourself at today's rates and lose your house 2 years later. If you're stretching yourself now, and not prepated to rent a room or two out or work evenings/weekends or sell your stuff regularly, you're asking for it.

[JohnL]

Some people are always going to gamble they will have

a higher salary in 5 years.

and a few of those will lose.

KidKruger Wrote:

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> stecoward101 - I'd really be careful before making

> assumptions on rates, it's sooo easy to stretch

> yourself at today's rates and lose your house 2

> years later. If you're stretching yourself now,

> and not prepated to rent a room or two out or work

> evenings/weekends or sell your stuff regularly,

> you're asking for it.