Trying to buy a house in this area is near impossible

[Otta]

But with Westfields down the road in Stratford there are lots of new restaurants and bars, which people I work with seem to like.

Not saying it's a utopia, but susoext it's changed a lot since tourw time there which must have been the best part of 10 years back.

[LondonMix]

Finsbury Park isn't more expensive than ED. Certainly not on a per square foot basis. The 3 bed terraces tend to be a bit larger there but in general (besides the odd outlier) Finsbury get you more for your money than in ED at the moment.

[Mustard]

LondonMix Wrote:

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

> Finsbury Park isn't more expensive than ED.

> Certainly not on a per square foot basis. The 3

> bed terraces tend to be a bit larger there but in

> general (besides the odd outlier) Finsbury get you

> more for your money than in ED at the moment.

What about Stroud Green? Quite like that area as it's between FP and Crouch End.

[StraferJack]

Was there recently otta. But it is what it is. Chainville. Better than ilford. But not much

[StraferJack]

Plus, if I have to take a 15 minute train to a chain as my nearest evening spot, I may as well live anywhere

[LondonMix]

I don't know Stroud Green but I like Crouch End-- I have two friends that live there. I think Crouch End is more expensive that ED though. I think in general comparable neighbourhoods in North London still trade at a premium to South London equivalents due to the perception that the South is rougher and more suburban in general.

London is going the way of New York. Within 10 to 15 years there won't be any areas within Inner London that are considered too bad. It will just be a question of taste-- do you like an arty vibe vs a genteel feel etc.

[Mustard]

I remember hearing at one point that ED was supposed to the Crouch End of S. London. No tube, just like Crouch End and similarish shops. From Stroud Green you can walk easily to Finsbury Park, which has excellent transport.

[Otta]

SJ I'm not in any way saying Forest Gate is "the place to be", but of you want a lot if decent house for your money, you could do worse. And a lot if us never get out in the evening anyway.

[Voyageur]

ratty Wrote:

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

> Indeed, a new thread is needed. How middle class

> and White is East Dulwich now compared to in 1994

> when ratty moved there?

I lived in ED (Darrell Rd) in 1981 - and BOY has ED changed since then. It was the cheapest place to rent in those days that we could find (being student nurses) and very much a down at heel but pretty much ok part of SE London. Eventually bought a flat 27 years ago in Crystal Palace as it was cheap as chips. Penge/Anerley are good buys at the moment but people need to get in quick as gastropub applications are already in here and there...

[MrBen]

Today's FT predicts the end of record low mortgage rates is close. Last week, four major lenders raised their fixed rates for the first time in 12 months??basically they're already pricing in a predicted base rate increase in Q4/Q1 2015.

Was 2007 that long ago? Not really but funny how many buyers since have forgotten when it was like this:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/55a55106-2a41-11dc-9208-000b5df10621.html#axzz2slAboNoh

[Charles Martel]

Voyageur Wrote:

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

> I lived in ED (Darrell Rd) in 1981 - and BOY has

> ED changed since then. It was the cheapest place

> to rent in those days that we could find (being

> student nurses) and very much a down at heel but

> pretty much ok part of SE London.

Were you one of the four frightfully posh, Sloaney nurses who drove around in a VW beetle?

[pinecone]

hopefully rates start to rise soon http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/mortgages/10623812/Rates-start-to-rise-on-fixed-five-year-mortgages.html

[Loz]

Hopefully?

[StraferJack]

Savers for a start

[Cyclemonkey]

Well they have to go up at some point. I won't be popular for saying this but if you have a mortgage and kept your job it's likely you did pretty well out of the downturn. Those of us renting and trying to save a deposit, not so much.

[midivydale]

I have heard that there is a gastropub, bi weekly organic farmers market as well as a bach to baby or something rather in Forest Gate these days...

Just saying...

We were viewing a "house" in catford last night. One of these open house events. It was full of "white middle class" viewers which really surprised me and my other half (we would prob not be seen as either). I dont know what we had expected but it wasnt range rovers, labradors and barbour coats.

[healey]

midivydale Wrote:

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

> I have heard that there is a gastropub, bi weekly

> organic farmers market as well as a bach to baby

> or something rather in Forest Gate these days...

>

> Just saying...

>

> We were viewing a "house" in catford last night.

> One of these open house events. It was full of

> "white middle class" viewers which really

> surprised me and my other half (we would prob not

> be seen as either). I dont know what we had

> expected but it wasnt range rovers, labradors and

> barbour coats.

No need for inverted snobbery. Just young professionals trying to make a life for themselves like everyone else.

[Otta]

Hardly inverted snobbery. More an observation.

[midivydale]

It wasnt at all meant as inverted snobbery, it was as otta says an observation in all sincerety. Apologies

if that was how it came across.

[hpsaucey]

healey Wrote:

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

> midivydale Wrote:

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

> -----

> > I have heard that there is a gastropub, bi

> weekly

> > organic farmers market as well as a bach to

> baby

> > or something rather in Forest Gate these

> days...

> >

> > Just saying...

> >

> > We were viewing a "house" in catford last

> night.

> > One of these open house events. It was full of

> > "white middle class" viewers which really

> > surprised me and my other half (we would prob

> not

> > be seen as either). I dont know what we had

> > expected but it wasnt range rovers, labradors

> and

> > barbour coats.

>

> No need for inverted snobbery. Just young

> professionals trying to make a life for themselves

> like everyone else.

Doesn't sound like 'inverted snobbery' - more like an observation in the finest tradition of Henry Mayhew - very fitting.

[Voyageur]

Charles Martel Wrote:

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

> Voyageur Wrote:

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

> -----

> > I lived in ED (Darrell Rd) in 1981 - and BOY

> has

> > ED changed since then. It was the cheapest

> place

> > to rent in those days that we could find (being

> > student nurses) and very much a down at heel

> but

> > pretty much ok part of SE London.

>

> Were you one of the four frightfully posh, Sloaney

> nurses who drove around in a VW beetle?

Ha! No. I was fresh up from Dorset. with a West Country burr to match :)

[Loz]

Otta Wrote:

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

> Hardly inverted snobbery. More an observation.

Really? I'd be rather surprised if the majority of people seeing that house were sporting "range rovers, labradors and barbour coats". In fact, I'd guess it was a number close to zero.

[Otta]

I took that bit as a joke, but obviously can't sleak for the poster.

[midivydale]

As a non brit I often fail to realise the emotional stir the class system causes. I have apologised,sincerely, and hoped that we could move on.

It was a joke, but realise that my ignorance regarding the above must have caused offense and again- it was not my attention. Not wishing to side track this thread any further just really want to say that no offense was meant. Please see the comment as it was intended - a foreginer making what she thought was an interesting observation during a viewing in catford.

The statement I naively wrote was simply that.

My father always says. "One sincere apology will always suffice, no need to grovel"

Hell - I even own a barbour coat.

[spider69]

Thank god you did not mention Iceland.

You would have been Horse whipped in the nearest Waitrose or M S