Humour me - house on a budget in southern Herts

[MrDecadent]

Potters Bar? I live here and found it very reasonable compared to North London, plus the commute isnt as bad into work each day

Prices have gone up quite a bit in the 3 years Ive lived here (guess thats the London effect) but its still possible to get something around the 250k mark. As prices seem to rise hopefully youll make a bit of cash and move further away in future (Im planning on doing what Ace of Hearts said above in a few more years!)

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Matt

[Chris71]

MrDecadent said:

Potters Bar? I live here and found it very reasonable compared to North London, plus the commute isnt as bad into work each day.

Certainly wouldn't rule it out. We're on the Botany Bay/Potters Bar side of Enfield currently so know it well - and it would be very handy for work, both for me and the future Mrs Chris71 - but didn't think we'd be able to get something decent in budget.

Our absolute top whack would be about 250k, which seems to go quite a lot further if you're a few miles out. Plus places like Hitchin and Bishops Stortford seem to have a slightly more chilled out feel.

Still, good train links and the B158 on the doorstep...

[MrDecadent]

B158 is a great road, even the wife (whose more A-B as quick as poss) detours on that road to Hertford

I thought I would suggest P bar as it's so much more reasonable than North London. Unfortunately it seems to have gone up (I would rather the housing market stayed flat personally) and 250K might be difficult these days however not impossible! Stuff advertised up to 270k ish should sell for 250k due to stamp.

Welham green is more reasonable and only a little further up the road. I'd avoid Hatfield, I rented a house there for 18 months; very drab.

WGC is OK, nice town centre, west side is best but personally would prefer Hitchin. Letchworth is reasonable but understand it to be the ugly duckling between hitchin and baldock.

However if an hour in the car is not a problem South Bedfordshire could be your answer. £250k gets you decent houses - Shefford, Clifton, Henlow - i.e along the A1 corridor. I'm looking at these sorts of areas for my next move as the train journey to Kings cross is only 40-50 mins and house prices are much more reasonable.

I also have a mate whose budget is the same as yours currently selling a flat in P bar, he's looking at Cheshunt. A quick rightmove search shows it's got decent housing stock available at that price but I've never visited the area myself...

It's a shame property is so expensive these days, most who work in London can't afford to live anywhere near it without compromise unsuitable for family life!

[MrDecadent]

Forgot to add - Bishops Stortford is nice too. Market towns are nice imo, mate at work lives there and enjoys the social life they have there without having to travel into London. Something somewhere like P bar lacks tbh - we only have 1 decent pub.

Plus you're quite close to the A507 Buntingford to Baldock road there

[Output Flange]

I know Tring has been suggested, but you could also get an end-of-terrace in Northchurch within budget.

[Chris71]

MrDecadent said:

However if an hour in the car is not a problem South Bedfordshire could be your answer. £250k gets you decent houses - Shefford, Clifton, Henlow - i.e along the A1 corridor. I'm looking at these sorts of areas for my next move as the train journey to Kings cross is only 40-50 mins and house prices are much more reasonable.

Theoretically doable for me, but the OH doesn't have a car and works in London quite frequently, so we really need a rail link. Shame in a way, because I can imagine proximity a mainline station bumps the prices up a bit too.

I've been up and down the A1 this weekend and I reckon Baldock is getting a little bit far for a daily commute by road. That said, Hitchin is probably the favourite at the moment as we have several friends moving in that direction and it seems to have quite a good vibe.

[MrDecadent]

Hitchin is great, nice market town with a bit of buzz with the market and a great rail link to Kings Cross for your other half - 20mins on the quickest trains iirc (potters bar is 25 mins in the morns!).

You're right RE: mainline stations, if you're within walking distance prices are dearer accordingly . However that said you should get an end terrace/semi in Hitchin for your money within 15/20mins walk (or less!)

Baldock has a nice high street but I can't help but feel Hitchin is more trendy. Might just be me of course!

[StonetheCrows]

Just a heads up that the A1 can be a bottle neck and slow from Letchworth right through to past Stevenage in the mornings 6-45am to 9am and vice versa in the evenings 5-15pm to 6-30pm its + 15 mins as an average.

Another +1 for Hitchin, its 30 mins 3 stopper to Kings Cross or a shorter 2 stop to Finsbury Park

[Si_man306]

Check out canada fields near Broxbourne. Lived there for 5 years and was a great place to live and very convenient (close to everything). Houses are new too.

Close to excellent commuter station, Broxbourne (I used to walk it in 30 mins along the canal but easy to park nearby and walk if you'd prefer).

[MrDecadent]

StonetheCrows said:

Just a heads up that the A1 can be a bottle neck and slow from Letchworth right through to past Stevenage in the mornings 6-45am to 9am and vice versa in the evenings 5-15pm to 6-30pm its + 15 mins as an average.

Another +1 for Hitchin, its 30 mins 3 stopper to Kings Cross or a shorter 2 stop to Finsbury Park

out of interest how busy are the trains in the morning - say one that gets to KGX around 815 - 830? I always get a seat my end of the line but would be good to know what this is like for the future

Cheers
Matt

[Spindoctor]

MrDecadent said:

StonetheCrows said:

Just a heads up that the A1 can be a bottle neck and slow from Letchworth right through to past Stevenage in the mornings 6-45am to 9am and vice versa in the evenings 5-15pm to 6-30pm its + 15 mins as an average.

Another +1 for Hitchin, its 30 mins 3 stopper to Kings Cross or a shorter 2 stop to Finsbury Park

out of interest how busy are the trains in the morning - say one that gets to KGX around 815 - 830? I always get a seat my end of the line but would be good to know what this is like for the future

Cheers
Matt

Busy but usually a few seats. I'd rather stand though, it's not a long journey.

[kingstondc5]

Hitchin - 9th best place to live apparently (according to the Times), fk knows why but there you go;
http://www.thebestof.co.uk/local/hitchin/community...

[Kateg28]

Hertford has two stations, on two different lines, going into two/three different London termini. However they are quite slow...

Also between the A1 and A10.

Market town with excellent transport links.

I grew up in Letchworth but escaped. I also lived in Hitchin for a while which was ok. Stevenage is cheap but there is a reason for that.

[Chris71]

Kateg28 said:

Stevenage is cheap but there is a reason for that.

Mrs Chris71 played a dep gig in Stevenage a few weeks back. I've never been so glad to get out of a pub in my life. It made strolling through Tottenham at 1am feel soothing.

[Kateg28]

What is a dep gig?

Stevenage is good for running a fish and chip shop as it is a top end eatery for Stevenage.

[Justin Cyder]

A gig deputising for another musician. My dad played dozens of gigs in Stevenage & often said the same thing. Edward the confessor anyone?!!

[kingofherts]

Someone mentioned Borehamwood. It's great for fried chicken, betting shops and drugs. If you don't want any of those, probably best not to move there.

[Chris71]

Justin Cyder said:

Edward the confessor anyone?!!

Can't remember the name of this one. It was a newly re-opened pub on a rather grim housing estate - only time I've seen the skinheads at a two-tone gig looking concerned.

[boolay]

Not the Twin Foxes?

[Kateg28]

Chris71 said:

rather grim housing estate.

That doesn't really narrow it down if I am honest.....