Humour me - house on a budget in southern Herts

Humour me - house on a budget in southern Herts

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Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
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A few weeks ago I did a sum to work out how much rent my fiancée and I had paid our landlord over the last few years and it was absolutely terrifying. We're living on a pretty much subsistence income in a modern house that needs no intervention from the landlord and yet over the last four years we've run up a big enough bill to buy a second hand Vanquish.

For about a minute I tried to contrive a way of spending it on one of those instead, but then I got to thinking about the rather more grown up option of buying a house.

Budget would be tight (by South East standards). I haven't spoken to any mortgage lenders yet, but I reckon we'd struggle to bring more than about £250,000 to the table.

For that we'd need to get two bedrooms and at least an end of terrace - preferably detached or semi-detached (my OH is a music teacher and a succession of beginner sax students would drive the neighbours potty in a flat or terrace...)

A friendly neighbourhood is a must and somewhere fairly green (as in vilagey) would be an advantage. Finally, it would need to have decent rail links to London (say, no more than 40 minutes up the line from one of the main stations).

Are we living in a fantasy land here or can it be done? Where would be your suggestion?

P2BS

3,589 posts

142 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
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I reckon the Thameslink line will be out of your budget unless you go way out of town; places like Radlett, St.Albans and Harpenden are pricey if you want to live in a town served by station. Some of the villages around & about can be ok though - London Colney, Markyate, even Slip End.
Not sure if schools are a concern for you, but the catchment areas for good ones are getting ever smaller.
The East Coast Main Line towns are cheaper, like Hatfield & Stevenage. Welwyn garden City is nice, but slightly more expensive.
Over the other side, Hemel Hempstead is possible the most affordable of towns on the west coast main line.
HTH

Spindoctor

781 posts

199 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
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Places in north Herts like Letchworth, Hitchin and Baldock are only 30 mins from Kings X on the East Coast Mainline which is generally more reliable than Thameslink. Worth a look - prices are cheaper than further south. Those towns have very nice neighbourhoods, as well as a few its worth avoiding... Nice villages in the area too.

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
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Spindoctor said:
Places in north Herts like Letchworth, Hitchin and Baldock.
I had a quick chat with a friend who's facing a similar dilemma and those were his three recommendations.

Schools aren't a consideration currently, well not for kids anyway, might be a good source of employment for Mrs Chris71.

What's the A1 southbound like in the mornings? I'd be driving in to the outskirts of North London for the foreseeable future.

Hemel sounds quite affordable, but I've heard mixed reports (I guess it's just variable neighbourhoods really...) And based on a couple of trips to Stevenage I'd probably try to avoid that option. That might be unfair, though, I've only been to the outskirts.

Hmm. Maybe it's not such a long-shot after all:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 6th March 18:36

Spindoctor

781 posts

199 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
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There you go, plenty of choices. That one in Baldock looks like its worth a view.

I've done the A1M southbound commute a few times... Could probably do it with my eyes shut, and some people do indeed drive like they do have their eyes shut. Its all about timing - if you head off early enough you miss the jams at junctions 8 & 7, but leave it too late and you'll be crawling for a couple of miles. Its clogged from about 7.30am. Bottleneck at junction 6 on the afternoon/evening return leg. Overall, for London commuters the train is much nicer.

Justin Cyder

12,624 posts

148 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
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Hitchin would be a good spot for social too. Hatfield is probably the cheapest in that whole WGC/Harpenden/St Albans end of things, although I wouldn't want to live there personally. Maybe somewhere like Welham Green or South Mymms as a compromise?

I feel your pain when I think my parents bought their four bedroom semi for £27k in 1979. We've built a nightmare for people trying to kick on these days.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 6th March 2013
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Bishops Stortford is 35 mins out of Liverpool Street via the Stansted Express (stops at BS or Harlow only between the airport and LP St) and you'll get something decent in budget. It's a nice town, surrounded by some lovely villages - I'm a Much Hadham resident (I recall you have been through the villages on a drive)...

The local weekly papers have a property supplement, and they're out tomorrow, PM me with a work/home address and I'll happily send them to you. Otherwise google Bishops Stortford Observer and/or Hertford Mercury, likely they will have property pages....

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
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had ham said:
Bishops Stortford is 35 mins out of Liverpool Street via the Stansted Express (stops at BS or Harlow only between the airport and LP St) and you'll get something decent in budget. It's a nice town, surrounded by some lovely villages - I'm a Much Hadham resident (I recall you have been through the villages on a drive)...

The local weekly papers have a property supplement, and they're out tomorrow, PM me with a work/home address and I'll happily send them to you. Otherwise google Bishops Stortford Observer and/or Hertford Mercury, likely they will have property pages....
Now there's an idea. We've got a few friends in Stortford, but I didn't realise there was a decent link into London. I'd sell my spleen to live near the B1004 too. wink

Will get back to you on the newspaper offer when things get serious. Just window shopping currently. We're getting married in a few months and then the house hunting proper shall commence.

Justin Cyder said:
I feel your pain when I think my parents bought their four bedroom semi for £27k in 1979. We've built a nightmare for people trying to kick on these days.
Tell me about it. Even at this level we're going to be relying on a substantial parental contribution. It's a ridiculous state of affairs when two full time professionals can't afford a starter home.

Currently two thirds of our combined income goes into rent and basic bills before we've even bought food or petrol let alone anything more frivolous. That's never good, but I'd feel a lot happier if it was at least going towards a house that we owned. Currently it's flowing straight into the landlord's bank account.

(Rant over... smile)

boolay

1,548 posts

237 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
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Currently live in Royston which has a fast train service straight through to Kings cross (39 mins). Lots of lovely local villages and on the A10 which is probably a bit slicker into north london than the A1 (Wife goes to Hoddesdon every day and has no issues getting there). House prices about 20k cheaper than Hitchin/Letchworth, although the town centre isn't as inviting as say Hitchin is.
Also within 10 mins of the M11

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 7th March 2013
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Chris71 said:
Will get back to you on the newspaper offer when things get serious. Just window shopping currently. We're getting married in a few months and then the house hunting proper shall commence.
Good stuff, happy to help in any way I can thumbup

boxsternoob56

223 posts

140 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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w/o wishing to inappropriately advertise (not sure if I am being naughty in doing so)...

I'm an Independnet Mortgage broker happy to help you NOT have to talk to all those horrible banks (a one stop shop if you will, with some proper advice along the way!)

Stuart

Zippee

13,438 posts

233 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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As said above - Royston is quite nice and right on the A10 for London.
Baldock and Hitchin also good, both with decent main lines into Kings Cross and also easy access to the A1. Avoid Stevenage and Hatfield like the Plague.
Bishops Stortford - I grew up there and lived there till I was 21. Nice town though not somewhere I'd ever go back to. Possible to get a 2 bed home there for sub 250 though just watch where it is - theres areas I really don't like.
How about Stansted? 1 stop up from B/S and a nice town.

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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Zippee said:
How about Stansted? 1 stop up from B/S and a nice town.
Worth a look. Quite villagey, I believe?

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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It's OK, but connections into L'Pool Street are difficult, as you either take the slowy all the way in (an hour?), or take a slowy to BS or Harlow and change onto a Stansted Express (which is of course a faff) - but you will get far more for your money there.

I belive that some rush hour Stansted Expresses do stop there, but I don't go that far, so couldn't confirm...

If you're that way inclined though, you might want to look at Sawbridgeworth, which has a station in between BS and Harlow, and is a nice (large-ish) village. from there it is a slowy to Harlow or Broxbourne or all the way - I guess 45 mins into L'pool St worst case direct. Nearer London, so less for your money.. But, a quick search on rightmove...

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

Turn7

23,498 posts

220 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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Have a look at Tring, Ive been here for 13 years now and still like it.

Villagey feel with big towns close enough.

Personally, I would avoid a lot of Hemel.

But, I think in Tring you could probably get something that fits the bill.

Zippee

13,438 posts

233 months

Friday 8th March 2013
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had ham said:
It's OK, but connections into L'Pool Street are difficult, as you either take the slowy all the way in (an hour?), or take a slowy to BS or Harlow and change onto a Stansted Express (which is of course a faff) - but you will get far more for your money there.

I believe that some rush hour Stansted Expresses do stop there, but I don't go that far, so couldn't confirm...

If you're that way inclined though, you might want to look at Sawbridgeworth, which has a station in between BS and Harlow, and is a nice (large-ish) village. from there it is a slowy to Harlow or Broxbourne or all the way - I guess 45 mins into L'pool St worst case direct. Nearer London, so less for your money.. But, a quick search on rightmove...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find....
Sawbo is quite nice, only thing I'd say is it can be a PITA traffic wise getting through on the main road between Harlow and B/S - obviously local types take the back roads but it's still worth bearing in mind.

belleair302

6,835 posts

206 months

Saturday 9th March 2013
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Look around the A10, Hoddesdon and Broxbourne areas would be cheaper than elsewhere unless you want to move into Borehamwood, which is not a great area.

spiritof'76

1,358 posts

223 months

Saturday 9th March 2013
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Chris71 said:
Zippee said:
How about Stansted? 1 stop up from B/S and a nice town.
Worth a look. Quite villagey, I believe?
I live in Stansted......... it is a village, but wether that qualifies it as villagey in the idyllic sense i'm not sure, but i love it anyway biggrin

AceOfHearts

5,818 posts

190 months

Saturday 9th March 2013
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I am in Biggleswade and it is a surprisingly quick journey into London (especially by train - about 35 minutes to Kings Cross). I know its not Hertfordshire, but the reason i moved up this way is you can get a lot more for your money, and is a lot nicer than where i used to live (near Hoddesdon)

You can get a 3 bed detached in your budget thumbup

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

Or a new 4 Bedroom Semi

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/new-homes-for-sale/prop...

Edited by AceOfHearts on Saturday 9th March 16:08

Chris71

Original Poster:

21,535 posts

241 months

Sunday 10th March 2013
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AceOfHearts said:
I am in Biggleswade and it is a surprisingly quick journey into London (especially by train - about 35 minutes to Kings Cross). I know its not Hertfordshire, but the reason i moved up this way is you can get a lot more for your money, and is a lot nicer than where i used to live (near Hoddesdon)
Not a bad call. Might be getting a little far for commuting by car, but it's certainly a nice area.

On a random note, I ended up going to a gig in Bishops Stortford last night. Seemed like quite a good balance of a more chilled out atmosphere than North London but still a reasonable amount of life.