Good commuter towns north of London
Discussion
Cheib said:
Chesham stuff
Absolutely spot on. I wasn't saying 'never consider Chesham' as it does have a lot to offer, just that you'd be best to thoroughly do your homework with regards to specific location. For all there might still be a Met line station, Waitrose and grammar school nearby, there are definitely a few parts of Chesham I would not be happy living in.There are some very nice places to live in Chesham, a great deal of average parts and more than a few ropey bits, as with any town. Nothing is nearly as 'lively' as the more boisterous inner-city areas but still, moving into an unfamiliar region it can often be difficult to distinguish between good and bad locales as often a few hundred metres can make all the difference.
Chesham is no different to most places in this regard, but the disparity in well-off/poorer areas is much more pronounced relative to surrounding towns.
The map overlays on places like Zoopla can offer some insight into this kind of stuff, more so than the simple consideration of house prices in many respects, as can a few visits at different times of the day and night.
Hi all,
It has been a while since I last responded in this thread. There have been a couple of developments:
We took a brief visit to Amersham, which was night and day. However, too expensive and felt far too smug. Disliked the area.
We then took a detour to Watford station (Met line) and we were both really surprised at how residential, clean and well-maintained the immediate vicinity felt. We walked around a couple of streets in both directions within the vicinity of Watford station, and then stumbled on Cassiobury park. Once we returned home and checked the area for prices and schools, deal (almost) sealed. We will have to compromise on an apartment or maisonette than a house, but area, schools, transportation and general feel are big, big ticks.
We are going to run a search on other areas [Croxley Green and the vicinity] to see what apartments and maisonettes we can get for our money. However, this exercise has helped us focus on our priorities, albeit my girlfriend's also include nearish London with a tube-line
:area (safe, well maintained and leafy environment) and good schools. Even if it means lease-hold and service charges.
It has been a while since I last responded in this thread. There have been a couple of developments:
- we have removed Chesham from our search and replaced with Watford. Yes, that's right! Watford
- we are now including apartments and maisonettes
We took a brief visit to Amersham, which was night and day. However, too expensive and felt far too smug. Disliked the area.
We then took a detour to Watford station (Met line) and we were both really surprised at how residential, clean and well-maintained the immediate vicinity felt. We walked around a couple of streets in both directions within the vicinity of Watford station, and then stumbled on Cassiobury park. Once we returned home and checked the area for prices and schools, deal (almost) sealed. We will have to compromise on an apartment or maisonette than a house, but area, schools, transportation and general feel are big, big ticks.
We are going to run a search on other areas [Croxley Green and the vicinity] to see what apartments and maisonettes we can get for our money. However, this exercise has helped us focus on our priorities, albeit my girlfriend's also include nearish London with a tube-line
:area (safe, well maintained and leafy environment) and good schools. Even if it means lease-hold and service charges.putonghua73 said:
We took a brief visit to Amersham, which was night and day. However, too expensive and felt far too smug. Disliked the area.
OK, we might be a bit smug, but that's mainly because we don't have to live in Chesham 
putonghua73 said:
We then took a detour to Watford station (Met line) and we were both really surprised at how residential, clean and well-maintained the immediate vicinity felt. We walked around a couple of streets in both directions within the vicinity of Watford station, and then stumbled on Cassiobury park. Once we returned home and checked the area for prices and schools, deal (almost) sealed. We will have to compromise on an apartment or maisonette than a house, but area, schools, transportation and general feel are big, big ticks.
We are going to run a search on other areas [Croxley Green and the vicinity] to see what apartments and maisonettes we can get for our money. However, this exercise has helped us focus on our priorities, albeit my girlfriend's also include nearish London with a tube-line :area (safe, well maintained and leafy environment) and good schools. Even if it means lease-hold and service charges.uote]
I too have been surprised by bits of Watford. Far worse places to live.We are going to run a search on other areas [Croxley Green and the vicinity] to see what apartments and maisonettes we can get for our money. However, this exercise has helped us focus on our priorities, albeit my girlfriend's also include nearish London with a tube-line
:area (safe, well maintained and leafy environment) and good schools. Even if it means lease-hold and service charges.uote] had ham said:
And....?
Sorry all. Brutally, brutally busy at work, as well as a viral infection over Easter has meant that house hunting has been on hiatus. We did view a property in Hertford East a couple of weeks ago, but it felt too small once we got inside. The encouraging aspect is the very fact that my girlfriend actually consented to viewing the property from my RightMove saved list. To actually travel beyond a tube line is a major achievement. Once work slows down somewhat end of next week, we'll resume looking in Watford, Hertford East and Ware areas. I suspect deeper Hertfordshire than Watford because property in Watford is around the £325k mark, and I'm more comfortable with £300k.
Hello all,
It has been a while since I last posted an update. Things have progressed I am very glad to say - cutting to the chase, my fiancée informed me this afternoon that we had our offer of £330k for a 4 bedroom semi-detached property in the Poplars area of Stevenage accepted! So no holidays whatsoever for quite a number of years, especially as our little one is due in less than 4 weeks!
This is my fiancée's dream property because she fell in love with the house when she viewed, and the garden is absolutely massive, not to mention beautiful. The cherry on the cake is that there is a gate to the back of the garden that leads to the Infant and Primary school (Ofsted rating 'Good' or 'Outstanding') right next door! My commute [drive] from this house will take c30 mins and is 24 miles away. I currently live 17.5 miles from work, yet takes me by public transport or driving 80 minutes! Commuting from one part of London to another is a pain in the rear!
Our Mortgage Broker has been fantastic, extremely helpful, always available with sound advice, as well as maintaining communication to keep us on track. We are visiting him on Saturday with the documentation to arrange a formal mortgage from our mortgage in principal [MIP].
In terms of Conveyance Solicitors, we are thinking of using RMNJ Conveyancing Solicitors. Obtained quotes from ReallyMoving.com, and these were the most transparent in terms of costs, services, etc, and had excellent reviews. Ballpark estimate £950.00. One quote was under half the amount, but from a cursory look at what they were offering and some decidedly mixed reviews, I swiftly eliminated that firm from our decision-making process.
My fiancée's friend is a property developer and recommended the Solicitors that he uses to my fiancée's brother and sister-in-law for their recent home purchase. Unfortunately, they have been quite poor in providing information, timescales, etc that we quickly decided against using them. Their estimate is
c£800.
If anyone has recommendations for finding Conveyance Solicitors or any other advice, then by all means please share!
It has been a while since I last posted an update. Things have progressed I am very glad to say - cutting to the chase, my fiancée informed me this afternoon that we had our offer of £330k for a 4 bedroom semi-detached property in the Poplars area of Stevenage accepted! So no holidays whatsoever for quite a number of years, especially as our little one is due in less than 4 weeks!
This is my fiancée's dream property because she fell in love with the house when she viewed, and the garden is absolutely massive, not to mention beautiful. The cherry on the cake is that there is a gate to the back of the garden that leads to the Infant and Primary school (Ofsted rating 'Good' or 'Outstanding') right next door! My commute [drive] from this house will take c30 mins and is 24 miles away. I currently live 17.5 miles from work, yet takes me by public transport or driving 80 minutes! Commuting from one part of London to another is a pain in the rear!
Our Mortgage Broker has been fantastic, extremely helpful, always available with sound advice, as well as maintaining communication to keep us on track. We are visiting him on Saturday with the documentation to arrange a formal mortgage from our mortgage in principal [MIP].
In terms of Conveyance Solicitors, we are thinking of using RMNJ Conveyancing Solicitors. Obtained quotes from ReallyMoving.com, and these were the most transparent in terms of costs, services, etc, and had excellent reviews. Ballpark estimate £950.00. One quote was under half the amount, but from a cursory look at what they were offering and some decidedly mixed reviews, I swiftly eliminated that firm from our decision-making process.
My fiancée's friend is a property developer and recommended the Solicitors that he uses to my fiancée's brother and sister-in-law for their recent home purchase. Unfortunately, they have been quite poor in providing information, timescales, etc that we quickly decided against using them. Their estimate is
c£800.
If anyone has recommendations for finding Conveyance Solicitors or any other advice, then by all means please share!
putonghua73 said:
It has been a while since I last posted an update. Things have progressed I am very glad to say - cutting to the chase, my fiancée informed me this afternoon that we had our offer of £330k for a 4 bedroom semi-detached property in the Poplars area of Stevenage accepted! So no holidays whatsoever for quite a number of years, especially as our little one is due in less than 4 weeks!
Congratulations - an exciting time. You can also look forward to Stevenage getting its very own Costco soon
Time for an update whilst awaiting Fiancee to be induced (our Son is 41+4 days - he is far too comfortable!). Young couple in next bed just had an argument, resulting in him shouting, "We're finished!" and storming out the delivery suite! Swallow your pride, come back and fulfil your responsibilties!
Back on tangent, we have had our mortgage approved, and have sent back the contract documentation to exchange. Our mortgage broker has been fantastic, sellers' agents responsive, and our solicitor's has been excellent by keeping us informed. So far so good!
Due to impending birth, we're are looking for an exchange date early-mid Sep.
Back on tangent, we have had our mortgage approved, and have sent back the contract documentation to exchange. Our mortgage broker has been fantastic, sellers' agents responsive, and our solicitor's has been excellent by keeping us informed. So far so good!
Due to impending birth, we're are looking for an exchange date early-mid Sep.
Edited by putonghua73 on Monday 25th July 13:22
Hello all,
Quick update:
We had a significant delay in completing because our seller's returned from holiday beginning of September to discover that their vendors had failed to declare that the property that they planned to buy had been treated for subsidence. They had no choice and had to pull out (losing a considerable sum in surveys, searches, etc). Their solicitors also informed them that due to a technicality, the chances of successfully suing their vendors were slim.
Our sellers have found another property, everything is going through. We have sent the deposit to our solicitors, and the contract exchange will be next week, with completion the 2nd week of December - we should get the keys on the 9th December.
Phew!
Updated: we completed on Friday 9th December, so the house is ours! We have also inherited a large number of carp and coi that the owners gave us. Not only will I have to develop green fingers over the Winter period, I will also have to read-up on how to care for exotic fish! Another bonus: changed our address on our car insurance (Audi A6) and our insurance was reduced by c£800 by moving out of London! I have received c£80 refund on my credit card for the last month of our current insurance.
Quick update:
We had a significant delay in completing because our seller's returned from holiday beginning of September to discover that their vendors had failed to declare that the property that they planned to buy had been treated for subsidence. They had no choice and had to pull out (losing a considerable sum in surveys, searches, etc). Their solicitors also informed them that due to a technicality, the chances of successfully suing their vendors were slim.
Our sellers have found another property, everything is going through. We have sent the deposit to our solicitors, and the contract exchange will be next week, with completion the 2nd week of December - we should get the keys on the 9th December.
Phew!
Updated: we completed on Friday 9th December, so the house is ours! We have also inherited a large number of carp and coi that the owners gave us. Not only will I have to develop green fingers over the Winter period, I will also have to read-up on how to care for exotic fish! Another bonus: changed our address on our car insurance (Audi A6) and our insurance was reduced by c£800 by moving out of London! I have received c£80 refund on my credit card for the last month of our current insurance.
Edited by putonghua73 on Monday 12th December 21:29
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