Nice Area to Live in Southend with good schools??

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So I am currently living in Buckhurst Hill but need to move to something larger with a growing family. Looking in and around where I currently live, 500k doesn't really get you anything decent as you truly are paying for the location.

I have been speaking to my wife about perhaps moving somewhere like Southend. The commute to my office in North London wont be too bad and from what I can see, 500k can secure a much nicer property. However, I would want to stay in the catchment area of goods schools.

So to sum it up, which are the nicer parts of Southend, with good schools, where I can buy a nice place for 500k???

Any input would be much appreciated.

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pincher said:

How old are the kids?

5 and 1.

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Thanks for the info chaps. I also had a good look on Zoopla last night and it does seem to be the case that I will have to check each individual property to ensure that is closest to the right school. However, from what I have seen the houses seem very nice and far better than what I can get where I currently am.

If anyone out there travels into London, how long is train journey into Barking. My office is in Tottenham so I can jump on a train at Barking which can get me into South Tottenham. Google maps tells me its about a 40 min journey to Barking but a friend of mine states the fast train takes 20mins???

Need to sell my current place around March time and then can start looking property. Obviously a garage is a must!

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Yeah Tottenham Hale is not far from my office and the Lea Valley area I have considered but find Southend a bit more appealing in the sense that for the same price the quality of housing stock is better.

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I realise Its not easy to find a place which ticks all the boxes. I will have to compromise but for me the priority is good schools, followed by a decent house for the money. Being my own boss means I don't have to travel during the rush hours which is why I am likely not to be put off by the commute.

There is certainly a lack of housing stock thats for sure. Just gonna wait until next year when I am ready and see what I end up doing!

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Medic-one said:

If you found something in Southend but aren't sure about the area feel free to message me and i can give you my input.

I've lived in Southend nearly 10 years now, but also work here, and my job litterly gets me everywhere, from the big mansions in the posh neighbour to the nasty high-crime area's.

When we were looking to buy our current house i was online looking at places and found a few nice ones but then i looked at the area and/or google maps and i'd be like "no, i've done a few stabbings there, or loads of drug related calls in that road" and didn't even bother viewing some of the properties we shortlisted, purely on my experiences i've had in/around the streets they were in.

Thanks for that. I'm still very much in the earlier stages as I need to sell my place early next year. Once done I will start looking in more detail. Expect some emails from me next year!!

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rubystone said:

The sensible money would be on the Beaulieu side. I'm sure that with the Channels development. They HAVE to build that halt at Springfield. The issue with the town is the pressure on the railway station and rush-hour traffic round the town. It's dreadful. I left there in the mid '80s because the pressure on services was becoming a major issue. Newlands Spring is next to Melbourne and there is a number of new developments there too. So the area isn't too bad any more outside of the area around the flats.

Wife and I have now decided that Sawbridgeworth or B. Stortford is a better idea for us.

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rubystone said:

I live in that area. Rush hour traffic can make Sawbo miserable and don't buy a house on the B1184 itself. You have to be aware of the flight path for the airport. Stortford has more housing stock- much bigger than Sawbo.

And I can show you some of the best roads you could ever drive your Seven on!

Any idea on if Newhall in Harlow is any good? A new housing development is being built there. Schools appear to be quite good and its just that bit closer down to Tottenham for me.

p.s. I already have some pretty awesome roads in my satnav for that area. Would take a lot to beat them!

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rubystone said:

I've never heard of New Hall in Harlow. Chances are it's a lump of land being developed similar to Church Langley.

Ultimately, Harlow is Harlow is Harlow. No matter how its dressed up, no matter what it's named. It's Harlow. And chances are that you'll have your share of social housing on the estate too. Mandatory nowadays for a development of any size in that area.

If you want to head out to Takeley, there's a lot of development there too. No social housing as far as I'm aware and the M11 on your doorstep. Note that the traffic at the end of the M11 is currently pretty nasty in rush hour, so I am told.

Do you have the B1057 on your list? What other roads are in your satnav?

http://www.lindenhomes.co.uk/developments/essex/edge-harlow

Its right next to Church Langely.

Good point about social housing. I'm gonna visit the site in Jan so will certainly get as much info as I can about this. There are some 'nice' parts of Harlow though are there not? The schools around it seem to be fairly decent.

Re roads, yeah I have the B1057 and a whole load of others in and around that area.