Relocation Advice

[ThePlanner]

Welshbeef said:

Op what is the 5 bed house budget as these areas can be notably different.

My Budget is 600k-650k. It could be higher but I don't want to expose myself to risk as I have to pay the mortgage on my ex-wife's house.

To be honest I am happy with a 90-minute door to door commute. My previous door to door commute from Woking was 60 minutes, I am happy with the increase to get a better location.

Welshbeef said:

Op where in London do you work?
Reason for asking being is it quicker arriving in Paddington or Waterloo?

That’s a starter to narrow it down - no one likes commuting time so it should register as being important.

My preferred offer is around Fitzroy street.

Edited by ThePlanner on Sunday 18th February 05:14

[Frimley111R]

edc said:

Frimley111R said:

As someone who is also moving this year, I'd be interested in how you felt these areas compared.

Ross give me a call or we can meet for a beer if you want.

Hi Ed. Sorry missed you user name there! Will PM you

[davek_964]

edc said:

I lived in Knaphill, then Woking, then Frimley Green now Farnborough. If you need quick ish trains to Waterloo and accessible to Woking at best value then Farnborough is ok.

My mate commutes from Farnborough and mentioned at the weekend that they are planning to slow down the fast trains from Farnborough - in exchange for having more slow trains. Not sure how much they are slowing them - presumably, they will call at more stations - but something to be aware of.

[snowley]

I can personally recommend Farnham, but you may struggle with the budget.

Will be within your commuting time, and is a great mix of town/countryside. Is becoming more and more popular which is reflected in the price of housing at the moment (and the number of new build sites....)

[Dizeee]

Your exclusion area is huge - suerely your ex can't be at all the places at once?

[liner33]

Welshbeef said:

Compton or Hamsted Norris’s are good.

Most people from here tend to use the train from Didcot-Paddington rather than Newbury, but not good links for where the OP's kids are

[ThePlanner]

Dizeee said:

Your exclusion area is huge - suerely your ex can't be at all the places at once?

No, she cant but want to avoid any conflict or potential revenge etc

[ThePlanner]

liner33 said:

Most people from here tend to use the train from Didcot-Paddington rather than Newbury, but not good links for where the OP's kids are

Kids will be staying with me at weekends (Friday evening to Sunday Evening).

[xjay1337]

Welshbeef said:

Newbury to Reading is getting electrified next phase.

However the frequency of non stop to Paddington isn’t that great so it’s a slow train to reading then change so a fair amount of time door to door.
Newbury race course guarentees traffic hell fairly often

Compton or Hamsted Norris’s are good.

Newbury Race Course is only busy on race days - these are generally only on Weekends.

[RizzoTheRat]

Farnborough has direct trains to Waterloo, which stop at Fleet first so you're not going to get much quicker west of Woking. But getting somewhere near the station on your budget might be more tricky as it's prime commuter belt.

Smaller stations like Ash Vale get the slow trains to change at Woking for a quicker one, and Blackwater and Ash are on the Reading-Gatwick line so change at Guildford. Farnhams about an hour but quite expensive area.

For house prices, you get a lot more for your money in an Aldershot postcode, and it does have some ok areas. About an hour to Waterloo, or change at Woking to save 10 minutes.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Wednesday 21st February 09:59

[liner33]

ThePlanner said:

liner33 said:

Most people from here tend to use the train from Didcot-Paddington rather than Newbury, but not good links for where the OP's kids are

Kids will be staying with me at weekends (Friday evening to Sunday Evening).

Yeah but thinking you will need to collect and return them , not a huge distance but not a nice drive

[Welshbeef]

xjay1337 said:

Welshbeef said:

Newbury to Reading is getting electrified next phase.

However the frequency of non stop to Paddington isn’t that great so it’s a slow train to reading then change so a fair amount of time door to door.
Newbury race course guarentees traffic hell fairly often

Compton or Hamsted Norris’s are good.

Newbury Race Course is only busy on race days - these are generally only on Weekends.

Exactly - his time off = heavy traffic.

No doubt he couldn’t care less about Monday or Wednesday race nights when at work as it wouldn’t be an issue.

Also that Robin Hood roundabout it’s a nightmare always high congestion. Plus any issue on the A34 and let’s be frank it’s not that infrequent the gridlock quickly can block up Newbury for hours on end.

Same with Reading and M4 but reading you can go North to exit

[Justin S]

Welshbeef said:

Exactly - his time off = heavy traffic.

No doubt he couldn’t care less about Monday or Wednesday race nights when at work as it wouldn’t be an issue.

Also that Robin Hood roundabout it’s a nightmare always high congestion. Plus any issue on the A34 and let’s be frank it’s not that infrequent the gridlock quickly can block up Newbury for hours on end.

Same with Reading and M4 but reading you can go North to exit

Not a problem having races once every 2 months. Robin Hood isnt an issue and the A34 is OK if you dont use it at stupid oclock aka 5pm. Its the locals in Newbury you have to watch out for. So, live outside of Newbury, its nicer.

[ThePlanner]

Thanks all for the input, I am back in the UK in 3 weeks time for house hunting.

I can up the budget, I want a realistic mortgage. I will get an end of service allowance when I leave my current job, but this can take upwards of 6 months to be paid, so I don't want to overstretch the budget!

My short list is

• High Wycombe
• Twyford
• Bicester (But stretching the commute a bit too far)

[xjay1337]

Welshbeef said:

Exactly - his time off = heavy traffic.

No doubt he couldn’t care less about Monday or Wednesday race nights when at work as it wouldn’t be an issue.

Also that Robin Hood roundabout it’s a nightmare always high congestion. Plus any issue on the A34 and let’s be frank it’s not that infrequent the gridlock quickly can block up Newbury for hours on end.

Same with Reading and M4 but reading you can go North to exit

I honestly don't agree with that , living in Newbury.

It's a st hole but it's hardly gridlock.

[liner33]

Its only really bad if there is an issue on the M4 or A34 , its taken me 45 to get from Vodafone roundabout to the Robin Hood on occasion but nowhere is totally immune from issues like that

[Truckosaurus]

RizzoTheRat said:

...Smaller stations like Ash Vale get the slow train...

Peak time trains on the Alton line go direct from Woking to Waterloo, knocking about 10mins off the off-peak times.

There are a couple of extra slow stopping trains, but they are perfect for those of us getting off before London as they are empty.

[SlackBladder]

ThePlanner said:

Thanks all for the input, I am back in the UK in 3 weeks time for house hunting.

I can up the budget, I want a realistic mortgage. I will get an end of service allowance when I leave my current job, but this can take upwards of 6 months to be paid, so I don't want to overstretch the budget!

My short list is

• High Wycombe
• Twyford
• Bicester (But stretching the commute a bit too far)

Maidenhead, with cross rail coming soon?
I may even have a suitable property for you.
YHM

[Welshbeef]

ThePlanner said:

Thanks all for the input, I am back in the UK in 3 weeks time for house hunting.

I can up the budget, I want a realistic mortgage. I will get an end of service allowance when I leave my current job, but this can take upwards of 6 months to be paid, so I don't want to overstretch the budget!

My short list is

• High Wycombe
• Twyford
• Bicester (But stretching the commute a bit too far)

Given your looking at Twyford what about

Wargrave
Hurst
Chervil
Sonning
Playhatch

[ThePlanner]

Welshbeef said:

Given your looking at Twyford what about

Wargrave
Hurst
Chervil
Sonning
Playhatch

Thanks my relocation is currently on hold, ex wife is delaying the consent order. So I am not buying a property until this has been approved by court!