500k, North London ish, which flat?

[Nish]

Hey guys, having a nightmare trying to make a decision so hopefully PH to the rescue!

General situation, currently live in Harrow on the Hill - standard 2 bed 2 bath apartment type place.

Getting married next year, fancy something bigger but not a house yet.

Budget is roughly 500k, maybe plus 50k if I must. Location requirements are closeish to a406 or a40 and roughly within a mile of an underground station or decent overground link.

This has led me to the finchley/barnet area, mainly Princess Park Manor, i.e. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Seen a few properties in this development now, I like the place but don't see myself making use of the grounds much, and lack of covered parking is putting me off a little.

This led me further afield to Winchmore Hill, i.e. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/prope...

Like this place, lots of space and a double garage round the back.

Don't know the area though really, seemed pleasant enough?

Does anyone have any thoughts/suggestions for this set of requirements and which areas to consider?

I guess the actual location is open to suggestions as well, really I need access to the M4 corridor as well as central london. There literally is no other requirement.

Plan is to live in new place for approx 3 years before looking for a house, so local schools etc not a consideration.

[Carlton Banks]

Nish,

Winchmore Hill is a nice area and I am regularly down that way as my best mates live there - I have parked various heavy metal in and around the area and have never had any issues!

Driving wise though, getting from there to central london and the m4 isnt *that* easy. For Central London it's down the A406 to the finchley road and through st.johns wood etc

I do this drive a lot and wouldn't enterain it on a weekday!

However, the mainline train station gets you into Liverpool street & Kings X quite nicely.

For the M4, you have the north circ OR the m25 which takes forever!

It really depends what you feel like handling every morning.

[Nish]

Cheers for the reply

To get to central london, using the train is fine.

I would only need to drive to the M4 corridor (staines/slough/reading etc). Guess the route would be A406/A40/M40 or similar, it is a nightmare at the moment given road works but the situation should improve I hope?

I guess what I'm struggling to understand is would I be able to rent one of these places when the time comes or does this type of dempgraphic tend to stick to more central london?

[Pothole]

Rickmansworth? Easy enough for M4, good train/underground service into Central London. Waitrose and M&S Food...

[Nish]

I did look at Loudwater, lovely place. Just seemed a little far out.

M25 is close but A40 a long way away

[tobster]

Nish,
I know Princess park Manor well and there is covered parking available there. When I last went there the facilities looked top notch and they also run a bus to the train station for residents.

[Nish]

Covered parking is available, but all parking is on an allocated basis. So depending which part of the building you buy in (think covered is only for the last phase which is least desirable) your luck could be out.

I need to somehow weigh up a nice place to live with investment return.