I'm after some property advice from the Southern members on here. I am after buying a house down south (currently live in Dubai) as I will be spending more time in the UK next year. I am after a semi rural location, I am considering this being a permanent place in around 4 years when I return to the UK.

The office location is SE1 8EN, Blackfriars Road.

Question is what areas (Towns) should I be looking at that isn't going to be a nightmare of a commute and I could get somewhere semi rural with a bit of land?

My knowledge of the South of England is pretty much non existent so any help would be much appreciated.

Nick.

 

There're some nice villages around Brands Hatch...

If you don't mind the train then somewhere in the Brighton area would be fine - the trains into town are mega fast - milton keynes in 1hr30!

Given the location, I'd definitely look more at train lines than road travel - that area is CRAP for traffic.

 

its a tough question to answer without being nosy,ie what kind of budget we talking about?

 

Thanks for the replies.

Agree with trains, nice relaxing way to get into work as well.

Pete, haven't set a budget in stone, around the 650k mark would be good. Would spend more on the right property though.

 

I live in sevenoaks, just off junction 5 of the M25, loads of villages very close by that are rural but not remote if that makes sense! fast trains to london bridge take 30 mins maximum i think, and gatwick is about 30mins by car.

Being a plumber i travel around north kent/SE London and see some pretty amazing property! Tunbridge Wells is also really nice. If you've got a healthy budget Westerham would be my choice. Girlfriends family have a huge tudor house there with acres of land with great views and slightly remote, yet in 5 mins you are back in civilisation! If my numbers come up on the euromillions one day i will be straight over to her old man with a cash offer!

 

with that sort of budget hampsted suburbs should be on your list.
easy access to centre of town,

 

That sounds exactly what I'm after. Thinking was that if it had a bit of land that in time I would probably start again and build a house on the site when I'm back perm based in the UK. Close to airport is another bonus.

Couple of local pubs and shops, with good access is all thats needed really.

 

With your budget you could get a seriously nice house in one of sevenoaks surrounding villages, Westerham has quite tight planning laws as it's a very old village, so not much scope for development. If you want better odds of devolping a property, Otford has a lot of redevelopment potential. I'm working on a couple of sites where houses are either being extended or completely knocked down and replaced. Prices are rising too as it has its own station with direct links to london and large number of new "top spec" developments

 

Rob,

Thanks for the info. Been looking around at the areas. Westerham has some nice places, just have to double the budget

 

anything south of the river, you won't get a cab to take you there

but you've got a decent budget so look for an older property that's in the br postcode areas than the se ones, you are outside of london so you don't get london tax on everything, plus the commute shouldn't be that bad and you won't get council scum moving ni next door to you

it's a bit boring though

if you want to buy north of the river you'll get less for more money, and don't even think about buying in the west, the east end prices are going to go up as the olympics draw closer so theres that to consider as well

your budget will get you a good sized 4 bed from what i've seen them go for, www.zoopla.com is your friends here

 

Thanks Dojj.

I'm after a boring area to be honest, something nice and quiet and semi remote.

I will be splitting my time between Dubai, UK and Oz so I will have my busy months away from the UK.

 

that is a serious investment,you will be able to find a private,secluded home for that,best of luck
pete

www.batchellerthacker.co.uk

 

http://www.equestrianproperty4sale.c...perty_sale.htm

mainly essex and some suffolk properties,

going by where your office is, not too far from liverpool street, so a main regular service that runs , brentwood, chelmsford, colchester, ipswich etc

 

Awesome link cheers!!

Heading back to the UK in a couple of weeks, arranging viewings and will make my mind up pretty quickly.

Mayland House is one I will be viewing.

Nick.

 

Wow, fucked the budget right off i see! Nice pool

 

Budgets just get in the way of things

 

All about the rail links, no other way of getting into town is worth considering IMHO

 

I believe that to be the case.

Can always drive to a station and get in from there.

 

Direct trains southminster to liverpool street just over an hour too!

www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com

Nice house, like that its not listed, so no real issues on any changes.


Not been on that site for a few months, but not seen that one on there before, tho some of the others have been on there for over a year!

ooh and not to far from a good mate of yours with the old dancing donkey assuming he still lives there?


Only downside, that B1012 / B1010 aint that great a road from memory

 

Fil,

It's a brilliant site and most of the houses listed fit the bill for what I want, VERY much appreciated.

Father is a Builder and I have a building engineering firm, so the fact that I can either start again or expand on what is there in time really appeals.

Nick.

 

Have a look at Aylesford, kent. Used to stay at a mate's place there. Some very nice properties round there, right next to the m2 and also close to maidstone. Sounds like it could be up your street

 

also worth a look at www.walkersestates.co.uk when in the UK

as they have a Country & Equestrian Team in Ingatestone

 

How is the property market in Dubai these days Nick?

 

Also look at kemsing, nice pubs it`s near sevenoaks, and the station. Lanes just cry out for fun. Also Enysford area has some large properties, or move slighter near London Cheam where my Girlfriend lives some very nice properties, her mums house you can park a car in the hallway.

 

ALLOT more reasonable Mike. Currently living on a frond of the palm and it's about half what it would of been last year.

Things are still slow and all our work is in Abu Dhabi within the UAE. Qatar and Saudi are absolutely booming which are markets we are heavily into.

How are things with you? Season nearly over.

 

Sounds like buisness is good, my season has just ended finally and now we have 7 months in Cannes to look forward to, so plenty of snow boarding and flight to and from England

 

Cant wait to get on the slopes myself!!! Business is ok I would say, still down on 2007, but I don't think that we will ever see anything like that again.

Best thing about the Palm is no more mooring fee's! ROBBING bastards at the marina's over here. Probably nothing like that you are used to paying with work, but then my bathtub with an engine is probably a tenth of the size!!!

 

Did you ever get sorted?

Just looking on that site, and noticed its still under offer

 

The office location you have given isn't that far from Waterloo Station and London Bridge.

This basically means your about 30min by mainline train from most places within the M25 in south London and you could look at places like Epsom, Banstead, and so one.

 

I live in Edenbridge which neighbours both Sevenoaks and Oxted so not as expensive as those too yet being in the middle i have a choice on what junction for the m25 i can take depending on what way round/Traffic etc
Junction 6 and 5 are just ten mins away which is good for south london etc
We also have TWO train Stations in the town, one of which has an express to London Bridge

http://www.edenbridgetown.com/

Regards
Ian