London Properties

[Martin@AS Financial]

I studied at a small private school in Ealing so much of my youth was spent there, along with socializing there through most of my twenties. It was a really nice place when I was younger but become a hole for a while after that. I would say it's on the up now though.

Having said that, I would refer back to my earlier comment in that Ealing is already very pricey when compared to other LondonCity-commutable towns. Hanwell... not so sure I'd want to live there!

Did you used to go to the North Star when you were in Ealing?

Turtle Bay has just opened and the food there is incredible.

Hanwell has certainly improved over the years. It's pretty family orientated now as you get a lot more for your money compared to Ealing / Chiswick.

[ChimpMaster]

I live in Ealing and thoroughly recommend it. When Westfield shopping centre opened, it took a bit of a nosedive but is now on the up again.

Between Ealing and Hayes is Hanwell where you can still buy for a reasonable price. It is also on the Crossrail link which bodes well for the future.

I studied at a small private school in Ealing so much of my youth was spent there, along with socializing there through most of my twenties. It was a really nice place when I was younger but become a hole for a while after that. I would say it's on the up now though.

Having said that, I would refer back to my earlier comment in that Ealing is already very pricey when compared to other LondonCity-commutable towns. Hanwell... not so sure I'd want to live there!

[Martin@AS Financial]

London can mean anything within whatever is an acceptable commute for you.

Crossrail is bringing many more areas to within 45 minutes of central London. You can look at areas like Ealing or a little further out (and cheaper) like Hayes, Langley or Slough. Yes some might think they are a little more deprived but a house in Slough is probably a third the price of a flat in Ealing, yet the Crossrail journey will only be around 10 minutes more. So your potential profit is probably better in the outer areas. Reading is a good bet too.

Northern parts of Kent are also going up in value. Think Ebbsfleet station, which has a 17 minute train ride into Kings Cross.

Midlands with the HS2, another contender for biggest price rises over the next 10 years?

Central London itself does not make for a good investment right now. Stories of a city property bubble are rife and development is at a high, so supply will increase and it's entirely possible that overseas investment is at risk, which is the only thing bucking up the prices there. City professionals won't buy £1m standard flats in central London, not when they can buy far grander properties within a 30 minute commute.

The ripple effect is moving outwards.

I live in Ealing and thoroughly recommend it. When Westfield shopping centre opened, it took a bit of a nosedive but is now on the up again.

Between Ealing and Hayes is Hanwell where you can still buy for a reasonable price. It is also on the Crossrail link which bodes well for the future.

[MicrosoftBob]

It must be getting out of control where I know someone paid nearly 600k for an ex council house in Hemel

[ELBBUBKUNPS]

They say a crash is imminent when all you can see is cranes and bull dozers.

When I go near central london all I can see if massive amounts of construction, its fairly ominous that a big bad crash is not far away.

Hope not I'm just about to complete, stamp duty is shocking.

[fullyautomatix]

They say a crash is imminent when all you can see is cranes and bull dozers.

When I go near central london all I can see if massive amounts of construction, its fairly ominous that a big bad crash is not far away.

[barrydidit]

To be fair and I don't live far from either of them, for the price of a decent London property you could buy ALL of Bradford and Keighley and have a fair bit of change left over.

And you'd have most of a working Islamic state. I wonder why ISIL don't just do that?

[BrilloPad]

Bedroom for rent complete with cooker, fridge and saucepans - Telegraph

HTH

[TykeMerc]

You have been terribly misinformed. I'd rather buy something in Bradford or Keighley, TBH.

To be fair and I don't live far from either of them, for the price of a decent London property you could buy ALL of Bradford and Keighley and have a fair bit of change left over.

[ChimpMaster]

Are there still areas of London that are fairly central where it still makes sense to buy residential property as an investment?<snip>

London can mean anything within whatever is an acceptable commute for you.

Crossrail is bringing many more areas to within 45 minutes of central London. You can look at areas like Ealing or a little further out (and cheaper) like Hayes, Langley or Slough. Yes some might think they are a little more deprived but a house in Slough is probably a third the price of a flat in Ealing, yet the Crossrail journey will only be around 10 minutes more. So your potential profit is probably better in the outer areas. Reading is a good bet too.

Northern parts of Kent are also going up in value. Think Ebbsfleet station, which has a 17 minute train ride into Kings Cross.

Midlands with the HS2, another contender for biggest price rises over the next 10 years?

Central London itself does not make for a good investment right now. Stories of a city property bubble are rife and development is at a high, so supply will increase and it's entirely possible that overseas investment is at risk, which is the only thing bucking up the prices there. City professionals won't buy £1m standard flats in central London, not when they can buy far grander properties within a 30 minute commute.

The ripple effect is moving outwards.

[tarbera]

Near a cross rail station end might be a good start

[eek]

Are there still areas of London that are fairly central where it still makes sense to buy residential property as an investment?
The prices seem to be sky high, they will probably go up still, but percentage-wise it won't be massive, I think.
Physically speaking you will also end up owning something very tine, most likely on a leasehold.
Still, I'd really love to own something in London, long-term, as I think retiring and enjoying life in London can be very pleasant (unlike working in it, with the commute during rush hour etc) and I'd like to do that if I can afford it...

My parents started their retirement there is a company flat behind Oxford Street. It was great for the 9 months there were they but they were happy to leave afterwards.

The one thing you will miss will be friends as those living nearby are too busy or self important to chat..

[FatLazyContractor]

Still, I'd really love to own something in London, long-term, as I think retiring and enjoying life in London can be very pleasant (unlike working in it, with the commute during rush hour etc) and I'd like to do that if I can afford it...

You have been terribly misinformed. I'd rather buy something in Bradford or Keighley, TBH.

[yasockie]

Are there still areas of London that are fairly central where it still makes sense to buy residential property as an investment?
The prices seem to be sky high, they will probably go up still, but percentage-wise it won't be massive, I think.
Physically speaking you will also end up owning something very tine, most likely on a leasehold.
Still, I'd really love to own something in London, long-term, as I think retiring and enjoying life in London can be very pleasant (unlike working in it, with the commute during rush hour etc) and I'd like to do that if I can afford it...