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These are the best postcodes in and around London to buy in if you’re a first-time buyer

Certain locations are magnets for home buyers looking to get on to the ladder. Price has a lot to do with it, of course.

But factors such as connectivity and availability of schemes that boost affordability — such as Help to Buy and shared ownership — also come into play.

Estate agent Hamptons has crunched the numbers exclusively for Metro to find out which postcodes in and around London had the highest proportion of sales to first-time buyers last year — and you might be surprised.

‘Typically these are more affordable parts of outer London, but first-time buyers remain reluctant to cross the M25,’ says David Fell, senior analyst at Hamptons. ‘Despite the costs of buying in the capital, first-time buyers tend to look for bustle rather than scenery.’

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If you want to live near like-minded people and use an affordable home ownership scheme, these are the areas — and the developments — to consider.

Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6

 An aerial view of the now closed EastEnders Set at the BBC Elstree studios in Hertfordshire. All production at the studios has stopped during the Coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus outbreak, Elstree, UK - 18 Mar 2020
Borehamwood is home to the famous Elstree Studios (Picture: LNP/REX/Shutterstock)

One for movie buffs, Borehamwood is known as the home of British film and TV, and everything from Star Wars to Strictly has been shot in the town’s Elstree Studios.

Along with the prospect of spotting an A-lister, the fast and frequent Thameslink trains are a big draw — it’s only 20 minutes to King’s Cross St Pancras. Plus, it’s convenient for the A1 and M1.

First home: Franklin Court, from £92,500 for 25% of a £370,000 flat

Borehamwood, Franklin Court
Swish shared ownership flats are available at Franklin Court (Picture: Matt Lively)

Round the corner from the high street, the final few shared ownership apartments here all have two bedrooms and open-plan living spaces.

Reserve now and you’ll receive either £1,000 towards legal fees or a shopping voucher of the same value. yourpersonahome.com

Ebbsfleet, Kent, DA10

Bluewater
Bluewater’s a bit better than your average local shopping centre (Picture: Getty Images)

This new garden city is well worth crossing the M25 for, as you get a lot of home for your money and a superfast commute of just 18 minutes to St Pancras International, while Bluewater is on the doorstep for shops galore.

You’ll be in good company — first-time buyers accounted for more than 70% of sales last year.

First home: Ashmere, from £317,500

Ebbsfleet, Ashmere. Ebbsfleet, Kent DA10 This new garden city is well worth crossing the M25 for, as you get a lot of home for your money and a superfast commute of just 18 minutes to St Pancras International, while Bluewater is on the doorstep for shops galore. You?ll be in good company ? first-time buyers accounted for more than 70 per cent of sales last year. First home: Ashmere, from ?317,500 Demand here is high. In the current phase only a pair of two-bedroom flats remain, both available with Help to Buy, plus two three-bedroom houses. A new phase is set to launch later this year and electric car charging points are on-site. countrysideproperties.com
Only a few homes left at this desirable development (Picture: F10 Studios)

Demand here is high. In the current phase only a pair of two-bedroom flats remain, both available with Help to Buy, plus two three-bedroom houses.

A new phase is set to launch later this year and electric car charging points are on-site. countrysideproperties.com

Finchley, London, N3

Aerial view east of Finchley Road London Underground station and London Overground, Thameslink
Bustling Finchley is known for its great schools and family atmosphere (Picture: Getty Images)

Cosmopolitan and community-minded, this area is increasingly popular with young professionals who often stay local after starting families, as the schools are so good.

Other attractions include a wide range of indie cafés and restaurants, an entertainment complex incorporating a cinema, bowling and leisure centre, the much-loved park and a swift and easy commute on the Northern line.

First home: Edgewood Mews, from £133,750 for a 25% share of a £535,000 flat

Finchley - Edgewood Mews
Homes at this funky looking development are available with shared ownership (Picture: Your Personal Home)

Each of these two-bedroom shared ownership apartments has its own private entrance, a balcony or terrace, fully fitted kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the rooms with light.

The service charge is low and Finchley Central station is less than a mile away from the development. yourpersonahome.com

Watford, WD17

View of the intu shopping centre in Watford. Intu Properties entered administration on 26th June 2020.
Watford’s got everything you could possibly need — plus great transport links (Picture: Getty Images)

A lively, large Hertfordshire town with lots to do including indoor climbing, crazy golf and an Escape Room, along with a cinema, bowling and dozens of pubs and bars.

It boasts award-winning parks, superb transport links — it’s on the M1 and A41 and has the Tube, Overground and mainline trains — and excellent schools. A total of 14,000 new homes are in the pipeline.

First home: The Arches, prices from £295,000

Watford, The Arches
Flats at The Arches have plenty of mod cons (Picture: St William)

Just a short walk from Bushey and Watford High Street stations and the Atria Watford shopping centre, these 92 studio, one and two-bedroom apartments with private outside space are kitted out with stone worktops, Bosch appliances and USB sockets, and Help to Buy is offered on some. thearcheswatford.co.uk

Harrow, HA1 & HA3

St Mary's Church, Harrow
Harrow is one of London’s largest suburbs (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

These two postcodes cover most of Harrow, the large and diverse London suburb renowned for its public school.

Only 15 minutes from Zone 1 by Tube or train, there are two indoor malls in the town centre and plenty of parks and places to eat and drink. More than 1,500 homes are set to be built in Wealdstone, to the north.

First home: Eastman Village, HA1, from £296,000

Eastman Village, HA1, from £296,000
Try one of these smaller homes for size

Barratt chose this scheme to launch its revolutionary SMRT flats, space-saving, compact one and two-bedroom homes with a smaller footprint reflected in their lower price tag. Help to Buy launches on January 29. barratthomes.co.uk

Deptford, London, SE8

Redeveloped Deptford Station Carriage Ramp, London United, Kingdom
Arty Deptford is a cheaper alternative to nearby Greenwich (Picture: Getty Images)

This arty, creative district is giving Greenwich a run for its money, offering independent bars, eateries and other businesses in Deptford Market Yard, plus some of London’s best street art, pocket parks and riverside walks.

And it’s only one stop by train from London Bridge.

First home: L&Q at Deptford Landings, from £125,250 for 25% of an apartment priced £501,000

** FOR INFORMATION ON THIS IMAGE PLEASE CONTACT THE METRO PICTURE DESK**
Access to the park and communal gardens make this development perfect for pet owners (Picture: L&Q)

Two and three-bedroom shared ownership flats in a pet-friendly environment are conveniently positioned next to Deptford Park and a short walk from the Thames.

All the homes have a private balcony or terrace, and access to residents’ communal gardens. lqhomes.com

Colindale, London, NW9

Aerial photography view west of Colindale, London. NW9, UK.
Colindale is an up-and-coming area (Picture: Getty Images)

Excellent amenities and affordable prices are two very good reasons why this rapidly regenerating pocket of north-west London is so sought after.

Gyms, supermarkets and an authentic Asian food hall are all within walking distance, Brent Cross is down the road and Bank is only half-an-hour away by Tube, or you can jump on a Thameslink train at Hendon station.

First home: Colindale Gardens, from £385,000

Colindale, London NW9 Excellent amenities and affordable prices are two very good reasons why this rapidly regenerating pocket of north-west London is so sought after. Gyms, supermarkets and an authentic Asian food hall are all within walking distance, Brent Cross is down the road and Bank is only half-an-hour away by Tube, or you can jump on a Thameslink train at Hendon station. First home: Colindale Gardens, from ?385,000 Help to Buy is available on selected one and two-bedroom flats at Redrow?s flagship development on the site of the former Metropolitan Police training centre. A fifth of the 47-acre site is allocated to open space, and every home has a terrace or balcony. colindalegardens.co.uk
The Metropolitan Police training centre has been transformed into this green development (Picture: Colindale Gardens)

Help to Buy is available on selected one and two-bedroom flats at Redrow’s flagship development on the site of the former Metropolitan Police training centre.

A fifth of the 47-acre site is allocated to open space, and every home has a terrace or balcony. colindalegardens.co.uk

Carshalton, SM5

Carshalton Ponds, London
Carshalton Ponds is a lovely place for a relaxing walk (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The perfect location if proximity to green space is a priority, as this south London town offers two lovely parks, walking and cycle routes along the River Wandle and an ecology trail.

It has independent cafés and decent pubs, including The Greyhound which overlooks historic Carshalton Ponds. The commute’s easy, with trains to London Bridge, Victoria and Blackfriars.

First home: The Lodge, £460,000

Carshalton SM5 The perfect location if proximity to green space is a priority, as this south London town offers two lovely parks, walking and cycle routes along the River Wandle and an ecology trail. It has independent caf?s and decent pubs, including The Greyhound which overlooks historic Carshalton Ponds. The commute?s easy, with trains to London Bridge, Victoria and Blackfriars. First home: The Lodge, ?460,000 An elegant 19th-century red-brick building in the grounds of Sutton Ecology Centre has been converted into contemporary flats that retain some original features. Only a couple of spacious two-bedroom homes remain, priced ?460,000 each. Both have parking spaces and are available with Help to Buy. foxtons.co.uk
Contemporary flats in a grand period building (Picture: Foxtons)

An elegant 19th-century red-brick building in the grounds of Sutton Ecology Centre has been converted into contemporary flats that retain some original features.

Only a couple of spacious two-bedroom homes remain, priced £460,000 each. Both have parking spaces and are available with Help to Buy. foxtons.co.uk

Ruislip, HA4

Ruislip Lido
Londoners flock to Ruislip Lido in summer (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Last year, 80% of properties sold in this leafy part of west London went to first-time buyers.

The transport links are part of its appeal — it has five Tube stations across the Central, Piccadilly and Metropolitan lines — and there are lovely green spaces to enjoy. Among them is Ruislip Woods, a nature reserve with its very own sandy beach at Ruislip Lido.

First home: Lancaster Square, from £359,950

First home: Lancaster Square, from £359,950
Roomy apartments ideal for commuters (Picture: Taylor Wimpey)

Only a two-minute walk from South Ruislip station, these one, two and three-bedroom apartments are larger than average, and each includes a balcony or terrace and allocated parking space. Some are available with Help to Buy. taylorwimpey.co.uk

Chingford, E4

Chingford in London, UK
Chingford is easy to find on the Overground (Picture: Getty Images)

Chingford is one of east London’s best-kept secrets and set to benefit from the ripple effect of having trendy Walthamstow, across the North Circular, as its neighbour.

It’s on the edge of Epping Forest but only a ten-minute drive from the M11 and M25, and although there’s no Tube, the Overground gets you into Liverpool Street in less than half an hour.

First home: Station Road, from £425,000

Chingford, Station Rd Chingford, E4 Chingford is one of east London?s best-kept secrets and set to benefit from the ripple effect of having trendy Walthamstow, across the North Circular, as its neighbour. It?s on the edge of Epping Forest but only a ten-minute drive from the M11 and M25, and although there?s no Tube, the Overground gets you into Liverpool Street in less than half an hour. First home: Station Road, from ?425,000 One and two-bedroom apartments in a low-rise building with many eco-friendly features, including air source heat pumps, solar panels, rainwater reclamation and air source heat recovery systems. All come with a balcony or terrace, and Help to Buy is on offer. martinco.com
Get Help To Buy on an eco-freindly home (Picture: Martin & Co)

One and two-bedroom apartments in a low-rise building with many eco-friendly features, including air source heat pumps, solar panels, rainwater reclamation and air source heat recovery systems.

All come with a balcony or terrace, and Help to Buy is on offer. martinco.com

 

https://metro.co.uk/2022/01/18/here-are-the-best-postcodes-in-and-around-london-for-first-time-buyers-15935645/

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