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.’
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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 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
