Affordable family homes within an hour commute of London
An average young couple working and living in London now faces the dilemma that if they want to start a family, can they afford a family home within the capital?
A 3 bedroom house within London now costs an average of £600,000, and couples are being forced out to commuter towns.
Leading online letting agent Mashroom has giving its expert advice for couples wanting to buy an affordable family home within commuting distance of central London. These towns are future property hotspots which are currently receiving large amounts of development investment.
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire and has recently received a number of investments, including the £50 million pound Aylesbury Waterside Theatre project. There are a number of reasonability priced properties in the area plus a large new housing development and train station to the north of the town, Aylesbury Vale. A new large family sized property in this new development can cost as little as £300,000. Aylesbury is also in easy commuting distance of Oxford, Watford and Milton Keynes
Average Cost £232,535 New Family Home £300,000 Commute time into London Marylebone 59mins Transport Cost £437.80 monthly travel card Price change in the last 3 years +9.15%
Didcot
Didcot is 10 miles south of Oxford. Recent investments into the town centre have seen the development of the Orchard Centre which contains a number of well know retailers and restaurants. Didcot Parkway is just a 45 minutes direct train into London Paddington, and with the introduction of Cross Rail from Reading, this will add to the demand in this area. Great Western Park is a large new housing development in walking distance of Didcot Parkway with 3 bedroom properties costing less than £300,000.
Average Cost £288,677 New Family Home £300,000 Commute time into London Paddington 45mins Transport Cost £ 448.60 monthly travel card Price change in the last 3 years +16.33%
Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells is a large town in Kent and has long been a commuting favourite. To the north of the town is a new development named Lakewood. High Brooms Station is just a mile walk with train links into both London Bridge or Charing Cross taking around 45-50 mins. A 4 bedroom semi-detached house here will currently cost you £325,000.
Average Cost £477,572 New Family Home £325,000 Commute time into London Bridge or Charing Cross 45mins Transport Cost £ 470.40 monthly travel card Price change in the last 3 years +15.13%
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town in Essex which is 50 miles outside of London. There are currently plans for a £70million roofed shopping centre in the centre of the town named the Vineyard Gate. A brand new 3 bedroom townhouse just 10 minute walk to the train station is currently around £250,000.
Average Cost £225,789 New Family Home £250,000 Commute time into London Liverpool Street 50mins Transport Cost £551.10 monthly travel card Price change in the last 3 years +10.51%
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is in Hampshire 48 miles southwest of London. Basingstoke also is in easy commuting of Reading, Oxford & Southampton. A 3 bed family home within the town centre can cost as little as £299,950 here.
Average Cost £311,022 Family Home £299,950 Commute time into London Waterloo or Paddington 55mins Transport Cost £391.30 monthly travel card Price change in the last 3 years +14.27%
