With an average home costing £525,775, Brockley is one of south east London’s first-time buyer hotspots.
Next door to buzzing Peckham and bohemian New Cross, Brockley is quiet, leafy and has a handful of quirky pubs, cafes and restaurants.
It also boasts one of the best views in London from the top of Telegraph Hill – what’s not to like?
The next in our south east London line-up is edgy Deptford. The average property price here stands at £438,418.
Deptford’s riverside location, eclectic high street and easy transport connections make it one of the best London areas for first-time buyers.
It’s famous for its vibrant street market – open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays – where you’ll find everything from second-hand clothes and bric-a-brac to ageing toys and VHS tapes.
With properties valued at an average of £382,098, Forest Gate is one of the best London areas for first-time buyers on a budget.
It’s a stone’s throw from picturesque Wanstead Flats, and has something of a musical pedigree – the Upper Cut Club, once on Woodgrange Road, hosted the likes of The Who, Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd and Otis Redding in its day.
With the imminent arrival of Crossrail, property prices in Forest Gate are set to rise – so now’s a great time to invest.
With properties costing an average of £467,235, Lewisham offers considerably better value than the London average of £599,921.
The area has seen extensive regeneration in recent years, and is currently undergoing a big overhaul.
With a bustling town centre and great transport links into central London, it’s one of south east London’s newest up-and-coming spots.
Leyton is an unpretentious east-end outpost with a strong sense of community. If you like getting to know your neighbours, it could be the area for you.
The average property price in Leyton is £442,797, a cool 26.2% lower than the London average.
The local council has given Leyton’s main streets some TLC in the last few years, with brightly painted upper storeys giving them a cheerful look. Hip new bars and eateries add to the area’s charm.
Properties go for an average of £360,732 in Plaistow, making it much more purse-friendly than most of London.
With a number of outstanding schools, it’s a great area for first-time buyers with families, or those who are thinking about having children.
It’s on the District and the Hammersmith and City lines, making it quick to get into central London, and is in easy reach of Westfield shopping centre in Stratford.
Walthamstow is a historical haven at the end of the Victoria line with an average property price of £478,953 – an affordable 20.2% below the London average.
It’s home to some beautiful period buildings, with properties mainly made up of Victorian and Edwardian terraces.
It’s close to leafy Epping Forest, and has a spirited mix of bars, restaurants, shops and galleries, making it perfect for first-time buyers who like things a little livelier.
We hope our guide to the best London areas for first-time buyers has helped you decide where you might like to live.
Whilst it’s no secret that affording your first home in London is tough, it’s well worth it in the long run and there are a number of schemes available to first-time buyers to help you achieve it.
If you’re totally new to the city, check out this comprehensive guide to moving to London, with useful tips for living, working and getting around London.
And if you’d like to know more about buying your first home or any of the areas above, get in touch with us today – our dedicated agents are always happy to help.