Choose carefully when you search for property in London

When it comes to buying property in London, the number of choices available to you can be overwhelming. It's easy to get carried away when looking for your ideal home in Britain's most exciting city. However, it's important to be realistic: with the average cost of a London property now reaching over £300,000, you need to be sensible when it comes to your London property search in order to find the home that will best suit you and your budget.

First and foremost, you'll need to determine how much you can actually afford to spend as this can really affect your search. Typically, property in Central London is the most expensive, with the price of a single bedroom flat often in excess of £200,000. However, as you move further away from the city centre, London properties tend to become less expensive, with property in East London typically costing less than properties for sale in North London (although the 2012 Olympics may alter this pattern). So, if staying within your budget is your primary concern, then excluding central London from your thoughts should help narrow your search.

However, while location is of considerable importance, it's also crucial to figure out what you're looking for when it comes to your ideal home, and to make these desires fit in realistically within your property search. After all, there's no point looking at property if it doesn't fulfil any of your requirements!

Even if your individual budget is quite restricted, you'll be able to find a city centre property that meets your requirements and suits your finances if you're able to pool resources. If you're buying with your spouse or partner, for example, a one-bedroom property in Chelsea may become more affordable.

What's more, if you feel the need to live where the action is, why not opt for a house in East London where property prices still remain lower than many other areas of the city. With the 2012 Olympics looming near, the area is soon to be the hub of regeneration and will be the area to which all eyes will turn come the Olympic tournament. As a result, investing in an East London property today may reap a number of benefits in the future.

On the other hand, if one of your chief desires when searching for a property in London is a garden, or a multiple-bedroom property to house your large family, then searching for a house further outside the city centre is a more realistic expectation.
Where ever you choose to look for your ideal home in London, make sure you keep your budget in mind without compromising on your desires and requirements.

Andrew Regan is a freelance online journalist who enjoys travelling and rugby.