Property expert names the London Underground lines with surprisingly 'affordable' homes

An estate agent has revealed which London railway lines have along them some of the capital's 'most affordable' homes. Barratt focused on Zones 1 to 6, researching which of the Tube routes can boast the most wallet-friendly house prices.

Experts suggest that some of the most affordable properties can be found along the District and Hammersmith & City lines. On the Overground, the same goes for the newly-named Suffragette line - which runs from Gospel Oak in Camden to Barking Riverside - and the Weaver line - which connects Liverpool Street with Cheshunt, Enfield Town, and Chingford.

The Elizabeth line is also a good bet, Barratt adds, with average prices starting at just over £366,000. In Dagenham East, and nearby Becontree and Dagenham Heathway, which are served by the District line, property prices over the past three years averaged under £350,000, data suggests.

READ MORE:London cinema chain Curzon bought by US private equity giant with 16 sites saved

READ MORE:Man arrested after reports of person carrying knives outside Parliament

All three East London areas get you into Fenchurch Street in less than 50 minutes, Barratt says. The firm adds that Barking and Barking Riverside, which opened in 2022, also offer 'some of the best value property in London', with mean house prices of £358,000.

Barking is 'particularly well-connected', straddling the District, Hammersmith & City and Suffragette lines. A commute to Fenchurch Street from there takes 'just 20 minutes'.

Meanwhile, in North London, adjacent areas Edmonton Green, Southbury and Turkey Street, all sit on the Overground's Weaver line. Here, house prices average approximately £366,000, and include short journey times to major railway stations like King's Cross and St. Pancras. These make them 'make them popular commuter hubs.'

Advice for first-time London buyers

These relatively friendly prices may prove attractive to first-time buyers. An expert at TNHG New Build Mortgage Services, Terry Higgins, has shared some wisdom.

He said: “Broadly speaking, mortgage lenders will lend up to five times your income (if you're buying on your own) or five times your combined household income (if you're buying with somebody else). Generally, you will need a deposit of at least 5 per cent, although there are a few lenders and schemes that will allow a smaller or even no deposit in certain circumstances.

"That said, the bigger your deposit, the wider your choice of mortgage products. Plus, it will bring down your mortgage interest rate - and therefore your monthly payments.

“A good mortgage broker will do all the leg work for you, including helping you understand how much you can borrow. Strict rules govern lenders and prevent you from borrowing more than you can afford.

“But you also have to be comfortable with the repayments. It's a good idea to sit down with a recent bank statement and look at your monthly ingoings and outgoings. This will give you an idea of your monthly affordability.”