I looked at my first flat yesterday.

Today I took it.

Yes, it really was *that* easy. But I think sometimes you just know. It’s a little further out than I planned, but the walk to the station is gorgeous (up through the park) and it’s on a safe, quiet road that’s a million miles from the loud, dodgy ghetto I currently live in.

Having finally knuckled down to the search, I’ve quickly discovered that things haven’t changed. Letting agents are still advertising cheap properties long after they’ve been taken in order to reel you in, then wowing you with better ones that are over budget, whacking on ridiculous fees afterward to put you in even more debt. Seriously, the fees on this place are more than the entire deposit I paid for the place I’m in now. Good thing I have savings because I’m going to need them next month!

What I learned yesterday is that trying to find a one bed flat in Crystal Palace at the moment is a bit like trying to get tickets to the Christopher Kane show at London Fashion Week (read: bloody difficult). Places are being snapped up within hours of going on the market, and as a result, rents are being bumped up (seriously, I saw one guy add twenty five quid to the rent right in front of me). After I’d seen my flat, I looked at another place that was much closer to the station, and that sealed the deal for me. It was the same price but in a whole other league of awfulness. The kitchen made me want to kill myself. The thought of looking at dozens more like that for the sake of a five minute walk really didn’t appeal, and having seen photos of other places within my budget, it looked like that was the case. I’m a big believer in trusting your gut, and my gut said I’d be happy in the first place.

So, provided the reference checks all go through ok, I will soon move from the wilds of Walthamstow to the leafy, residential suburb that is Anerley. The flat’s a 15 min walk to Crystal Palace if I want to save myself a few quid a month by travelling from zone 3, or very close to Anerley and (eek) Penge West stations as well. The commute will be longer than I’ve done before since it involves trains, but I really don’t mind that. I was determined this time to find a place that felt like home in an area that I can actually spend time in, rather than settling for somewhere cheap, living with strangers and constantly wondering when I can move somewhere better. I think I’ve found that.

Oh, and there’s a dishwasher. Always a good sign!