Now after reading so much, so much, piffle, on this sad site and this forum I have decided to reply to this post as it mentions certain areas I am familiar with. Firstly, the impression I got browsing in here and reading a while was that this site emulated some end of the world (millenium-i think they are called) cults, and exists for the same sad reasons. Where people have lost all hope and pray for disaster, looking at it as divine retribution and saviour at the same time. Very sad. All reality is lost ye who enter here. Now for some facts and sense...
Any hoped for crash is simply not going to happen. If it dips at all it could do so some time before or just after the olympics, but not in the near future. A dip is not a crash. London especially will never crash. The world has moved on alot from the early nineties. Global forces and the mechanics of society and economics have speeded up and changed to the extent where London can only ever go up now. Crashes are long gone, a thing of the past. You can't keep reading old newspapers, we are in a different universe today.
The so-called 'dumps' you mention above are below the other areas mentioned but cannot be compared like for like. Firstly South London is not South East London, a distinctive area in it's own right. South London is a dump in general, like everywhere north of the river too. People only live there for convenience. South West London (eg richmond etc) is a different matter and probably the best place to live in London, however prices are through the roof. South East London is similar to the south west in so far as they are distinctive areas in their own right, unlike the rest of London. They have their own characters separate from the rest. However in south east london unlike the south west prices are very reasonable for the proximity to London. South west London is also a bit snotty and not on a level, like the south east.
Lewisham isn't that bad, quite vibrant if a bit grimy and 'ethnic' as they like to say. But that isn't bad in its own right. It is not like an 'ethnic' or 'vibrant' area in other parts of London say Hackney. Thats appalling. Lewisham is much more relaxed and tame in reality. Next to the beautiful Blackheath and interesting touristy Greenwich. Two beautiful places. It is civilised by it's surroundings. Everything in se london fits together and has a good atmosphere. However I wouldnt live there. Greenwich as mentioned is up and coming. Charlton is almost perfect as it retains a village feel and is close to everything, central london, docklands or the countryside. Eltham is a bit out of it and doesnt really have a good vibe, but lots of shops.
Moving further down the river woolwich and plumstead are dumps, but still on a level. Thamesmead can be quite smart in areas and isnt too bad on the whole. Erith is being redevolped and is up and coming. Crayford isnt that bad either. Its not got the London problems and is almost like a regional town but in London, if on the outskirts. It is still slightly naive and not so street wise as other areas. It's looks are misleading but still this is another up and coming area along with dartford. They are 20 mins from Greenwich and very close to Bluewater, M25 and the countryside. Perfect. Bexley is also the cheapest borough in London to invest in. It is underrated and undervalued. These are great areas to invest in, still. Ironically Bexley village is overrated and overvalued. Orpington is a dump and not worth the time of day. Chiselhurst is nice but not worth the prices. Bromley is nice in some respects but not as good as areas closer to the thames for investing. It is overpriced and overrated. Ok it has shops etc.. but london is just up the road anyway. Actually it is a bit out of it for my liking and I wouldnt invest there. In fact the places you called dumps are the best to live and invest in the ones you liked are not. You misread the book, in fact you dont read it at all you just look at the covers, wrong.
