Owning your own home

Croydon in general isn't great, but there are some nicer bits, south Croydon isn't too bad and Purley is nice. Upper Norwood/ Crystal Palace is much better to (at least I hope so as i've just bought a flat there myself).

Those to ones you quoted: I'd look round the areas themselves. The first one is very close to the fly-over, so i'd see if the traffic noise would bother you.

The second one you might want to be look at the area on a windy day, I cycle through that area every day and there is a sewage plant not too far away and sometimes the smell can travel

Blimey. You're really selling it to me.