The FTB club

Wickedkitten

Xinpei wrote: »

SwissLe, that sounds like an absolute cracking buy! I would have loved an apartment myself but hubby is keen biker so we need a garage..

Ha, we needed a house with a garage for the exact same reason! He's already looking around for his second bike now as well.

elj2287

Thanks Xinpei, I think it has been on for a couple of months now. This is the second estate agents the vendor has been with due to the first one being a bit pants and not communicating with them. They have told us they were advised to put it at 145k but decided to go lower it to create interest so they could sell it quicker.

I am really impatient, hence why my OH is doing all the bargining!! We are constantly looking so I guess that takes our minds off this one plus from previous experience we felt it was wise to keep looking. Over Christmas we found a really nice property we both fell for and after making a few offers someone else got in there just that bit higher and the vendor accepted. At the time we were gutted but in hindsight we are so glad!!

TopKat*1

I feel alot of people dont give us FTB's enough credit, I have been watching the property market for well over a year as we have been waiting for prices to come down, I ve also done my homework on mortgages, and I know that estate agents are not to be trusted. My point being if your a FTB have seen a nice house at a nice price (you may have to haggle a bit for this), have a tidy deposit so you can get a decent mortgage its a pretty tidy time to buy (only in my humble opinion). But beware there are still a number of sellers who wont/cant budge on price.

SwissLe

Wickedkitten wrote: »

Ha, we needed a house with a garage for the exact same reason! He's already looking around for his second bike now as well.

hehe I love living in an apartment as everything is taken care of. I don't have to mow the lawn, perform DIY on the roof, worry about security so much. I spend quite a large amount of time travelling round and outside the country so the apartment can be empty for quite some time.

I also have two bikes, one push , but it's stored in our work secure compound and brought out on the weekend for a polish! The push bike will live in the secure underground car park at the new place - not that I am planning or anything like that

I think it's natural to have the '25 years debt' feelings, but it's not as in stone as all that. I happen to be quite confident with my purchase price and it going up within 10 years. I'll have the saving on the rent for now thanks, especially the annoying rental inspections and the fact you can't really make the place your own when it comes to decoration.

I have a sizable deposit so I also managed to get a good rate. Getting accepted wasn't any issue, it all sailed through. Let's hope they haven't saved the problems for the end. I so can't wait, these last two weeks have seemed like months but are actually flying by - if that makes any sense!

I think we should all post pictures of our first time bought houses when we get them

:j

TopKat*1

here here swissle i hope it all goes well for you

Wickedkitten

SwissLe wrote: »

hehe I love living in an apartment as everything is taken care of. I don't have to mow the lawn, perform DIY on the roof, worry about security so much. I spend quite a large amount of time travelling round and outside the country so the apartment can be empty for quite some time.

I also have two bikes, one push , but it's stored in our work secure compound and brought out on the weekend for a polish! The push bike will live in the secure underground car park at the new place - not that I am planning or anything like that

I think it's natural to have the '25 years debt' feelings, but it's not as in stone as all that. I happen to be quite confident with my purchase price and it going up within 10 years. I'll have the saving on the rent for now thanks, especially the annoying rental inspections and the fact you can't really make the place your own when it comes to decoration.

I have a sizable deposit so I also managed to get a good rate. Getting accepted wasn't any issue, it all sailed through. Let's hope they haven't saved the problems for the end. I so can't wait, these last two weeks have seemed like months but are actually flying by - if that makes any sense!

I think we should all post pictures of our first time bought houses when we get them

:j

We have been living for the past 14 months with a push bike in our bedroom because him indoors told me when we got moved down here to make sure the movers took the bike out from the rest of the stuff that was going into storage so he could ride it to work. He never has actually taken the bike to work because one month after we got here he cracked and bought a Thundercat. I cannot wait until we can actually move it into the garage.

Our rented flat is already small enough compared to our old house and our bedroom is half the size, most of which is being taken up by a bike and moving boxes because we were only actually meant to be here for about 3 months and then house prices started falling.


I agree with you though, we are buying right now with a sizable deposit and are planning on making our house a home rather than an investment I've actually been watching the property market down here since well back in August of 2007 when we were still livjng up in Scarborough and done my research and now that we are getting a damned good deal.


I just can't wait until we finally get the keys.

Xinpei

Oh scarborough is nice. We got married in Ravenscar in sep last year!

I wish I can be as confident about the price we're getting our house at. Looking at some price sites, the price we're paying looks about 2005 prices? Do you reckon that is low enough? We can afford it comfortably but the risk of negative equity still nags at me majorly. We have a 15% deposit, so not massive, not teeny either?

TopKat, like you, we've been looking to buy for some time but I don't feel any more sure of myself! Maybe I just need to relax and take it easy.. I like to think....... in my own little ideal world (so don't jump on me just yet!)..... that all of us buying are buying at a goodish time, better than two years ago, prices creeps up just so slightly over the next few months (bless Halifax) or at least not majorly fall too much (like 20% in 2009.. touchwood..). I dont want to make money on the house, just want it not to fall so much in value that we might have trouble remortgaging.. like I said, just in my world perhaps!

Just rang solicitor up and they said the other side wants to complete next friday!!!! WOW... Ikea here we come!

TopKat*1

Xinpei, i agree when i started looking a house like i am hoping to purchase would have cost well over 190k at least, and I am buying for 145k. I have checked out the whole street on house prices to see what they all paid for theirs and in what years and I still believe its a good deal (i believe it will be valued over 145k). I also put 15% deposit down and managed to get an ok rate. I have been watching mortgage rates for months and months and even though the BOE rate is 1% banks are never going to offer these to first time buyers so if you can get a rate under 5% like myself I think you are doing well.

sacol4940

TopKat*1 wrote: »

Xinpei, i agree when i started looking a house like i am hoping to purchase would have cost well over 190k at least, and I am buying for 145k. I have checked out the whole street on house prices to see what they all paid for theirs and in what years and I still believe its a good deal (i believe it will be valued over 145k). I also put 15% deposit down and managed to get an ok rate. I have been watching mortgage rates for months and months and even though the BOE rate is 1% banks are never going to offer these to first time buyers so if you can get a rate under 5% like myself I think you are doing well.

where did you find your rate under 5% please?

TopKat*1

its with the yorkshire 4.99 fixed for 2 years with an offset facility (but u dont have to use this) I searched and searched and this was the best deal i could get with a 15% deposit, although in England the cambridge does a deal similar but I live in Wales so doesnt apply