The FTB club

kibs88

Congrats to you!

Gosh 20 weeks that is a long time, I know the feeling, I can't remember what ours looks like ha! But i'm sure that you will still love it!

Ah yes, on here you hear all the time about solicitors holding things up etc but at least the end is now in sight.

Let us know how the move goes!

mistrihelen

kibs88 wrote: »

I wish ours said that, but as its a repo, untill the contracts are actually exchanged they don't even put a sold sign up, im hoping they will put one up just so i can have a photo of it lol (ftb excitement going into overdrive)!!

Same here - I'm terrified of gazumping but I think the vendors are keen to get rid of it as soon as poss so hopefully the EA isn't showing too many/any people round.

Good luck to everyone waiting

Aaron00

Hi all, I am a FTB and am currently in the process of exchanging contracts. So far it has been quite painless! One thing that has surprised me is the ease with which me and my GF were offered a mortgage, I was very worried about the credit check but it turns out I had nothing to worry about. We have a 16% deposit on £174,500 and Nationwide were very helpful in everything that they did. I could probably have got a better deal elsewhere but my parents have used Nationwide as a mortgage lender on several occasions and swear by them, so I followed their advice. I can't wait to move from my 2 bed flat into a house with a garden! I shall be eating BBQ's every lunch and supper time!

DFCClarky

I'm also a FTB going through the exchanging process - it's been weeks and I've still not exchanged (wrong deed of transfer forms sent out, incorrectly spelled contracts, struggling to even speak to the solicitor, and when I do it seems like I'm being palmed off with excuses). Any tips for someone who hasn't slept properly in the last 4 weeks???

kibs88

Just keep you fingers and toes crossed and keep hounding your solicitor, I know how you feel it seems as though the only time they do something is when you keep pestering them to get on the case.

Well we transfered our deposit yesterday lunch time and so should hopefully exchange today....god knows when.....so I am now sat by the phone and the internet! Does not help that she has been dealing with my partner as all in his name but he has lost his mobile so can't be contacted.........it all happens at once lol

Good luck everyone!!!

kibs88

Well just spoke to our FA..............so annoying!!!

My solicitor wants confirmation in writing from the lender that the valuation still stands regardless of the coal report.......but the lender dont normally do this, so she has done nothing since friday!!!!!

Lender is going to send an email to her with confirmation, by the end of the day.

-BUT-

Apparently the otherside have sent off some enquiries which haven't come back yet regarding boundaries and roads etc. so even if lender does email solicitor today we probably wont exchange!!!

I am losing all hope in this system.

Patmoore

Tell you what has been key for me, getting in a ruddy good LOCAL solicitor. I ensured I got a partner in the firm and local so I could go and see him if I needed to.

His words to me before I hired him were, "We're not the cheapest but we're committed and you won't get a better service"

His quote was ~£200 more than anyone else and was totally worth it.

I chased up all sorts of people, had numbers of surveyors, people within the bank, middle men/women, EAs, list of a bout 12 people involved even if for 1 sentence. Very particular I know but striking up a rapport, I'm convinced helped go from offer to exchange in 30 days.

DFCClarky

I must admit, if I could do this all again, I wouldn't go with the solicitor the Halifax offered me.

Saying that though, the Halifax's mortgage advisor has been truly wonderful in all of this. I felt completely unsafe in what was going on, and unsettle - spoke to the MA who, within an hour, called me back having spoken to the solicitors and will be working with me to get this sorted. She's been an absolute godsend in all of this and willing to talk through anything on there, and to get in peoples ears about different situations.

kibs88

My FA has been amazing....if it wasn't for her I wouldn't have a clue what was going on...we signed up with her when we were looking for houses with W H Browns and even though we are not buying through them she has certainly been worth the money!

She chases the solicitor every three days and if it wasn't for her I would have given up a long time ago, I don't know why it takes 3 different people speaking to the solicitor for her to get everything done.

I can't wait for this to be over with!

homehunter

Aaron00 wrote: »

Hi all, I am a FTB and am currently in the process of exchanging contracts. So far it has been quite painless! One thing that has surprised me is the ease with which me and my GF were offered a mortgage, I was very worried about the credit check but it turns out I had nothing to worry about. We have a 16% deposit on £174,500 and Nationwide were very helpful in everything that they did. I could probably have got a better deal elsewhere but my parents have used Nationwide as a mortgage lender on several occasions and swear by them, so I followed their advice. I can't wait to move from my 2 bed flat into a house with a garden! I shall be eating BBQ's every lunch and supper time!

I looked at Nationwide - their rates on anything above 75%LTV are quite high aren't they? Did you get a good deal then? We're actually wannabe FTBs who are flexaccount holders with Nationwide, and I think we are pretty darn reliable customers too
You seem to be going for a house at just the same price as the one we've just spotted, but without a min 25% deposit (a good £43-44k!) it all seems like a bit of a pipe dream....

If anyone knows of good 80% or 85% LTV deals out there I'd very interested to hear...:o