The FTB club

Xinpei

elj2287 wrote: »

Just to update...
We didn't have to ask in the end :T wahoo!! Just waiting for OH to call after he has spoken to EA. Fingers crossed

oh that is brilliant! Does this mean the offer has been accepted at 127K??

Xinpei

Moldy wrote: »

Hi all,

My fiancee and I are first time buyers, we're currently torn between an extended 2 bed terrace in a great area (130k), a 3 bed semi with about 10-15k of work needed in an ok area (120k) and a 4 bed semi new build we saw yesterday that I'm negotiating with the agent for (currently at 140k). You can read about the negotiations here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=18987043#post18987043.

We're pretty much completely torn between the three, there are pros and cons for each. We're looking for a home for the next 5-10 years and are concerned about resale value (particularly with the new build). Any advice greatly appreciated.

Rob

p.s. The new build is finished and there are only 4/5 homes still being built on the development. The rest of the homes are complete and occupied.

Hi, when we were looking, we also knew we wanted somewhere for a long ish time. Are you planning to have children? if you are, a 3 or 4 bed could be more practical for space? And you also need to know your children will be safe in a good area with schools nearby.

All the best with your negotiations on the new built!

elj2287

An offer of 128k was accepted which we can afford!! :T :T So it's all systems go! So exciting, though being cautious and taking one step at a time. I'm sure my younger sister will be just as happy as now she will be out of the box room! I just hope she hasn't been too hasty and I go home to find a suitcase packed for me :P

nementai

Congrats to everyone who's doing well - this thread is a little oasis of cheer! :j
We had our offer accepted on Wednesday, it's very low and we're happy it'll do us for 8-10 years happily.
We passed the financial checks with C+G yesterday (only to find their rate went up .3% the night before :mad: ) and they say that if they can get their valuer in, the paperwork should all be done within 10 working days! Plus, it's all done in branch. Very happy with their service.
So we have a ferocious solicitor on our case, and a surveyor ready to go.
All we have to do now is kick the a!!! of the useless EA who's sent through the particulars with several mistakes on it!
The thing that is going to take the time for us are the searches. I'm guessing 8 weeks ish? I never realised how long the process could take before we started down this path. It's amazing how much I've learnt.
I'm something of an expert in decreasing mortgage assurance policies now
Good luck to all those still offering, here's to our new lives :beer:

ps. anyone else here mad enough to be doing other new/firsts this year?
I've just got a new job, and we're getting married in August. Stressed? You could say that...

hostman

nementai wrote: »

ps. anyone else here mad enough to be doing other new/firsts this year?
I've just got a new job, and we're getting married in August. Stressed? You could say that...

Relocating to Manchester from Luton for job purposes.

Last year we had our first baby and bought our first house.

Xinpei

nementai wrote: »

The thing that is going to take the time for us are the searches. I'm guessing 8 weeks ish? I never realised how long the process could take before we started down this path. It's amazing how much I've learnt.

My solicitor (and i guess most do) stated 6 to 8 weeks for the searches. But when mine heard the seller wanted to proceed next Friday, everything just miraculously got finished overnight! From them receiving the memorandam of sale till completing the searches - 3 weeks. An very happy with them thus far. Just need to find out which fences in the rear garden are mine to look after - the deeds were not clear at all!

Good luck with your house buying!

SwissLe

It all depends how quickly people want things done, if you apply pressure and have no complications it can all be done in 3 weeks. This includes mortgage application, survey and searches. As we have to complete by the end of the week I looked into how long the searches take. The government have targets for local councils to do them within 10 days and in most cases they do it in less. You can check on their websites to see normally. In some cases I have also read that solicitors have paid a fee and gone to collect the searches within 24hours. I am off to see my solicitor tommorow so I should have a completion day by then

Jinky67_2

Thought id join the thread...


Currently saving or a deposit with the OH....only got just over £2000 saved at the moment, and we would be looking for £8-9k for a 10% deposit.

I could probably save a lot more than she could, at the moment we deposit equal sums into the savings account per month....the ampunt we deposit is her affordable limit...i could possibly double my contribution every so often, which i would ike to do, but she doesnt want me too as then we have not put an equal share into the deposit fund so technically "id own more of the house than her".

Anyone else in that situation?

Xinpei

Jinky67 wrote: »

Thought id join the thread...


Currently saving or a deposit with the OH....only got just over £2000 saved at the moment, and we would be looking for £8-9k for a 10% deposit.

I could probably save a lot more than she could, at the moment we deposit equal sums into the savings account per month....the ampunt we deposit is her affordable limit...i could possibly double my contribution every so often, which i would ike to do, but she doesnt want me too as then we have not put an equal share into the deposit fund so technically "id own more of the house than her".

Anyone else in that situation?

Welcome to the thread Jinky.. Saving is the tedious part! OH and me also had savings account together but always put uneven parts into it as we make different amounts! But we never had a problem with it.:beer:

Am making a checklist in my head on who to call when we get the keys next friday! May be useful to anyone else and feel free to add to this list!

On the day:
1.Read meters, call gas and electric.
2. Check electrical connections
3. Check water (if that is at all possible....)
4. Check gas.


Soonish:
1. Council
2. Car insurance
3. Banks
4. Work
5. ....

Sure i missed out something. List seemed much longer in my head!

Wickedkitten

Xinpei wrote: »

Welcome to the thread Jinky.. Saving is the tedious part! OH and me also had savings account together but always put uneven parts into it as we make different amounts! But we never had a problem with it.:beer:

Am making a checklist in my head on who to call when we get the keys next friday! May be useful to anyone else and feel free to add to this list!

On the day:
1.Read meters, call gas and electric.
2. Check electrical connections
3. Check water (if that is at all possible....)
4. Check gas.


Soonish:
1. Council
2. Car insurance
3. Banks
4. Work
5. ....

Sure i missed out something. List seemed much longer in my head!

Phone BT/Virgin now/tomorrow and tell them you want to get your line transferred over for next Friday, as well as getting your mail redirect set up tomorrow because you need a week notice to do that if you haven't already. Don't forget the DVLA as well.

Edit: And your TV License