How do you get on the property ladder?!

Running_Horse

With all due respect, you are possibly asking the impossible, and in the absence of some new government scheme, all anyone can do is offer sympathy. You could come up with a long term plan to get better trained, buy your council house, and move on in a few years.

The real answer is do what I did, buy your house first, go without luxuries for years, then have kids. But Chickmug would probably tell me off. I'm a great believer in taking responsibility for ones own actions, and making the best of what you have.

elliebobs

I totally agree with poppysarah; owning your own home is not the be all and end all. However, if you do want to own your own home then that's entirely your perogative.

The best, and only advice i can give is to continue saving, even if it's only pounds per week; it all adds up over a period of time. I have a big jar into which i put all my loose change (basically anything under 50p). It's surprising how quickly it gets filled and you never miss it really.

the only other alternative and i don't know how realistic it is for you in your position is to consider moving to an area where property is cheaper. I know for a fact, for instance that i could not afford to live in London on just my wage! That is a drastic solution though and like i said may be totally unrealistic for you.

britbabe1979

Thanks Lostinrates, some good points..... I think we are good parents, both work hard to provide for our family, and make sure the kids are well presented, polite and educated (thats half the battle methinks!) Luckily our tenancy is pretty secure, so at least we have a roof over our heads (which is more than some) but we just aspire for more. I was brought up in a council house, and have managed to get a good job, and we have 2 cars (necessity unfortunalty due to work comuttes) but I think its the housing status that sets you apart... and I want to be working towards something thats ours.... our bricks, and our home.

Oddly we'd probably be actually better off with a mortgage currently and exercising a break or reducing payments... our social landlord cannot help us in anyway shape or form because we dont qualify for housing benefit... so tough tittes to us! lol (apparently we are in a grey area!) So reduced income, but full rent and council tax!!!!

Wicked Kitten.. Not currently... and even in good times I'd rather avoid private renting (rather pay my mortgage than someone elses! Lol)

Paw purrs...We have the right to acquire which gives us a flat rate discount (9k) in my area so we are considering going down this route..... hoping that the Housing Association grossly undervalue our house and then we can sell it straight away hey presto deposit for better house?!?!?... but again this has its pit falls as if we sell withing 10 years we have to give them first refusal, and within 5 years we have to pay all or a % of the discount back. We couldnt extend it as its mid terrace with a smallish garden and the roof too low pitch for loft conversion (we've thought about this cant you tell hehehe)

Poppy sarah... Im not sure what you mean about 2 sets of bills?!?!?! I agree council housing is, in theory, great. But realistically you are controlled by someone in an office as to where you can live, what size house you can have etc etc Majority of the social housing ares in my locality of full of your typical social housing sorts.... They built some brand new houses nearby and instead of renting them to the people who would look after them, and the area, they rented them to some right characters.. the area is terrible now, and these houses are probabaly less that 2 years old...... Give council tenants a bad name! lol

I'm praying Alistair Darling comes up with the goods on Wednesday, and not the con that is shared ownership/equity etc

britbabe1979

elliebobs wrote: »

the only other alternative and i don't know how realistic it is for you in your position is to consider moving to an area where property is cheaper. I know for a fact, for instance that i could not afford to live in London on just my wage! That is a drastic solution though and like i said may be totally unrealistic for you.

Thank you. We are in East Anglia and have looked around and outside our city but for any notable house price difference we're looking at 30 miles plus... which leaves us with massive commute to work!!

Lol I sound very negative I think but I just dont see a way out of it... Im sure Im not the only one in this situation?!?!?!?

lincroft1710

Although I understand your desire to own your home, I have known plenty of children (inc my cousin) brought up in council houses who have ended up with reasonably paid jobs and comfortable lifestyles. There are plenty of people also who are desperate for a council house.

The worst thing you could do for your children is to saddle yourselves with a mortgage you would have difficulty paying and the threat of repossession. 3 bed houses don't come cheap and even a low price one requiring work will eat money.

You're not in an ideal situation and I applaud your ambition, but you're not in a terrible situation which you could be by going into debt.

PS this was written (but not posted) before some of previous posts.

britbabe1979

Running_Horse wrote: »

With all due respect, you are possibly asking the impossible, and in the absence of some new government scheme, all anyone can do is offer sympathy. You could come up with a long term plan to get better trained, buy your council house, and move on in a few years.

The real answer is do what I did, buy your house first, go without luxuries for years, then have kids. But Chickmug would probably tell me off. I'm a great believer in taking responsibility for ones own actions, and making the best of what you have.

Unfortunately I already have kids and they are non refundable (I've checked! )

My Hubby and are are both trained, skilled workers... He's a welder with 25 years experience (he's 12 yrs older than me!) and Im a qualified Pharmacy Dispenser.

Heres hoping for the Government scheme..... although I wont hold my breath!

Indeed, I may be asking for the impossible... and thats the sad and scary thing about it!

pinkshoes

I guess it depends which way you look at it...

Kids are expensive, but I think I'd give up my career and home/mortgage any day to have kids! I'm quite sure I couldn't afford both, hence I'm the same age as you (going by the user name!) and still childless!!

Forget owning a home for now, as at least you have security where you currently are, and 2 bedrooms may be a snug fit, but isn't the end of the world. Just concentrate on having fun and enjoying them grow up.

lostinrates

britbabe1979 wrote: »

Thanks Lostinrates, some good points..... I think we are good parents, both work hard to provide for our family, and make sure the kids are well presented, polite and educated (thats half the battle methinks!) Luckily our tenancy is pretty secure, so at least we have a roof over our heads (which is more than some) but we just aspire for more. I was brought up in a council house, and have managed to get a good job, and we have 2 cars (necessity unfortunalty due to work comuttes) but I think its the housing status that sets you apart... and I want to be worthey king towards something thats ours.... our bricks, and our home.

I think housing stautus sets you apart to some people. But I don't think its a real 'set apart'. You can be a good, intelligent fulfilled person whatever your housing status. FWIW some very rich people rent...in fcat I remember a news artical a few years ago by the head of a London estate agency who explain why he thought, in some circumstances, it makes sense to rent. He, the head of an estate agency rememeber, rented the house he lived in in London. I have wished so many times I had kept a copy of this artical!

Cozworth806

Just wondering tho why the council will not consider your request for a transfer when you have 4 kids in the house at times, if he is still responsible for them and has a written agreement or similar then I would have thought that it should be factored into the eligibility

franklee

britbabe1979 wrote: »

So we need 15-20k to get going... thats what my hubby earns P.A on a 5 day week!!! Between us (in good times) we earn £27k

britbabe1979 wrote: »

My Hubby and are are both trained, skilled workers... He's a welder with 25 years experience (he's 12 yrs older than me!) and Im a qualified Pharmacy Dispenser.

Hi britbabe1979, I've just quoted a couple of snippets from your posts above as they illustrate the problem well. You and hubby are intelligent, skilled and hardworking, (like many other couples up and down the country) and you only aspire to buy a modest home yet are well priced out. The problem is that house prices are too high.

I'd rather hope the government lets the market take it's course and prices come down, after all they didn't act to check the mad and unsustainable boom yet they will probably meddle (and waste taxpayers money) now in an attempt to stop the unstoppable.

Do we really want skilled workers and our children priced out like this? I think not. I'd say you should save as best you can and hope the market falls to sensible prices.