How do people do it?!

Strapped

I'd say HH is nicer than Crawley But dearer and a longer/more expensive commute.

I've lived in most of the neighbourhoods in Crawley, including the "less desirable" and generally, the OK areas are: Maidenbower / Worth / Pound Hill / Three Bridges / Northgate / most of West Green / some of Southgate (the last two are not walkable to Three Bridges, but are walkable to Crawley where you can catch a connection). Avoid: Broadfield / Bewbush / Southgate West / Ifield West. Borderline, depends on the street: Gossops Green / Ifield (again, these two are not walking distance to Three Bridges but can catch a connection from Ifield station. Bad school catchment though). Tilgate and Furnace Green are both OK, but only parts are walkable to a station, and again are not great school catchment. HTH.

I'd recommend walking around the areas at night and see whether you want to live there

carolt

DaddyBear wrote: »

My family income is in the top 5% in the Uk and we can't afford a reasonable family home based on affordable mortgage multiples. My conclusion is that if we can't then not many others can. Therefore house prices have much further to fall and the best course of action is to wait for a few years whilst this bust plays out.

Same here - don't actually know about the 5% thing, or how one calculates it, but like you, I figure that if we feel buying is too expensive, then the average person hasn't got a hope in hell.

I'd like to say that was cheering, but it isn't, really. Knowing that you're better off than other people is actually no consolation at all. I don't want to feel superior, just to be able to buy an appropriate home.

Strapped

retepetsir wrote: »

Edit: That first one seems like a bargain! Shame we've got less than 10% deposit saved up so far....

The other half would probably say 'I don't like the interior' but then that's easy to change and its got a lot of potential, I like my DIY! I want it now (!). Pretty close to the station as you say, and 3 bedroom too.

There will be more and more of these coming up, I'm sure. You could try a very cheeky offer - nothing to lose if they say no - just sit tight until the next one...

tomstickland

The general question of how anyone can afford to be a FTB has to ultimately lead to the situation changing. If two income graduates are struggling, what about those on low wages?

My advice would be to save and wait.

retepetsir

Thanks Strapped. I was thinking about cheeky offers. 10% lower, so £140k for that one but they'd probably tell us to get lost :rotfl:. Still means we'd want at least £20k though, for 10%+ deposit plus fees/survey/etc.

tomstickland wrote: »

The general question of how anyone can afford to be a FTB has to ultimately lead to the situation changing. If two income graduates are struggling, what about those on low wages?

My advice would be to save and wait.

Exactly. Although obviously if your income is low enough you tend to receive some help/benefits. Being in the middle/higher up you don't though (obviously). We couldn't get a council house if we wanted one.

We'll keep saving, it just seems like a endless road at the moment.