My Mortgage Free Diary

mpgsheep

Have done a bit of research using moneysupermarkets.com, and should be able to borrow between 240/280k, but all a bit dependant on what we get for our place now, and how it goes in February (bonus time at work). At the moment, our plan is to sit tight until February, and then work out what we can (and want to afford), and then put our place on the market.

Lois_E

Hi mpgsheep

Just wanted to say hi and it's nice to find another long-hauler. My mortgage is a bit smaller than yours but then I'm a single parent with a part time job so I can't pay it off very quickly. My MFD feels a very long way away, but I am in my forever house, so at least it shouldn't get any worse.

mpgsheep

Lois_E, sounds like you have your work cut out, but at least you are in your forever house. We did 3 viewings on Saturday, and none of them fulfilled all our criteria. At the moment we are being very fussy with our criteria, but maybe in 2-3 months if nothing has come up then we will relax a little.

Does anyone know of a website that shows primary school catchment areas? I can log onto my council website and enter a postcode to check, however, I would like to see the whole area each school covers, to quickly rule out some properties (and maybe look into unknown areas).

mpgsheep

ok managed to find it on my local council's website.

House-buying was much easier when I didn't have children!

mpgsheep

July Update
Phoned Direct line and the mortgage is:-£147,398.65

Overpayment Savings
Online ISA - £9,536.64
Total Overpayment Savings = £9,536.64

Mortgage remaining = Mortgage - OP Savings = £137,862.01

Very pleased with how things are progressing at the moment, we both very on top of what we are spending and it is showing.

On the moving front, our place is on the market now. Some good news is that we are allowed to port our existing mortgage (1.5% above base), and then would just have to take a new mortgage out for the additional borrowing. Just need to sell ours and find a place we like!

mpgsheep

August Update
Phoned Direct line and the mortgage is:-£147,019.72

Overpayment Savings
Online ISA - £10,332.48
Total Overpayment Savings = £10,332.48

Mortgage remaining = Mortgage - OP Savings = £136,687.24

At the moment we have had 3 offers from a couple for our flat. Waiting to see if the agent can get a little bit more from them, otherwise likely we will accept their last.

We have also found somewhere we like, and have a second viewing this Saturday. It would involve stretching ourselves for a couple of years (due to childcare) however it is very much ticks our 6 main no-compromise requirements, as well as some other benefits.

Regarding children, my OH is now 3 days over due with number 2, be nice to have my paternity leave coincide with a lot of house organising stuff!

Currently waiting to hear back from Nationwide ref an offer in principal - because of maternity leave they will only give this offer once their underwriter has checked everything. Bit irritating as slows down getting the offer in principle as we have to send off the bank statements/p60s/wage slips etc in advance, however assuming goes ok then it cuts down on doing all that work once we have an offer accepted.

All very exciting!

Peonie

Wow, that's a few changes in a month. Any sign of the baby yet?

mpgsheep

Nope, currently 5 days overdue at the moment. Induction booked for next Friday, so he will be out one way or another by next weekend!

mpgsheep

Very quick update of 2 very important pieces of news..

1 - DS2 was born on Friday 9th September. I made it home from work in London at 1420, we got to the hospital at 1435, and he was out at 1511...cut it a little bit fine! He was 8lb 4oz, and after the usual little drop in weight he is now up to 8lb 10oz, so doing well.

2 - We have accepted an offer on our flat. Am very pleased, as we turned down an offer 2 weeks ago for 5k less (reasoning it had only been on the market for 2 weeks and we could afford to hold out, and that offer was 12k below asking). The accepted offer is 7k below asking, and I was planning to accept 10k below asking, so very pleased indeed. Now the hunt is on to find a new house!

Peonie

Congratulations, both on the birth of a second son and accepting an offer on your flat. Keep us updated on the progress of both.