Where in belfast area for first time buyer?

edtheduck_2

Glengormley's great - handy to city centre, all those shops at the abbeycentre !! and good schools/public transport etc.
where i live is a lovely mixed area where everyone gets on with each other and the houses are in or around your budget.

leftieM

darrenfinlayson wrote:

for that price you will struggle to get a semi in a remotely good area, you should possibly consider an end terrace, because at the end of the day its pretty much the same as a semi anyway.

finaghy might be a possibility, but it would have to be a run down ex council end terrace house, probably 2 bedrooms. the bidding is fierce there though so expect to pay 180k for something that starts around £145.

though you will be left in a very good and convinient part of south belfast that is still rocketing in value.

We had our first house in Finaghy, an ex-council house. It's been a really good place to live despite us 'kicking with the other foot' and I wish we could afford a bigger place around Finaghy.
The houses are a decent size and the gardens are very generous. It's 15 mins from the King's Hall (walking) and near bus routes on the Malone and Lisburn roads. It's also handy for going out. I think you could get something for £180k.
Have an open mind. You won't have the same options as your parents' had unfortunately so you might have to rub shoulders with the proles!
Make a list of the things that are most important to you and look at all of the houses that fit the bill. Good luck!

i_am_a_happybunny

at the moment the semi in loopland are going for around £180 and the terraces for about £10 less than that.

leftieM

There's a 3 bed semi in loopland park on at 200k so I reckon it would sell for 225k upwards. Dundonald seems like a good bet if it's still affordable and the OP knows the area.
have you checked the Pooler Watson website? They publish offers too which is very useful.

talksalot81

I have to say I am inclined to avoid the likes of loopland. Neither of us are keen on terraced accomodation.

I am now starting to think there is just no getting what we want and be near to Belfast. Newtownards direction seems cheaper for starters and we could get alot more for the money.

I am really scared to buy a property which I know cost 30% less just one year ago... if I had bags of money, fine. But I will be right at my limit as it is and just dont want to gamble with what might happen (i.e. there is no way on earth the growth can continue as it is!).

ooo000ooo

Whiteabbey, glengormley and Carrick are all within reasonable commuting distance and 180k should buy you a decent house in a decent area.

rjh090384

i bought in millisle 9 months ago for 115 and house is now worth 155. its a 3 double bedroom semi detached house with detached garage, conservatory, living room, dining room and kitchen and downstairs bathroom i dread to think what i would pay for that in belfast.
the only downside is commuting which isnt great for me casue im on bus but the other half can drive to belfast is half an hour.

talksalot81

Went phoning around today looking a bit further afield into some of the suggested areas... it is still crazy! £160k properties are often bid to over 200k...why are all these places priced at numbers that is way below what they are actually selling?

I have even been on the renting websites... but if the prices keep going as they are for much longer, then we are even further out of it.

rjh090384

we were very lucky. when we bought our house the seller did nto want a bidding war as these can often end in disaster so he was taking first at askign price as he needed quick and sure sell.

ur rugth though before that we were looking at a 60k house that ended up sellinga at 86. its a case of supply and demand. people mneed a house and there are none starting at 80 so they look at 60 and bid.

just looked at prcies. the prices in millisle have shot up as its such a desirable area. espcially for young couples and families.

heres a 4 bed bungalow for 150k
http://www.propertynews.com/brochure.php?r=1&c=14&s=8919470&i=0&p=190384

3 bed semi, ards, 145k
http://www.propertynews.com/brochure.php?r=1&c=60&s=8919649&i=7&p=EA144154658

leftieM

Hi talksalot81
I've noticed a few of your posts recently and the despair is coming through!
No-one here has talked about North Belfast. It tends to have a bad press although in recent years there haven't been any notable incidents. Like everywhere it has good parts and bad parts. I've been eyeing it up for years because it was so much cheaper than South but my husband who is from East vetoed the idea. We've agreed a really nice house there - you still get more for your money and it's handy to the city so no horror commutes.