Procrastinating no more!

Procrastinator333

Really2 wrote: »

There is one risk renting in the area and buying outside, school placement fraud, this has been cracked down on quiet a bit in recent years.

My Ex teaching uncle and his wife made the best ever point to me. It only takes the head of a state school to move or retire to make a good school a mediocre one (and vise a versa).

You may as well buy a cheaper house and go private than bank on an area still having good schools in the future.

But the more sensible is chose an area then re-evaluate it when it comes towards secondary school choice time.

This probably isn't really an option, my other half would probably not be too keen. But to my mind, I would have thought we would have been ok if we actually rented out the house we own and both rent and live in another for 12 months. Maybe I'm wrong, no idea really.

Buying a house is a lot of work!

Really2

Procrastinator333 wrote: »

Buying a house is a lot of work!

It is, but TBH I would not worry to much on school at the moment in your position.

We moved from our first house after our first, I would say mean as you are looking at starting a family my hit list would be.

1) Good Area
2) decent size with plenty of storage (the amount of stuff you will have will double at least with 1 child)
3) Flat Largish garden
4) Good condition and fairly child safe
5) School catchment.

The reason is 5-7 years is a long time, and the preschool years are a great time so the more you can give your child in those times in terms of space outdoor play etc the better.

If need be you can always move when school time comes, the last thing you want is a place stuck up it's @ss nothing to do and full of old people.
You will need young family's around for your child, and for your own sanity.
I used to live in a relatively expensive market town foll of wealthy 60+ year olds, running a town for the needs of the elders not the young.
When child time came, it was not a place I still wanted to be or my child.
There is far more to child devlopment than just education.

Procrastinator333

Really2 wrote: »

It is, but TBH I would not worry to much on school at the moment in your position.

We moved from our first house after our first, I would say mean as you are looking at starting a family my hit list would be.

1) Good Area
2) decent size with plenty of storage (the amount of stuff you will have will double at least with 1 child)
3) Flat Largish garden
4) Good condition and fairly child safe
5) School catchment.

The reason is 5-7 years is a long time, and the preschool years are a great time so the more you can give your child in those times in terms of space outdoor play etc the better.

If need be you can always move when school time comes, the last thing you want is a place stuck up it's @ss nothing to do and full of old people.
You will need young family's around for your child, and for your own sanity.
I used to live in a relatively expensive market town foll of wealthy 60+ year olds, running a town for the needs of the elders not the young.
When child time came, it was not a place I still wanted to be or my child.
There is far more to child devlopment than just education.

Thanks for this and all the other comments, all interesting stuff.

The 2 reasons for wanting a place that is going to carry us through to about the middle of primary school age are 1) The costs associated with moving. I reckon, all in, it is going to be about £20k including stamp duty. If we ove again in 4/5 years, we have to save another £4-£5k per year just to cover the moving costs! and 2) We are looking forward to investing both time and money making a place our own. I could easily see us spending £20k over the first few years on decorating, carpets, bathroom, kitchen etc. I don't really think you get that sort of cash back if you move, and don't really want to have to start all that again in 4/5 years. I therefore think we need somewhere suitable for about the next 6-9 years.

Really2

Procrastinator333 wrote: »

Thanks for this and all the other comments, all interesting stuff.

The 2 reasons for wanting a place that is going to carry us through to about the middle of primary school age are 1) The costs associated with moving. I reckon, all in, it is going to be about £20k including stamp duty. If we ove again in 4/5 years, we have to save another £4-£5k per year just to cover the moving costs! and 2) We are looking forward to investing both time and money making a place our own. I could easily see us spending £20k over the first few years on decorating, carpets, bathroom, kitchen etc. I don't really think you get that sort of cash back if you move, and don't really want to have to start all that again in 4/5 years. I therefore think we need somewhere suitable for about the next 6-9 years.

Pick an area which falls in a few catchments then for safety. (if possible)

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

geneer wrote: »

Where its better to buy after a correction than in the end stages of a bubble.

Renting the equivalent house until today would have cost me many tens of thousands of pounds more than buying in 2007 did.

We can't all live in our mums spare room like you geneer....

geneer

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Renting the equivalent house until today would have cost me many tens of thousands of pounds more than buying in 2007 did.

We can't all live in our mums spare room like you geneer....

Of course hamish.
We all know you were much better buying in the dying breaths of a huge asset bubble.

You keep telling us so.







Then again, we're not talking about you here, are we.

Procrastinator333

Well, had the first viewings today. 5 of them. In the end, it at least seemed like the EA's were busy. 1 of the 5 is going on the possible list. Decent and reasonable price. Few more booked for next weekend.

FATBALLZ

We've had an offer accepted and are applying for a mortgage with HSBC as well. Was surprised at how low the figure of what they were willing to lend us was, although it's a bit more than we actually wanted anyway. Have to say I've found them to be incompetent at every step, maybe it's just my bad luck though.

Procrastinator333

FATBALLZ wrote: »

We've had an offer accepted and are applying for a mortgage with HSBC as well. Was surprised at how low the figure of what they were willing to lend us was, although it's a bit more than we actually wanted anyway. Have to say I've found them to be incompetent at every step, maybe it's just my bad luck though.

Doesn't bode well! But as nobody else offers a better rate, not sure there is a lot of choice...

Conrad

HSBC are my Bankers. I oft' get annoyed at thier incompetance. I call my local business manager only to be put through to India where of course they often cannot answer my simple request so they then have to go through a process where upon my local Manager eventualy gets a message to call me.

Me > 'this is all very awkward'

HSBC India > 'I understand your concern'

Me > 'you do, that's great, what is my concern then'

HSBC >'I'm sorry Sir, I do not quite understand what you mean'

Me > 'you said you understood my concern, I'd like you to confirm your understanding of my concern'

HSBC 'Sir, I understand your concerns'

Me 'in that case can you summarise my concern for me - given you said you understand'

HSBC 'Sir, we cannot get into that right now, how may I help you further'

Me 'you can put the script down sometimes you know - talk to me like a real Human'

HSBC 'Well Sir, is there anything else I can help you with'

Me 'yes, you said you are the worlds local Bank, but when I want to talk quickly to my local Manager I have to go through India, how is that local'

HSBC 'Ha ha Sir, I understand your concern'