A very long, despairing post

Gingernutty

Insane as it sounds, I am used to this. I don't want to jump from frying pan into the fire.

Buying my current house was nightmarish - I lived in the suburbs of one city, worked in the centre of that city and spent a long time travelling from one place to another to find a place to buy that I could afford, view properties, see the solicitor, buy the place, get it sorted and move, getting a lot of stuff out of storage in the process.

And now, I'm doing it all over again. Living in one place, working a bizarre shift pattern in another and looking for a place nearer to where I work.

That's a lot of work and frankly, I don't feel up to it.

I am looking - I've found a couple of flats in an established development which look fairly cool (secure, gated courtyard, goldfish in the fountain) and I'm calling the estate agents tomorrow.

Any chavs would have killed the goldfish, wouldn't they?

There are a lot of BTL/investors who would be happy to buy the house and move tenants in - it wouldn't be financial suicide to do the minimum amount of work to the place - as it is, it would have trouble shifting at auction.

Thanks for the tips on CGT, btw.

BitterAndTwisted

A secure, gated development sounds nice on the face of it but the service-charges could be eye-watering. If there's any choice in the matter, and you do have a choice don't you, I would recommend that you consider a freehold property. You can do necessary repairs as and when you choose and you will be mistress of your own destiny, not subject to what the management company or the other residents decide needs to happen.

Gingernutty

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

A secure, gated development sounds nice on the face of it but the service-charges could be eye-watering. If there's any choice in the matter, and you do have a choice don't you, I would recommend that you consider a freehold property. You can do necessary repairs as and when you choose and you will be mistress of your own destiny, not subject to what the management company or the other residents decide needs to happen.

I know what you're saying B&T, I do. But look what happened the last time I bought a house! :rotfl:

The houses in my price range are terraces!! Or in cul de sacs!! Or opposite schools!! Or in already shabby looking new build housing estates!! No way Jose!! :rotfl:

I want a freehold but it won't hurt to look, though eh?

ETA : On my To View list is also a one bed "bugalow" on a busy street (no kiddies playing) with gate secured parking.

missbiggles1

Gingernutty wrote: »

I know what you're saying B&T, I do. But look what happened the last time I bought a house! :rotfl:

The houses in my price range are terraces!! Or in cul de sacs!! Or opposite schools!! Or in already shabby looking new build housing estates!! No way Jose!! :rotfl:

I want a freehold but it won't hurt to look, though eh?

ETA : On my To View list is also a one bed "bugalow" on a busy street (no kiddies playing) with gate secured parking.

But I thought you'd inherited a large sum of money? Even around many areas of London you could do better than tht!

January20

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

A secure, gated development sounds nice on the face of it but the service-charges could be eye-watering. If there's any choice in the matter, and you do have a choice don't you, I would recommend that you consider a freehold property. You can do necessary repairs as and when you choose and you will be mistress of your own destiny, not subject to what the management company or the other residents decide needs to happen.

As somebody who has lived in a leasehold property for the past 14 years I wholeheartedly agree with this post! Our service charge has tripled in that time. You never get what you want because every has to agree on things like say new windows. The management company decides on any work to be done and when and which company does it and you just have to pay up when they say. Never again!

BitterAndTwisted

Gingernutty wrote: »

I know what you're saying B&T, I do. But look what happened the last time I bought a house! :rotfl:

The houses in my price range are terraces!! Or in cul de sacs!! Or opposite schools!! Or in already shabby looking new build housing estates!! No way Jose!! :rotfl:

I want a freehold but it won't hurt to look, though eh?

ETA : On my To View list is also a one bed "bugalow" on a busy street (no kiddies playing) with gate secured parking.

I refuse to accept what I think you're referring to as "your price range".

I have no idea why a cul-de-sac might be undesirable. My sister lived on one and it was lovely and quiet, with very nice neighbours.

Honestly Gingernutty you need a two bedroomed freehold house as an absolute minimum. Preferably a semi-detached or end-of-terrace. If finances get tight at some point in the future or you're in need of company you could find yourself a lodger and pocket over four grand a year tax-free.

Also, in a house you're not going to have noisy neighbours above or below you. Even in some what look like quite decently-built flats the noise that travels. Oy vey!

Gingernutty

:rotfl: Honestly guys, I'm not a millionaire.

Yes, I am leery about buying a flat, but there's no harm in looking.

I currently live in a cul-de-sac. Never again. Never.

mountainofdebt

Gingernutty wrote: »

I currently live in a cul-de-sac. Never again. Never.

As do I.....and have lived here for the last 17yrs

What's wrong with a cul-de-sac .......just being nosey now!

Gingernutty

Kiddies. Their 'parents' let them out to play on the street safe in the knowledge their little darlings won't get run over.

The little ferals are running riot. :mad:

mountainofdebt

Gingernutty wrote: »

Kiddies. Their 'parents' let them out to play on the street safe in the knowledge theire little darlings won't get run over.

The little ferals are running riot. :mad:

Ah .....all my neighbours are retired so I haven't had that problem