Charlene's FTB - Diary 2007

CharleneUK

Oh my word!!! 5 bed houses for that price!!!?? I think I'm going to faint! LOL.

Anyway, a very disappointing update. After reading this thread, we went in with the £202,155, and basically EA had said they have had full asking from the other lot who were also selling a property, so that's that. She said if it fell through or the buyers took too long to arrange a survey, we'd be first in line, but that's unlikely........ So there you have it. I don't know I feel really, OH doesn't even know yet

We just know the prices have gone up in the last 2 weeks and we are getting pushed out the more every week goes by.... On the plus side, my daughter has finally got a secondary school place, so that's something to be happy about around all this gloom we're feeling at the moment!!

We have around 6 viewings lined up for tomorrow and saturday, mostly flat conversions which are leaseholds, so as I said earlier, need to read up, but generally is it just that if work needs doing to a roof for instance, you and whoever else would have to put together and pay for the repairs? Or is it a lot more complex?

Tiger_greeneyes

It depends really - if there are any works to be done on the building it could be shared equally between all flats - or upstairs flat could be responsible for the roof while downstairs get the drains - or there could be a management company set up who collect x amount of money from each flat every month to build up a float for these things. Your solicitor would find this out for you though.

Bear with the market, it usually quietens down around the school summer holidays so you'll find something suitable soon. You never know about this other place too - something may well go wrong and it'll be yours.

Hang in there

Doozergirl

Chin up, Charlene There's plenty more [STRIKE]fish in the sea[/STRIKE] houses in the London Borough of Croydon! You will succeed!

I'm please about your daughter, I remember you saying she hadn't got her first choice? Which school is she going to?

Tiger, my mum was from Aberdeenshire I've not been personally. My aunt went back a couplw of years back and was devastated. What was a thriving fishing village when she was a child is now virtually defunct and the area is very deprived

I have heard that Aberdeen is lovely but the property prices are extortionate?!

CharleneUK

Once again, thanks for the advice and the encouragement

My daughter got into Norbury Manor

Diamonds_2

Aww Charlene, I'm really rooting for you, hope you find something perfect soon. We'd been looking for months, we've now found something and are moving next Friday but we've had to compromise. We chose location over size in the end so we've got a small house but it's in the best area for us, had some knock backs along the way and thought at one point we'd never find a house we could afford without someone else getting in there first! we put an offer in on ours half an hour after viewing we were told by the EA that being in FTB position we were a desireable buyer so at least you've got that advantage going for you.

Tiger_greeneyes

Doozergirl wrote: »

Tiger, my mum was from Aberdeenshire I've not been personally. My aunt went back a couplw of years back and was devastated. What was a thriving fishing village when she was a child is now virtually defunct and the area is very deprived

I have heard that Aberdeen is lovely but the property prices are extortionate?!

Aberdeen is beautiful The prices are extortionate only locally - they're still below national average because Aberdeen is so far from any other city it's had it's own economic climate and been way behind in property prices for such a long time. Now people are discovering it, the prices are going haywire.

This is a couple of miles from the little fishing village on the cliffs where I lived for a few years: http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/stonehaven/stonehaven/index.html

Do you know where your Mum came from? I'd hazard a guess that she was from north of Aberdeen - that's where the fishing villages have been hardest hit - places like Buckie, Portnockie, Frazerburgh etc. They are areas that rely on fishing for their income.

I'd go back there tomorrow if I could - not that I don't like it here - there's just something about it that makes it feel more like 'home' than anywhere else ever has. Mr TG feels the same way, and he only lived there for a year!

Tiger_greeneyes

CharleneUK wrote: »

Once again, thanks for the advice and the encouragement

My daughter got into Norbury Manor

You're welcome, it can be a right slog but don't let it get you down. You can always use it as an ideal opportunity to check out the decor of the places you're viewing so that you know what you want (and don't want) to do in your new house The more reasons you've got for viewing, the easier it will be You won't get this chance again until you're moving next

Norbury Manor is meant to be a really good school - well done to your daughter!

CharleneUK

Ugh, I am getting very fed up of a particular estate agent, very very pestering, the worst I've encountered and supposedly a reputable company!! I have an appointment with their independent mortgage broker soon, but may cancel it and draw a line under them. We viewed a nice property,but it just didn't light us up inside like some have done, and she pressured me so much I made an offer, as I thought, well we could do a lot worse, but then she said, well why not go in at full asking since their broker had said we can go up to £225, I said it's because it's all very good and well their broker saying that, but we hadn't even had the appointment yet, so I wanted to wait! But on and on she goes, getting right on my nerves.

Anyway, we've now seen a 3 bed, 2 reception come on at the same price as this maisonette! So will hopefully be viewing tomorrow.

How do people deal with pushy EA's like this?!

Tiger_greeneyes

Hi Charlene

I tend to ignore them Easier said than done with some of them though. I think probably the best way about curbing her enthusiasm is by keep repeating 'we'll think about it and let you know' every time she opens her mouth. Try not to stray from that line or get drawn into any conversation about it or you'll be there forever.

The house sounds good value for money! I hope it's everything you're looking for

Tiger_greeneyes

Hi Charlene - I just wondered how you're getting along, any luck yet?