Frustrated - can't find anywhere to buy. Other areas?

lb364

I do understand and it's not where I'd choose to live (I don't live there btw) but I know lots of people that do and they've never had any trouble.

Good luck with your viewing anyway, I think I know which one it is and it looks very nice

hazyjo

Cheers Did email asking to view, but they've not come back to me. Will ring them at lunchtime.

Jx

Tancred

hazyjo wrote: »

I'm not sure if I'm being mega-fussy or if my budget's too low. I just can't find anything to buy!

I have a buyer (since 27 Dec), the sale seems to be progressing okay (albeit slowly), I'm lucky in that I can stay elsewhere once it's sold so don't need to find a house to complete the chain, but I'm just getting obsessed with RM - checking it at least every hour, despite having alerts set up.

There have been some nice houses up over the last 6 months or so - most I lost out on as didn't have a buyer so couldn't offer. Some had compromises like a tiny bathroom.

There are lots coming onto the market, but in roads I wouldn't consider.

Can anyone suggest other areas I'm maybe missing? Nice pockets of somewhere. I am currently looking in/near North Chingford or Highams Park, within a mile walking distance to the station. I want a house - preferably 3 beds, but would consider 2. Parking (rules a few roads out). Upstairs bathroom (not just a shower, need a bath). Max zone 5. Hate the underground so would rather stick to overheads. Max £300k (could stretch to £305-310k at a push if it falls after April when I've had my next payrise!). No main roads (in any shape or form). Garden (paved would suffice, but preferably a bit of grass). Nothing too dark. No major works needed - there are two on the market which are overpriced IMO which need major updating. No estates (counts out most of the right of the railway track in E4). Don't really want a bungalow. Don't want to be to the left of (or too near) Chingford Mount Road. Nothing too near North Circular. Not keen on Ainslie Wood Road (couple up in and around there). No shared drives. There are roads I won't consider despite them being in the right location (Beech Hall Rd and the roads off it).

Am finding a lot are saying 1 mile to station under the maps on RM, but when you actually clock it, or check out the walking option on google maps, it's more like 2 miles, or at least 1.4m.

Upminster, Woodford (all parts - a compromise anyway cos of tubes) and Wanstead are all too pricey. Not hugely keen on Walthamstow apart from the village which is WAY over my budget. Have heard mixed reviews on Enfield (told EN2 is okay which is usually over my budget, plus I'd prefer E4).

Had ruled out south of the river, but am wondering if I should reinclude it. ALL my friends and family I see locally are north. I lived south for 15 years and found nobody ever wanted to set foot that side of the river, plus it would often take me over an hour to do a 20 min journey when there was roadworks/tunnel closures. Hmmm... think I'm just grasping at straws cos I'm feeling impatient.

Am I just being impatient? Do I just sit tight? I don't want to rush-buy! I suppose Easter's just round the corner and things might come on the market then/in spring... I suppose deep down, I know that's the right thing to do It's just frustrating...

Maybe I am just fussier than I realised! Never had a problem in finding a house before! I feel like people could show me something online, and I'd find a reason why not to buy. But they are genuine... I'm not putting off buying, I'm bordering on desperate lol!

Jx

Bl**dy hell - you are fussy!! Are you taking the pi** or what?

hazyjo

lol I thought I was stating the obvious!

Most people won't want an estate (don't mind something smart, I mean like a highrise/rough estate), a shared drive (some mortgage providers won't even lend on them at the mo), no flats (fair enough, most on here will tell you to buy FH when possible - and I'm certainly not buying a flat again), will want to be within a mile of a station (pretty much standard for London), upstairs bathroom (will compromise if an additional one upstairs, or even a loo/sink), no main roads (I've got cats and would never live on a busy road), light not dark (dark houses are incredibly hard to sell), no major projects (unless I'm a builder, which I'm not, that's the same for most people too - I don't mind putting in a kitchen, or a new roof, and expect to redecorate, but I'm not prepared to take on a major project!)... thought they were pretty standard requirements for a lot of people!

Bungalows not my thing, but would compromise if I found one that didn't just feel like a house-version of a flat and if it wasn't horrendously overpriced (as they all seem to be)!

There will always be roads in areas that people won't touch - I listed a handful, but didn't think that was bad!

Maybe I'm too descriptive rather than fussy

Jx

Tancred

hazyjo wrote: »

lol I thought I was stating the obvious!

Most people won't want an estate (don't mind something smart, I mean like a highrise/rough estate), a shared drive (some mortgage providers won't even lend on them at the mo), no flats (fair enough, most on here will tell you to buy FH when possible - and I'm certainly not buying a flat again), will want to be within a mile of a station (pretty much standard for London), upstairs bathroom (will compromise if an additional one upstairs, or even a loo/sink), no main roads (I've got cats and would never live on a busy road), light not dark (dark houses are incredibly hard to sell), no major projects (unless I'm a builder, which I'm not, that's the same for most people too - I don't mind putting in a kitchen, or a new roof, and expect to redecorate, but I'm not prepared to take on a major project!)... thought they were pretty standard requirements for a lot of people!

Bungalows not my thing, but would compromise if I found one that didn't just feel like a house-version of a flat and if it wasn't horrendously overpriced (as they all seem to be)!

There will always be roads in areas that people won't touch - I listed a handful, but didn't think that was bad!

Maybe I'm too descriptive rather than fussy

Jx

OK, but why not expand your search? Where do your work? If in central London then surely you have hundreds of places to choose from. Have you considered moving a bit further away? £300k is nothing in London - some garages cost more.

hazyjo

Tancred wrote: »

OK, but why not expand your search? Where do your work? If in central London then surely you have hundreds of places to choose from. Have you considered moving a bit further away? £300k is nothing in London - some garages cost more.

Would prefer trains to tubes, that limits it a lot

For what I can get for the money, E4 is a pretty good/safe bet. I could buy similar out in Romford, Ilford, Leyton, Walthamstow, Leytonstone, or other such areas - but have no desire to live there. Anything 'nicer' than E4 costs more. I'm just going for the best I can afford on the easiest train line into Liverpool Street (where I work).

Have had 2 years of hell commuting from Brentwood. Every day seems to incur at least a 10 min delay there or back, usually more like 20-30 mins. Didn't get into work until gone 11am the other week (not cos of weather!). It's a constant 'signal failure'/'broken down train' issue every day. Just fed up with it.

I don't want to be spending over £200 a month on travel any more.

Plus, I've lived in Highams Park before (moved from there 2 years ago), so it's familiar ground after a very rocky two years. Some stability wouldn't go amiss right now for my next move.

I want something that doesn't feel quite so 'London', and a nice village or nearby High Street (not full of pound/charity shops) would be good.

Cheers,

Jx

lb364

How did the viewing go?

hazyjo

lb364 wrote: »

How did the viewing go?

The house was perfect for me... BUT that estate behind is a major compromise. My BF was saying it was like having a Soweto shanty town behind. It's just all flats, and a bit grim to look at. My head fought with my heart for a while, but I'm thinking it's a no - especially as the vendor wants at least £10k more than I'd be willing to pay.

BUT... I have emailed the [bleeping] EAs regarding the house I wanted originally and I think I'm close to agreeing an offer today. Keep your fingers crossed for me I have a good feeling about that house, and have had since September last year. I can be very stubborn and it's only cos there's naff all else on the market at that sort of price, and the fact that my mum and BF were saying I should just bite the bullet, I thought I'd email. I refuse to speak with the condescending blokie owner (and have blocked their phone number). Someone else there is dealing with me by email. He did try calling apparently, despite me asking them to email, so I'm glad I'd blocked them (for now).

Thanks for remembering my thread

Jx

Hillbilly1

Exciting! Keep us posted. I love house buying by proxy. Much less painful than Munchausens...

hazyjo

I GOT IT!

So excited - just want to get the ball rolling now! OMG this has taken forever. I knew that was the house for me back in September.

I feel shaky and smiley. A great big weight's been lifted.

Thanks for the help and advice, all.

Jx :D:D:D:D:D:D:D