The 'what did you pay thread'.

Norma_Desmond

Four bedroom 200 year old detached stone house on the North Pembrokeshire coast, bought in 2003 for 95K.

Negotiating tips?

Having half a roof helped our cause.

Other hints/tips?

Check prospective house has more than half a roof.

Atomix

2000 - bought a x2 bed terrace for 79k advertised at 90k (we purchased from a re-location company, who wanted it off their books)

Sold in 2005 for 150k. To a divorcee with cash.

Then Bought a x3 bed semi for 163k was advertised at 180k.

Sold in 2010 for 200k.

Then bought a good size x4 bed detached from owner who had lived here since new (30 years) - she liked us as we were local with x2 little ones etc, (her kids had grown up and left). 295k - was advertised for 300k... (Was worth £350k arguably once modernised'). Tried 275k but knew it would be snapped up hence eventually agreeing close to asking - the same afternoon. You can only try... But we definitely wanted it as there aren't many good sized family homes here -

Also the small estate we now live in rarely have houses come onto the market - and when they do - they get snapped up v.quickly (small
desirable town in the Cotswolds)

We've been very lucky - right time right place etc lining up a sale with a purchase -

115K

Greater London bought in 2003.

Bought 2 bed terraced for £128,000 with a deposit but it was on market for £135,000 but people wanted quick sale and we were in good position as FTB's.

Nothing needed doing as in fairly good condition.

Now it is valued about £160,000 so not much of an increase as was valued at £195,000 before crash.

geri1965_2

Two bedroomed Victorian terrace in East Bristol, paid £38K in 1997. Can't remember what the asking price was, not far off that if I recall.

Davesnave

5.5 acre smallholding in Devon.
4 bed bungalow + 60' barn.
Bought July 2009
Paid cash. It was priced for a fast sale.(under £300k) Someone tried to gazump us, but vendor was a good person and in an awful hurry.

Top tip: If the market allows you to go into rented, you may find that being chain free and ready to pounce pays off. Having said that, the days when you could put your house fund into an easy access account and get 6% are long gone!

phoebe1989seb

1997 bought rundown (converted to 4 flats in the 1960s, let out and allowed to deteriorate) 3500 sq ft 6 bed Victorian detached on South Coast for £117,500, negotiated down from £125,000 (private sale).

Restored to single dwelling plus major renovations - sold in 2007 for £580,000

2007, having paid off mortgage, bought 1600 sq ft 5 bed detached Tudor house in North Essex for £280,000, negotiated down from £325,000.

Carried out extensive internal restoration - house having been stuck in 1980s time-warp - sold in 2011 for £260,000

2011 bought 2200 sq ft stone-built Georgian village house in Wiltshire for £250,000. Marketed as a *half-finished project* it was unmortgageable and in need of serious work. Negotiated down from £280,000.

Have added 320 sq ft extension, will be fully renovated/restored (including the addition of two extra bathrooms) within the next 12 - 18 months and hope to sell for £400,000 - £450,000.......

Already planning a new project

Phil3822

2009 FTB purchased 3 bed semi in village in Cambridgeshire. Asking price £127'995, Paid £102'000. Market was hit hard here and clearly a buyers market. No work needed doing.

Twiggy_34

Mine's a complicated story as we bought 1 of 2 flats converted many years ago from a 3 bed house (3 storey building). Both flats were for sale following repossession and had to be bought together, cash buy etc. Both flats were bought in March 2012 for £145.5k which was actually higher than the advertised price (first time the estate agent had ever known a property in this area to be sold above the asking price!). The in-laws wanted an investment property, so with help raised the capital to buy the whole lot. We then bought our flat from them as FTB's in July 2012, it's a 2 bed flat over 2 storey's with a roof terrace, for £80k.

The in-law's had their flat valued 3 months later prior to letting it out and it had gone from £65.5k to £90k.

We had our flat valued earlier this year at £120-£125k.

Both flats needed largely cosmetic work done to them, but we did need to get tradesman in to sort out electrics, roofing etc. We also needed to pay legal fee's to sort out the division of the properties properly and get one of them (ours) changed to leasehold.

Without a doubt the best investment we've ever made, enhanced by the fact I did a lot of the work myself (with my dad). My advice would be to consider whether you're prepared, and have the time and skills, to purchase a do-er up-er. We probably spent about £4k in total making the improvements to our flat, but a lot of the changes were actually very cheap. Sandpaper, a few litres of paint (gloss and emulsion), some tiles and tile cement for the kitchen walls. And I'm still making improvements. Only last weekend I covered up some horrible peeling stick down floor tiles in our entrance hall with some real wood mosaic flooring. Altogether it's cost me £40 to do 3m² thanks to some eBay bargains.

I believe I'm right in saying that we only have to live here for 3 years, after which time we can sell the property on without worrying about capital gains taxes and I'm hoping we can find another do-er up-er that we can move straight into and I can do up over time.

lee111s

March 2013 - 3 bed semi detached new build (4 years old) in Wallsend area of North Tyneside. Was up for £133k for 4 months, offered £117k which was accepted. Exact same style of house which I also viewed in the next street around sold 2 months ago for £135k

Hillstop7

South London, 1960s 4 bed terrace. Sale went through in early 2013.

Advertised for £479,999, bought for £447k. We wanted to get it at a lower price but our opening offers were rejected.

It needs a new kitchen, which we will sort eventually. Otherwise it was in good shape.