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House buying in London- current market is moving so quickly! Any advice?

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Comments

  • BillJones wrote: »
    This makes no sense. What's wrong with a taxi?

    Of course! Taxis are an option. Still new to all this and a bit blinded!
  • Jenniefour
    Jenniefour Posts: 1,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    OP, Vendors in hot areas who have open days rarely accept an offer from someone who viewed before open day. No open day - EA will make sure all interested parties have viewed, if they're doing their job properly. Don't get too het up about going for viewings immediately - this is going to make little or no difference. The cautions on here about this actually apply to the rental market where LL's want to get someone signed up asap so they don't have any voids. So if you haven't seen potential rental within the day it comes up you've got no chance. This does not apply to you. No vendor in their right mind is going to instruct EA to take first offer and deliberately miss out on other viewings.

    Just make sure you're registered with all the EA's and have you on their books.
  • Ideally you'd want to see the property BEFORE the open day on Saturday. If you leave it until the weekend, you will have to compete with other buyers and possibly have to offer more to get it. If at all possible, always try to get in first. We did that a few months ago and it paid off.
    I realise it's not easy when you are working full-time, but in a fast moving market like North London you have no choice.
  • sartois
    sartois Posts: 162 Forumite
    Ideally you'd want to see the property BEFORE the open day on Saturday. If you leave it until the weekend, you will have to compete with other buyers and possibly have to offer more to get it. If at all possible, always try to get in first. We did that a few months ago and it paid off.
    I realise it's not easy when you are working full-time, but in a fast moving market like North London you have no choice.

    The OP will always be competing with other buyers for London properties, unless the seller is so naive to accept the first offer they get and don't go ahead with the open day. So it doesn't really matter about when they see it or when they put the offer in as it will need to be the highest offer to secure the property.
  • sartois wrote: »
    The OP will always be competing with other buyers for London properties, unless the seller is so naive to accept the first offer they get and don't go ahead with the open day. So it doesn't really matter about when they see it or when they put the offer in as it will need to be the highest offer to secure the property.

    They will be competing once it hits the market, which is why I said get in first. Stay in touch with the agent and be available for viewings. That is my advice anyway. Worked for me, I am also in North London.
  • readytofly
    readytofly Posts: 93 Forumite
    It is looking more likely we will be moving away from North London. I'm shocked that a 2 bed apartment in Enfield has been listed at £240,000 and we are looking at a 3 bedroom house with conservatory, garden, downstairs loo for £5000 less that is approx 5 miles away.
  • Jenniefour
    Jenniefour Posts: 1,396 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Mortgage-free Glee!
    Yes, moving a few miles can make a big difference. No point buying a 2 bed flat when you want a family house.
  • AndyGuil
    AndyGuil Posts: 1,668 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    5 miles out from Enfield will put you outside London in many cases and not even in a zone. Enfield is already zone 5. It is highly dependent on area for what you can get for your money, even within London.
  • donfanatico
    donfanatico Posts: 456 Forumite
    edited 20 March 2014 at 2:11PM
    AndyGuil wrote: »
    5 miles out from Enfield will put you outside London in many cases and not even in a zone. Enfield is already zone 5. It is highly dependent on area for what you can get for your money, even within London.

    So the saying "worst (or smaller) house in best street is better than best (or biggest) house in worst street" is just nonsense?

    New to this so no idea
  • AndyGuil
    AndyGuil Posts: 1,668 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    So the saying "worst (or smaller) house in best street is better than best (or biggest) house in worst street" is just nonsense?

    New to this so no idea
    I would always prefer to buy in a better street, but that is going to be limited by the property you want. It is a fine balance between the two.
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