Looking at moving

EnigmaPart1

Dont people find it kind of frustrating that when you are looking to move you cant find anything better then you already have!

Makes you wonder if its even worth the hassle

AdrianC

If you aren't moving for a reason - upsize, downsize, change of area - why move?

Loopy28

I know how you feel, the fees we are incurring between estate agents, solicitors and stamp duty is several thousand.

There isn't that much supply and houses seem to be overpriced in most cases. Most houses we have viewed are tiny in comparison to ours.

We have to move to change area but really wish we didn't.

All the houses where we are looking seem to have now sold as well. Some houses have been on the market since Spring but as very few new houses have been listed this Autumn, people have bought what is left meaning the only houses now left are either overpriced or need lots of work.

I guess now I can only hope for the new year to bring more houses. I have had an offer accepted on a house I love but the vendor can't find a house himself so not looking hopeful.

Davesnave

IMO looking for a house is very like looking for a partner.

Unfortunately, the one we want is not necessarily the one we need, and we may be unconsciously driven by others' opinions too.

I almost dismissed two properties, which seemed to be ugly duckings, but turned into lovable homes. Both required a bit of imagination, so I'd surely have gone for something else had it been there. Now I'm pleased there wasn't.

Looking at the wider picture, the majority of people are conservative and risk-averse, so they tend to go for what they know. This can be constraining in a financial sense, because it's also what so many others know and desire.

I have relatives who've bucked that trend, taken a few risks and left their safe lives in the South East. They could have been wage slaves for most of their lives, but by re-locating, they've been able to have property to suit them and change their entire lifestyle, long before retirement.

It's not for everyone, but thinking outside the box can pay off, whether it's just looking deeper into the Rightmove vaults, or taking the much more risky path of relocating to a cheaper area.

Whatever, grumbling isn't the answer!

moneyistooshorttomention

Indeed a point re "thinking outside the box". I've done just that and had to move to a cheaper area to get "house I expected at this age" (ie now retired).

I couldn't honestly tell you whether I would move back to home area or no if I had the money to do so. I've been here about a year. Ask me again in a couple of years time.

Meanwhile, if I had a premium bond win big enough to cover "my sort of house, ie appropriate as a Forever Home" in my home area I couldn't honestly tell you whether I would go back or no. As I figure it would cost me £150,000 or so to go back (as it wouldn't be worth it unless I could afford my particular little "chosen area" in my home area, ie one of the best locations there is where I thought I would be by now) then the question is academic anyway unfortunately.

I've had to "think outside the box", but then I had to go in for lateral thinking to be able to manage to buy the starter house I had in my home area that I moved from. Standard thinking of "save the deposit and fees and then take out the mortgage and you have it" would have probably meant that I'd still be waiting even to get a starter house even at my age:eek: (the "should have had a house for nearly 40 years now agegroup").

I cant say I "love" the house, but its a sight better than it was at the time I bought it (ie it was pretty uninhabitable at that point) and would now represent one of the best detached ones of its size in one of the best locations here if I were to sell it now (NFH don't raise your hopes...despite your best efforts - I know when I've got a good financial deal:rotfl:).