Does anyone want to join me waiting to find a house to buy?

kilby_007

Saw "house 3" today, the one at offers over 250K which I thought didn't need any work. Turns out it really does need a LOT of work. The estate agent photography is second to none because you couldn't see any of the flaws in the photos! Cracked single glazed windows, a sloping extension at the back of the house (about 4 inches from one side to the other! - even the door frames are twisted way out of shape!) and a very overgrown garden which appears to present a boundary issue - the next door neighbour has nicked a long strip of land that gets wider towards the bottom of the garden (about 10ft!)

I just can't believe some idiot paid what they're asking for it... I wonder if another one will come along! I can only assume it's due to the lack of houses for sale in the catchment area of the adjacent "outstanding" school. Even after all of the work has been done (maybe 40K including sorting out the sloping extension) it would probably still not be worth 250K (to us, anyway!)

kilby_007

Offer accepted today! Don't want to jinx it, we've come this close to buying a few times before!....

Further details in this thread... https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5608155

copperjar

Woohoo! Congratulations Kilby!

kilby_007

copperjar wrote: »

Woohoo! Congratulations Kilby!

Thanks! Solicitors have been instructed and it's off the market, so we're now one step further on than our previous attempts!

copperjar

That's really great news! You were one of the original early posters on this thread, so pleased you found somewhere. Was it one you had offered on previously?

9ja4life

kilby_007 wrote: »

Offer accepted today! Don't want to jinx it, we've come this close to buying a few times before!....

Further details in this thread... https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5608155

Yay! Congratulations


We've found a place too. Got issued a section 21 so our hands were forced somewhat. I miss viewing houses - not!

kilby_007

copperjar wrote: »

That's really great news! You were one of the original early posters on this thread, so pleased you found somewhere. Was it one you had offered on previously?

Yes it was. We offered back in October but lost out to a cash buyer. Don't know why the sale fell through but it's in the middle of 2 outstanding schools and some 20% cheaper than similar properties on plots half the size (it needs renovating but was priced to sell quickly). After your comment about my early post (I've actually been looking since Nov 2015 though!) I took a look at it and went through those requirements which I stated 6 months back and commented in red below in terms of what we've managed.

1) Walking distance to a good school (<20 mins). YES (5 mins)
2) Walking distance to a village or town (<20 mins). YES (10 mins)
3) Enough of a garden so that we can have a workshop, summerhouse/bar, seating area and a good sized lawn for the kids to play. YES
4) A period property or attractive 60's-70's build (the latter is difficult to find given some of the building materials used e.g. stone/tile cladding and renders), A fairly plain (not ugly) 70's build. We'll be adding a porch and some foliage to beautify it a bit!
5) A quiet (ish) road or cul de sac. Errr, nope - busy main road but set back about 20 metres, so a good compromise.
6) Parking spaces (2 minimum) 5 at least

I still daren't get too excited because I'm half expecting something to crop up in the searches or survey. If it doesn't, then it just shows it's worth waiting for the right one, even if it does take 15 months!!

copperjar

9ja4life wrote: »

Yay! Congratulations


We've found a place too. Got issued a section 21 so our hands were forced somewhat. I miss viewing houses - not!

Great news! You've been looking for quite a while too if I remember - looks like good things come to those who wait!

kilby_007

9ja4life wrote: »

Yay! Congratulations


We've found a place too. Got issued a section 21 so our hands were forced somewhat. I miss viewing houses - not!

Well done! I don't miss viewing houses either! I wouldn't like to count them up, but it must be well over 30!!!

Sarah_81

Hello all
I'd like to join the thread please I have been renting for years, with 2 disastrous moves in the last 6 months, the first house was rat infested and no heat or hot water for 2 months, moved into my dream apartment and received a letter to say the flat was being forced sold so now putting up with viewings and inspections galore until my contract ends in May. I was looking into buying the flat at first, but the leasehold puts me off, and the extra fees (high service and ground rent charges) put it over what I could comfortably afford.

It has made me see that buying may be the way forward though. I was considering renting long term again once I move from here, but I so want stability and my own home. I'd be buying alone so my options are limited. Think of what you'd like and half the budget, so I know I won't get a dream house to start with. If it's livable and not too much renovation costs I would be happy. I am looking at the Dunscroft area of South Yorkshire. Raised in that vicinity, in Hatfield, and also know Dunscroft and Armthorpe well (grandparents from here) unfortunately Hatfield and Armthorpe are way too expensive so will most likely have to rule these out.

I have a aip from when I was looking into buying the flat i rent, and my parents are gifting me the deposit (a lucky only child) so I have started the search and have my first viewings next week.

I am excited and a bit scared, especially doing this alone, but not feeling the panic I felt at being the owner of a leasehold.