The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

PasturesNew

Sunshinemummy wrote: »

Do you need to buy straight away? Is there other options like renting/staying with friends/family, which could bridge the gap!

I have no "friends or family", it's just me and my own ingenuity and my stuff locked up in storage. Every day that passes will therefore be another ££ off the budget.

Well, I'll have to buy soon-ish, before the market moves.
If I'm having this much trouble in a slow market, once it moves I'm left behind.


I want to be settled, I don't want to feel "too forced" into deciding on one. I keep thinking something will come along. It's been a year now and I've watched daily. Have things come along? Well, 1-2 have (which I wasn't in a position to buy).

At the moment, the most annoying one is the one that went up at £295k in Oct2018, sold within a week, completed at £280k in Jan2019 and reappeared in Aug2019 with zero changes at £315k with the same selling agent. And they don't seem willing to budge on that. I'm guessing they're happy to sit there awaiting "a quick profit" rather than needing to move.

I'd give them £295k, begrudgingly, even £299k at a push. It's not ideal/perfect, but it's the best of what's appeared attainable since I started looking.

But ... another "OK/it'll do" one might appear today... or later this week ... who knows when

I might actually commit to going round sticking notes through doors... you never know.

PasturesNew

Reading local Facebook posts, there's too much London wealth all flooding this way. Every day there are posts of "we're coming to....." and they're mostly young couples from London with a baby and £500-600k to spend!

With wealth like that kicking round a lot ... you can see why the ones I like, but need work doing, get snapped up at £300-325k or so, have £50k spent on them with extensions and bifold doors... and then they're back on at £425-450k. Taking 2 bed bungalows to being 3-4-bed extended beasts.

GDB2222

What you are saying, Pastures, is that selling without having somewhere lined up to buy is a gigantic financial risk. You recognise the risk, but, a bit like Nick Leeson, you insist on taking it. Almost nobody else in the country takes that risk. They nearly all exchange on their sale and purchase simultaneously.

Your reasons for needing to sell in a hurry all seem to have moved house. The winter months are coming, so children will be less likely to play in the street for another 8 months or so.

You don't have to do this. You just say to your buyers that you're taking the house off the market as you can't find anywhere to move to. They'll fully understand. They may be disappointed, but they'll understand all right.

PasturesNew

GDB2222 wrote: »

...

Not quite.

I am sure it'll work out all right in the end.

Doozergirl

Sunshinemummy wrote: »

Many people want to know that their home will be loved by a nice person... others are not bothered.... you get the best deal by figuring this out very quickly!

I'm watching it now.

I haven't seen her crack a smile yet and they're a few minutes into the final reveal already.

PasturesNew

One's come up.. BUT.

It started at £345k, today it went down to £330k and £320k 2 hours later.

They're pricing it based on the popularity of the road, rather than what it is.... to be more precise "the popularity of some of the houses on the other side of the road", so I think they will still have quite a wait. BUT .... it's the perfect spot for one of those "we'll extend it" brigade types with £100k to spend who want to end up with the £450k house.

It's a 2-bed.

Last 3-bed sold there at £405k last December. But that's on the other side of the road, with a looooooooong garden followed by water views. It looks like they might have some mooring rights, but can't tell.

This 2-bed has a smaller/over-looked garden.

I should phone, tomorrow... and do a viewing. Trouble is, having just reduced they are probably expecting closer to that full price still.

Is it worth what they were asking? No
Is it worth what they're asking? Touch/go
Is it worth what I'd offer? It'd be a "steal" so would expect a knockback.

I just need to check how close it is to the flood plains etc.... it's all very touch/go down that way as it's practically waterside.

EDIT: Just found the closest comparable; 2-bed 20 doors along, same size. Has a conservatory, decor OAP dated. Completed at £280k in March.

It's not on a high risk flood zone; not listed as being in a flood zone at the moment... it'll always be a variant of high risk due to the fact it's alongside a quay and lots of water that's tidal. One big stormy wind and a high tide and hundreds cop for it up that way .... it's probably a 1-in-200 year job.

EDIT 2: They're like buses! Another one's come up, house this time. Too large really for me, but right spot and £290k. 3-bed semi. Integral garage converted to gym & utility. 22'x11' living room, conservatory. All perfectly passable.

So that's two to phone up and get a viewing on tomorrow.

1/ £320k, 2 bed bungalow. About 700-ish sq ft. Preferred but I've only got £300k.
2/ £290k, 3 bed house, about 1200 sq ft. Too many rooms for me... but right orientation, price, location.

My ideal is: 2-3 bed bungalow, garage, about 720-800 sq ft. Ideally... in that area .. £275-290k.

Sunshinemummy

Jesus.. it is more stressful than buying an house myself. Remember a home is the most important thing... money can be replaced. I say this when I think very logical about housing (and returned home twice - to inform OH that I had bought a house)...on a serious note do what is right for you x

Do you fancy Yorkshire... I have a few spare bedrooms.... you are welcome to one... I have rather a lot of whisky!

Doozergirl

I was just reminded of this thread, whilst answering a question. Does anyone else remember when the boards were this lighthearted?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/859059/the-plop-age-chronicles-oh-bums-ill-have-no-internerd-connection-for-a-bit#topofpage

I wonder if forums are old hat now. I remember evenings spent where it was like a party here

When did it get so serious? I'm guessing it's when it got bigger.

SingleSue

Something I've noticed on my main site is that people are a lot more serious now. We use to have a joke around and do silly things but we get complaints now, people just want the facts, they don't want the humour.

That said, come the winter when I cover the Aussie meetings, they love my humour and actively encourage it and join in.

Sunshinemummy

Doozergirl wrote: »

I was just reminded of this thread, whilst answering a question. Does anyone else remember when the boards were this lighthearted?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/859059/the-plop-age-chronicles-oh-bums-ill-have-no-internerd-connection-for-a-bit#topofpage

I wonder if forums are old hat now. I remember evenings spent where it was like a party here

When did it get so serious? I'm guessing it's when it got bigger.

SingleSue wrote: »

Something I've noticed on my main site is that people are a lot more serious now. We use to have a joke around and do silly things but we get complaints now, people just want the facts, they don't want the humour.

That said, come the winter when I cover the Aussie meetings, they love my humour and actively encourage it and join in.

So lets make it lighthearted again!

Warning... my humour is in the gutter!!!!