125k First Time Buyer, Where In Norfolk?

Caraway90

I live in the Great Yarmouth area, I could tell you loads about the good and the bad parts!

However, if you plan on working at the Norfolk & Norwich for the foreseeable future and will need to continue usuing public transport, I wouldn't consider coming this far east.

Have you researched the public transport options to the hospital from this area?

gohan2091

Thanks all for the comments, I have taken note of every one. Maybe I will learn to drive in the future but for right now, it's a no, as I want to put in all my money into getting my own house. I have found a 2 bedroom flat, really nice in Norwich (Old Lakenham) just been refurbished for 130k, I'm viewing it on Tuesday. Service charges and ground rent total only £200 per year... great. It was put on the market for £140k but dropped twice since then. I can't afford 130k but I will try offering maybe 120k and see what happens.



I have also found some really nice properties in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston area. I have looked at crime maps of these areas and also flood maps. @Caraway90 please can we chat on Facebook or somewhere? I would love to hear which parts of Yarmouth to avoid and which are ok.


Regarding transport, I actually get the X1 bus from Trowse to the bus station then the 11 to the hospital. The X1 is the Yarmouth bus and it goes from Gorleston too. It shouldn't be a problem travelling, I just have to wake up earlier. I am not interested in transferring jobs to James Paget at the moment, I earn good enhanced pay for weekend work and wouldn't want to lose this.

mangog

I'd get something smaller in Norwich and avoid that commute from Yarmouth if I were you...any time there's an accident on the Acle Straight you're stuck there for as long as it takes...also in my experience the X1 breaks down once a week which is pretty annoying.

On the plus side, they do have free WiFi on the bus!

SuperMoose

gohan2091 wrote: »

Thanks all for the comments, I have taken note of every one. Maybe I will learn to drive in the future but for right now, it's a no, as I want to put in all my money into getting my own house. I have found a 2 bedroom flat, really nice in Norwich (Old Lakenham) just been refurbished for 130k, I'm viewing it on Tuesday. Service charges and ground rent total only £200 per year... great. It was put on the market for £140k but dropped twice since then. I can't afford 130k but I will try offering maybe 120k and see what happens.

Is it this one?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73702331.html

If so there is a second more recent listing that says it is being sold with a tenant:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75217367.html

gohan2091

SuperMoose wrote: »

Is it this one?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73702331.html

If so there is a second more recent listing that says it is being sold with a tenant:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75217367.html

Yes that's the one. I am viewing it tomorrow morning 10am. How come it is listed again with a different estate agent? I'm confused. I was told the flat was vacant by William H Brown. Maybe the more recent ad is for another flat?

Cakeguts

gohan2091 wrote: »

Yes that's the one. I am viewing it tomorrow morning 10am. How come it is listed again with a different estate agent? I'm confused. I was told the flat was vacant by William H Brown. Maybe the more recent ad is for another flat?

It looks to me as if the listed the flat in June and when it didn't sell they let it and are now trying to sell it with the tenant.



It is an ex local authority flat as well so you need to be careful. The service charge may be low but you could be hit with a huge bill for repairs. Ex council flats can look good value but the huge maintenance bill that are quite common with them can make them overall more expensive.

gohan2091

Cakeguts wrote: »

It looks to me as if the listed the flat in June and when it didn't sell they let it and are now trying to sell it with the tenant.

It is an ex local authority flat as well so you need to be careful. The service charge may be low but you could be hit with a huge bill for repairs. Ex council flats can look good value but the huge maintenance bill that are quite common with them can make them overall more expensive.

I'm confused because I was told the property is vacant. Also you said about huge maintenance charges, the flat is apparently been refurbished throughout, so what do you mean by this?


EDIT: Just called the estate agency and they said the tenant moved in on 5th September. That's rather poor as I was told the flat was vacant...He is going to be there for 6 months so I decided to cancel the viewing

gohan2091

I currently live in Trowse, and I actually get the X1 bus (outside County Hall) to the city centre then a 11 to the hospital. My journey including some walking takes about 1 hour total. If I were to live in Great Yarmouth or Gorleston then it would add an extra half an hour or so to the journey each way. Yes this is not good but I can buy so much more property in Great Yarmouth for my budget than in Norwich. Norwich is still my first choice and I will do what I can to remain here.

I am viewing some properties on 25th in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston. These are on [FONT=&quot]Baliol Road, [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Suffield Road, Nile Road and [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Trafalgar Road West (All Gorleston) and in Great Yarmouth, Lancaster Road (from research, this road is surrounded by crime but my work colleague lived her for 5 years and said it's fine although I have serious concerns) and also near Northgate on [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Alderson Road (My mums friend's daughter lives near here and said it's quiet)
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[FONT=&quot]I think I will try that journey a few times on the bus to get a feel for just how long it is. I will save the information you gave me, it's very useful. Much appreciated!
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ReadingTim

gohan2091 wrote: »

Thanks all for the comments, I have taken note of every one. Maybe I will learn to drive in the future but for right now, it's a no, as I want to put in all my money into getting my own house.

You might have "taken note" of every comment, but you clearly haven't understood them!

Learning to drive will greatly increase the pool of properties you are able to buy, both in terms of absolute number, and relative value - you get more for your money in areas where public transport isn't so good.

Unless you're a completely incompetent muppet behind the wheel, driving lessons & test etc shouldn't cost more than a grand all-in, and you can get an old banger for a few hundred quid more. You'll spend at least as much in legal fees on a property purchase, by way of comparison. Limiting your search radius to the bus routes of Norwich is wilfully short-sighted at best.

gohan2091

Yes but the legal fees I will have to pay for regardless of whether I drive or not drive, it's an unavoidable cost but the driving cost is avoidable. I already said in my first post I understand public transport limits me, so I do understand. If you don't believe me then suit yourself. I hear your words and you are right. I have a mountain bike so I am able to move into an area with poor public transport to an extent but yes no where near the freedom a car brings me. I am not against learning to drive, I am thinking about it more and more.