Unsure what I want, plus couple of houses opinions requested

Tiglet2

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76353799.html?premiumA=true?utm_source=sendtofriend&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=buying

Seems to tick quite a few boxes?

danlightbulb

GDB2222 wrote: »

I don’t know the area, but the one you offered on looks head and shoulders above the others. That’s mainly because of the lovely views. And it’s a spacious house. Personally, I’d buy that one, and if I could not afford to do it up, I’d live in it as it is.

That’s the compromise that suits me, and you might not be happy, but there’s a lot of house p0rn around telling us that a house is only a good home if it’s done up to look v smart. I’m not a subscriber to that notion.

Obviously, that one is now shown as under offer, but there may be more like it around.

Yes it really was an outstanding house with lots of potential and room for growth in future. It was just too much of a stretch. I know I didn't have to do everything immediately, but it was pretty desperate for a new boiler and new fusebox. I just wouldn't have the cash left over after buying it, and the increased mortgage (compared to rent) and increased council tax, means I wouldn't be able to save much. There was just no headroom. With two salaries, easy. But its just me.

There was one exactly the same style and same size plot on the opposite side of the street being sold at auction. It did need more refurb work, still nothing structural, but I found out rrecently it sold for only £147.5k. That to me says that £187.5k was overpriced and I was paying too much. As I said, I felt under pressure to make a high offer because I knew the vendor was expecting to get close to his asking price and he'd had other offers. I knew that house would not stick around long and after I withdrew it went sold again within 3 days.

Bossypants wrote: »

As a single woman with hobbies, I have similar requirements to yours, and I have ended up in a bungalow which suits me perfectly. Less hall space makes me feel like I'm not rattling around the way I felt in a 2.5 bed semi (also less to clean!), and the larger garden and footprint of the house means there is far more scope to extend in ways which work for me (my place has two bedrooms, one of which I have set up as a study. I'm in the process of converting the small garage to utility room, and in time plan to put a cabin in the garden for messier hobby work).

I hadn't actually wanted a bungalow to begin with, and only chose to see this one because I needed a space filler in between appointments, but so glad I did. It suits me much better than a 2/3 bed semi in a similar price range would have done, and as a bonus I'm detached, so much less neighbour noise, which IMO can be especially noticeable/bothersome when you're by yourself.

Its an interesting idea but Im stuggling to see why a bungalow should have more space than a normal house with the same number of living areas and bedrooms. Yes I understand it will have a larger footprint because its all on one level. I had always considered bungalows as for old people, and not sure whether I can get past that stereotype. Plus I quite like staircases, they are traditional and can add character if decorated nicely.

markin wrote: »

From the description you gave none of the houses you listed seemed to fit it, A bungalow?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76273543.html

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-87234155.html

Thansk for looking for me. The second one I don't like, small plot negates the benefits of a bungalow, but the first one is interesting. I can see its a big footprint for the house, detached, and with alot of land to it (although mostly to the front approach rather than at the rear).

Unfortunately first impressions are very misleading:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5905643,-2.0690872,88m/data=!3m1!1e3

As you can see, its a shared access with another bungalow behind, so I'd wager there is hardly any owned land at all with it, and it won't be as private as the photos suggest.

Tiglet2 wrote: »

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-76353799.html?premiumA=true?utm_source=sendtofriend&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=buying

Seems to tick quite a few boxes?

Thanks for looking for me. Interesting one. Firstly, it was sold for only £100k in Oct 2018, presumably in a run down state but still, +£80k in just over a year when no structural additions have been made? Technically it is also an end terrace not a semi. The middle house of that row sold for just £87k in 2015. A 3 bed link-detached in the same road sold for £175k in March 2018. Im sorry to appear picky, but still only 1 downstairs living space because they've done it as a kitchen-diner rather than having an extra separate room downstairs. Also no garage. I feel that at the ceiling of an area, it really could be better, although its in good condition I accept and has a reasonable sized garden. It has room for extending but I can't find £20k for that for probably 10-15 years at least.

I prefered it before they demolished the front garden:
Google street view

I do like it though. Just think its overpriced given no building additions have been made to it. I would say its worth £180k if ground floor extensions had been built to the side and rear.

getmore4less wrote: »

Can't the computer based stuff can go in an upstairs room. We have our small bedroomed decked out as office and computer space, it keeps it away from the rest of the house.

Have you though about going top budget/affordability and making it a bit easier with lodger(s).

I don't want it hidden away because then it will get less use. If anything, I want it integrated into my living space so I can set up lots of interesting, integrated tech. As I live alone, I often browse on the computer whilst the TV is also on and I flick between my PC and my piano which I have linked to the PC for hobby recording.

davemorton

I really can not understand why people discount leasehold. If it is a decent lease, there really isnt a problem with them. Where I live, most houses are leasehold, but the leases are for 999 years and only a few pound a year.

markin

Thansk for looking for me. The second one I don't like, small plot negates the benefits of a bungalow, but the first one is interesting. I can see its a big footprint for the house, detached, and with alot of land to it (although mostly to the front approach rather than at the rear).

Unfortunately first impressions are very misleading:
https://www.google.com/maps/@52.5905643,-2.0690872,88m/data=!3m1!1e3

As you can see, its a shared access with another bungalow behind, so I'd wager there is hardly any owned land at all with it, and it won't be as private as the photos suggest.

That is a disappointment but think i would still go to see the house, put a fence up and it could still be a nice private garden, Garages or Garden will almost always be a trade off, Replacing it with a good sized single Garage or workshop would make the garden a little bigger.


On second thoughts i just spotted a Camera pointing strangely at the direction of the other house! pic13


Oh darn, i think you would only own half the Garage!

GDB2222

I don’t think you can directly compare the house sold at auction. The opposite side of the road means it doesn’t have that lovely view. And auction prices are generally a fair bit lower, as it tends to be cash or professional buyers.

danlightbulb

Yeah it was a shame on that one. I was disappointed but still think I made the right choice, I just couldnt afford it and the risk of major items needing work immediately was too great.

But it creates a dilemma because when i look at other houses and make the comparision to that one, well it then makes them seem overpriced.

Take that cottage looking one a few posts up at £180k. The area can be considered similar, it doesnt have a garage, it doesnt have the views, its smaller inside, it has been (cosmetically) done up but not particularly well in my opinion, and the vendor who did it up thinks they can sell it for £80k more than they bought it for just a year ago. Its a joke really.

I just want to see consistency and fair valuation so i can have a proper reasoned choice.

Just because most buyers can afford to pay say £180k doesnt mean that should be the minimum price of any old crap.

danlightbulb

I guess if I was going for a bungalow (still uncertain about that idea tbf), something like this looks decent:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-57484677.html

Its a good size house, 300+ m2 of back garden. Would need to build a driveway at the front and do up the bathroom but it looks mostly cosmetic work needed otherwise. Potential to build upwards too I suppose, not that I'd need the space.

The area isn't the best though, although it looks nice enough on the photos, street looks reasonably well kept.

Bungalows tend to look a bit like caravan sites don't they. My nan and grandad live in one, they are nearly 90.

What flexibility would I get from a bungalow that I don't get from a house? What different things / fun / interesting things could I do with one?

markin

Bungalows more often seem have good plot size so more chance of having the garden and a garage or space for one as well as good parking, and the option to extend.

And if you can get a detached no noise from them or you disturbing them playing piano at 10pm, and with any luck no screaming kids on the street.

HRH_MUngo

How about this? Or is the area too far out?

The 'garden' is a bit rough.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66218940.html

Or this : https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-75765154.html

The one you offered on is very nice. Ettingshall Park is a good area.

staffie1

PasturesNew wrote: »

I think the problem is that there's not much choice in recent months in many areas.

Sellers went on strike, waiting.

If you can't find something that will do, then you'll have to keep waiting until something turns up.

I sold 3 months ago, the market dried up.... way fewer houses for sale and those for sale tended to be top of my budget and need money/skills to modernise them.

They say January will see a lot for sale. Personally, I expected to see this January rush being typed up into RM yesterday and today, ready for the rush.... but nothing.

There is, of course, the other problem you have: family houses. It seems most are built for, or designed around, "families".... and if you're on your own then those layouts/modifications and extensions will grate on you. In the main, most mods/extensions etc only fit the lifestyle of the person undertaking them - as a buyer of their choices you just think "why did you do it like that?" or "why did you do it at all?"

Have you moved out yet or are you staying put until the market picks up?
I’m in exactly the same position as you, sold couple of months ago, and market absolutely dead. My buyer has had the survey done, and exchange due February. Time is running out for me!