Really confused about what I want :(

janoid19

I would rather buy nothing and end up on the street than spend too much money on a piece of junk. I know that's extreme but its how I genuinely feel. £190k is a hell of a lot of money, and I expect to get something decent if Im spending it.

I can't think of much worse than being in rented after retirement, most fundamentally my income won't cover the bills. Bit of a show stopper that.

I have read through all of the thread and you are totally contradicting yourself. You say you would rather end up on the street that spend money on something unsuitable but then you say you couldn't think of anything worse than renting after retirement. I'm pretty sure being on the street is worse!

You need to make up your mind and if you really don't want to rent then like everyone has said you need to compromise and also move quickly on anything that comes up that you like. Get a viewing for as soon as is available and don't spend ages trying to find problems with it as then you'll lose out to someone else. If you can't compromise and don't want to spend the money on 'a piece of junk' then find a rental property which is more spacious and suitable.

NinjaTune

danlightbulb said:

carefullycautious said:

I'm afraid it is unreasonable that's why you are still in your rental. I understand it is a bitter pill to swallow as all the houses I look at are what others do not want, the best ones get snapped up. Have you tried posting flyers through the doors of houses you would like in the area you want. Chat down at your local pub about what you are looking for and see if someone has a relative/friend who may be considering moving. 
But as everyone else has said your expectations are really going to have to come down. 
(For what its worth my upright piano and subsequent lessons took place in a 2up 2 down)
This is the type of house that would suit you see floor plan ex council 
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-73321671.html

Yes that house would be fine with me, provided the area is not rough. Should I move to Redditch to get it, because I can't get it here?

NinjaTune said:

You have £5,000 put aside for a piano - why not put that towards your purchase instead which should bring other, more desirable, properties into your budget.  You can always save up again to purchase an upright and use your digital in the meantime. 

How much would you get for the digital on the secondhand market?  Will your mortgage be cheaper vs your current rent?  Both of these things could help you save again for an upright in a shorter space of time.

It's not just that you want "a driveway and a reasonably sized living space", you want that plus numerous other things within a very restricted area and that is obviously not working out well.  Increase your budget with the piano money, save like a demon whilst still looking and you may well find that your desired property is actually within financial reach.

An extra £5k makes no difference. 

It could make a difference between getting an offer accepted or getting it rejected if you can afford to offer 5k more than anyone else.

I could understand all this faffing around waiting for your dream home to appear in your price range if your rental accommodation was perfect.  Doesn't sound like it is though.

Saying there's no point in saving more money is rather defeatist imo.  If you aren't finding anywhere in your budget now then how are you going to find somewhere in the future with the same, static budget? 

hazyjo

Keep an eye on this one. Just because it says offers over doesn't mean they won't accept an offer. Especially if it sits on the market for a while or if they have fallen in love with somewhere and can afford to drop.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/75222846#/ 

You could easily fit everything in. Piano could go where their tall glass lamp is. Put a 2 seater under the window and another 2 (or 3) seater where their's is by the stairs.

danlightbulb

Thanks all for the input. I agree that I have to make compromises. I guess I don't know which ones, as there is a wide range of ways I could go. For example I could go a bit further afield and get a big detached that needs work:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84997123#/
Could it be done, yes but I'd be setting myself up for 10+ years of modernisation and needing to give up other things in my life to get this, like socialising. I'd be making the house my life. Is that what I should do?

Or something like this one which is about a mile further away from where I live now but the area is not very good. But the house itself has a great layout and is a traditional style and needs no work.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85516811#/

Both of the above are a little on the high side still though, I'd be stretching my affordability, and of course the first one needs modernisation costs as I said.

Houses like this one come up fairly regularly at the circa £170k-£190k mark but Im not keen on having the stairs in the living room and the integral garage just eats up floor space. Its not a style Im overly keen on, but if I just wanted a house for the sake of it, then it would be fine I guess. Nothing exciting, plain.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/71853798#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84183691#/

I was keen on seeing this one but it sold quickly. However again at £190k its at the high end and I was concerned about the quality of that flat roof rear extension on the back. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73647306#/

this is the one I was really keen on but kept getting messed around by the agent. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/71114094#/

Unusual style but I quite like it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78175840#/ just a bit further afield again.

This one has problems getting a mortgage because of mines, plus its badly overlooked at the back. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86386739#/


What do you think about some of these selections?

danlightbulb

NinjaTune said:

It could make a difference between getting an offer accepted or getting it rejected if you can afford to offer 5k more than anyone else.

I could understand all this faffing around waiting for your dream home to appear in your price range if your rental accommodation was perfect.  Doesn't sound like it is though.

Saying there's no point in saving more money is rather defeatist imo.  If you aren't finding anywhere in your budget now then how are you going to find somewhere in the future with the same, static budget? 

Your first statement there raises another issue I have, because I feel that just because I can add £5k to the price doesn't mean I should. I don't want to pay over the odds and I know that creates issues, and Im not a crashytime supporter as such, but I don't want to feel like I've overpaid/been forced up on something.

My rental is too small, but it does have a drive and garage, is quiet, in good condition.

janoid19

danlightbulb said:

NinjaTune said:

It could make a difference between getting an offer accepted or getting it rejected if you can afford to offer 5k more than anyone else.

I could understand all this faffing around waiting for your dream home to appear in your price range if your rental accommodation was perfect.  Doesn't sound like it is though.

Saying there's no point in saving more money is rather defeatist imo.  If you aren't finding anywhere in your budget now then how are you going to find somewhere in the future with the same, static budget? 

Your first statement there raises another issue I have, because I feel that just because I can add £5k to the price doesn't mean I should. I don't want to pay over the odds and I know that creates issues, and Im not a crashytime supporter as such, but I don't want to feel like I've overpaid/been forced up on something.

My rental is too small, but it does have a drive and garage, is quiet, in good condition.

Surely if this is going to be your forever home then even if you do pay a little bit more than its worth, why does it matter? Its worth what you are willing to pay and if the house has everything you need then surely its worth it?

hazyjo

The one you're keen on - be persistent.

I had a similar thread - I've prob linked to it before. I knew what I wanted. I didn't think I was being at all unreasonable lol. I've never really had a problem finding a house before and have moved many times, but couldn't find anything. But there was this one house that I wanted. Wasn't perfect, but ticked a lot of boxes and just felt right. But the agents were so obstructive as I was only prepared to offer low on it. I was ringing and they'd say 'we'll ring you in a week if it's still available, although it wont' be'. A week and a bit later, I'd ring and they'd say something like 'it's going to go, there's lots of viewings'. Still nothing. I'd ring a week later and they'd say 'there's been snow, nothing's happening, so we'll reassess after that'. Honestly, I was pulling my hair out. The house was empty, it wouldn't sell, it was very unloved and needed a bit of love. The EA had me in tears as he was so nasty at times. So frustrating. In the end, I blocked their number and emailed saying let's just get this sorted please - I want the house, this is my offer, please come back to me. Thankfully got to deal with some woman who was much nicer and keen to do a deal. Eventually agreed a price just a grand over my second offer.

I kept them blocked and said I couldn't take calls at work so they needed to email everything.

Sometimes you just have to rise above their games and tell them rather than ask or be polite.

danlightbulb

janoid19 said:

danlightbulb said:

NinjaTune said:

It could make a difference between getting an offer accepted or getting it rejected if you can afford to offer 5k more than anyone else.

I could understand all this faffing around waiting for your dream home to appear in your price range if your rental accommodation was perfect.  Doesn't sound like it is though.

Saying there's no point in saving more money is rather defeatist imo.  If you aren't finding anywhere in your budget now then how are you going to find somewhere in the future with the same, static budget? 

Your first statement there raises another issue I have, because I feel that just because I can add £5k to the price doesn't mean I should. I don't want to pay over the odds and I know that creates issues, and Im not a crashytime supporter as such, but I don't want to feel like I've overpaid/been forced up on something.

My rental is too small, but it does have a drive and garage, is quiet, in good condition.

Surely if this is going to be your forever home then even if you do pay a little bit more than its worth, why does it matter? Its worth what you are willing to pay and if the house has everything you need then surely its worth it?

Thanks, I get what you're saying. I think partially the issue is about validation of the price. If something sells immediately, then the price asked has been validated as correct. If it doesn't, then how do you judge what it's worth? Especially when there are compromises Im making. I often compare sold prices in the area etc and feel certain houses (the ones that don't sell quickly) are overpriced, and that puts me off seeing it, because I don't want the hassle/embarrassment of low balling them.

RelievedSheff

danlightbulb said:

Thanks all for the input. I agree that I have to make compromises. I guess I don't know which ones, as there is a wide range of ways I could go. For example I could go a bit further afield and get a big detached that needs work:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84997123#/
Could it be done, yes but I'd be setting myself up for 10+ years of modernisation and needing to give up other things in my life to get this, like socialising. I'd be making the house my life. Is that what I should do?

Or something like this one which is about a mile further away from where I live now but the area is not very good. But the house itself has a great layout and is a traditional style and needs no work.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85516811#/

Both of the above are a little on the high side still though, I'd be stretching my affordability, and of course the first one needs modernisation costs as I said.

Houses like this one come up fairly regularly at the circa £170k-£190k mark but Im not keen on having the stairs in the living room and the integral garage just eats up floor space. Its not a style Im overly keen on, but if I just wanted a house for the sake of it, then it would be fine I guess. Nothing exciting, plain.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/71853798#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84183691#/

I was keen on seeing this one but it sold quickly. However again at £190k its at the high end and I was concerned about the quality of that flat roof rear extension on the back. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73647306#/

this is the one I was really keen on but kept getting messed around by the agent. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/71114094#/

Unusual style but I quite like it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78175840#/ just a bit further afield again.

This one has problems getting a mortgage because of mines, plus its badly overlooked at the back. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86386739#/


What do you think about some of these selections?

Personally I don't like any of those but it isn't me that would have to live in it!!

danlightbulb

RelievedSheff said:

danlightbulb said:

Thanks all for the input. I agree that I have to make compromises. I guess I don't know which ones, as there is a wide range of ways I could go. For example I could go a bit further afield and get a big detached that needs work:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84997123#/
Could it be done, yes but I'd be setting myself up for 10+ years of modernisation and needing to give up other things in my life to get this, like socialising. I'd be making the house my life. Is that what I should do?

Or something like this one which is about a mile further away from where I live now but the area is not very good. But the house itself has a great layout and is a traditional style and needs no work.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85516811#/

Both of the above are a little on the high side still though, I'd be stretching my affordability, and of course the first one needs modernisation costs as I said.

Houses like this one come up fairly regularly at the circa £170k-£190k mark but Im not keen on having the stairs in the living room and the integral garage just eats up floor space. Its not a style Im overly keen on, but if I just wanted a house for the sake of it, then it would be fine I guess. Nothing exciting, plain.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/71853798#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/84183691#/

I was keen on seeing this one but it sold quickly. However again at £190k its at the high end and I was concerned about the quality of that flat roof rear extension on the back. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/73647306#/

this is the one I was really keen on but kept getting messed around by the agent. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/71114094#/

Unusual style but I quite like it: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78175840#/ just a bit further afield again.

This one has problems getting a mortgage because of mines, plus its badly overlooked at the back. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86386739#/


What do you think about some of these selections?

Personally I don't like any of those but it isn't me that would have to live in it!!

That's interesting to me, because it makes me question whether Im looking at the right houses. What don't you like about them, and in this area, what is it you do like the look of? A couple of examples of what you think are better would help me out I think.