Really confused about what I want :(

ChloeManoey

Sometimes you have to play the long game. 

My dream was to buy a property in Brighton. I could not get the mortgage I needed, with my salary. I was paying £815 a month rent for a 1 bedroom flat. If I didn't compromise, I would still be doing that. 

I had to either compromise on the property I wanted, or the location. I wasn't willing to move out of Brighton. 

So I bought a shared ownership property (50% of what I really wanted). It's much cheaper than the rent I was paying, and I plan to massively overpay the mortgage as much as I can. 

In say 5 years, maybe then I can afford what I really wanted in the first place (a whole property, when I've built up some equity). But had I not compromised, I would still be renting, wasting money, and getting further away from what I wanted.

In actual fact, I am thrilled with my place and I'm very happy, it doesn't feel like a compromise anymore anyway. You will probably find that too. 

You are so fortunate that there are so many in your budget. My one bedroom flat cost £245,000. You're looking at 3 bed houses for half that price. Try and realise how fortunate you are and be grateful for what you CAN have, rather than focusing on what you can't have. 

janoid19

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.

But if you look at it that way you will never buy anything as if a house selling at that price validates the price as correct then its already too late as its already sold. 

RelievedSheff

Any of these any good:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74892636#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/95357183#/

NinjaTune

@danlightbulb - what RelievedSheff likes is unimportant in your house search, we all probably like/want different things.  Focus on what you want or you'll end up even more confused!

As hazyjo says, if you like that particular property then be persistent.  It's a nice place but looks like it will have a lot of work required on it - the EPC is rather poor.  With your budget you should be able to afford the upgrade as long as there's nothing structurally wrong with it.  It seems to tick most of your boxes so don't give up on it but also don't stop looking.

Tiglet2

ChloeManoey said:

Sometimes you have to play the long game. 

You are so fortunate that there are so many in your budget. My one bedroom flat cost £245,000. You're looking at 3 bed houses for half that price. Try and realise how fortunate you are and be grateful for what you CAN have, rather than focusing on what you can't have. 

^ This.  Sorry to say, danlightbulb, but in every thread of yours, you are negative and pessimistic, with an excuse as to why each and every piece of advice is rejected.    As an example, some people want to travel the world and have a year off to do that and they will save up, resign from their jobs and/or sell their houses in order to go.   Other people will also say they want to travel the world and have a year off to do that, but there will always be a reason why they can't, and those people will never go.  Whatever you decide, don't let this be something you regret.  

danlightbulb

NinjaTune said:

@danlightbulb - what RelievedSheff likes is unimportant in your house search, we all probably like/want different things.  Focus on what you want or you'll end up even more confused!

As hazyjo says, if you like that particular property then be persistent.  It's a nice place but looks like it will have a lot of work required on it - the EPC is rather poor.  With your budget you should be able to afford the upgrade as long as there's nothing structurally wrong with it.  It seems to tick most of your boxes so don't give up on it but also don't stop looking.

Rare to get good EPC ratings round here no matter what, so I don't pay much attention to it. I do value having a relatively modern boiler, loft access, good quality windows though so those are what I look for.

Actually it helps me alot to see what other people like/would buy, because there is so much variation and its hard to see through it all. Plus it can help me get across what I do and don't like about certain houses and layouts.

RelievedSheff said:

Any of these any good:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74892636#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/95357183#/

The first one is in an area that Ive been told before has issues with mines and getting mortgages. It may not apply to that specific house but its on the same estate. It appears to be a reasonable standard however the layout is poor for my needs. The house (and the other one youve picked as well actually) both have this large open plan kitchen/diner style at the rear of the house, with the majority of the space allocated to that rather than the lounge area. That's the wrong way round for me. I live alone so I don't need the 'big family kitchen' and I'd rather have a larger living room located at the back of the house overlooking the garden. It also has no rear access except through the house. Also its living room to living room in terms of the neighbours, which Im concerned about regarding the piano I want.

The second one has the same arrangement. Its living room to living room, and the back extension looks great but has removed almost the whole back garden, and is entirely allocated to the 'big family kitchen' which I really don't want. The standard of the house looks to be really good but the layout just doesn't work for me at all. Also the immediate area is very industrial.

RelievedSheff

danlightbulb said:

NinjaTune said:

@danlightbulb - what RelievedSheff likes is unimportant in your house search, we all probably like/want different things.  Focus on what you want or you'll end up even more confused!

As hazyjo says, if you like that particular property then be persistent.  It's a nice place but looks like it will have a lot of work required on it - the EPC is rather poor.  With your budget you should be able to afford the upgrade as long as there's nothing structurally wrong with it.  It seems to tick most of your boxes so don't give up on it but also don't stop looking.

Rare to get good EPC ratings round here no matter what, so I don't pay much attention to it. I do value having a relatively modern boiler, loft access, good quality windows though so those are what I look for.

Actually it helps me alot to see what other people like/would buy, because there is so much variation and its hard to see through it all. Plus it can help me get across what I do and don't like about certain houses and layouts.

RelievedSheff said:

Any of these any good:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74892636#/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/95357183#/

The first one is in an area that Ive been told before has issues with mines and getting mortgages. It may not apply to that specific house but its on the same estate. It appears to be a reasonable standard however the layout is poor for my needs. The house (and the other one youve picked as well actually) both have this large open plan kitchen/diner style at the rear of the house, with the majority of the space allocated to that rather than the lounge area. That's the wrong way round for me. I live alone so I don't need the 'big family kitchen' and I'd rather have a larger living room located at the back of the house overlooking the garden. It also has no rear access except through the house. Also its living room to living room in terms of the neighbours, which Im concerned about regarding the piano I want.

The second one has the same arrangement. Its living room to living room, and the back extension looks great but has removed almost the whole back garden, and is entirely allocated to the 'big family kitchen' which I really don't want. The standard of the house looks to be really good but the layout just doesn't work for me at all. Also the immediate area is very industrial.

I spotted this one for you and initially discounted it. Although from what you just said it doesn't have the large kitchen diner and the lounge opens onto the garden.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74382921#/

RelievedSheff

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85058479#/

phoebe1989seb

Out of the ones you listed, OP, I only like the cottage style property in Hall Park Street, Bilston for £185k. However, having owned a detached house in Tettenhall for three years (sold it in 2018), I'm vaguely familiar with the location and wouldn't want to live in the Bilston area I'm afraid 

That's just it though....what suits me (or doesn't), won't necessarily suit you. Only you can decide what's best for you!

There's another poster on these boards who has been struggling to find a new home for ages (not Crashy, lol!) and they too don't seem able to accept that what they want/can afford doesn't exist in their tiny search area. I get that all those criteria are important to you, OP, but honestly something really has to give or you'll get completely priced out.

When we sold our last home we were downsizing from a sprawling four bed (that was already a massive downsize from our previous homes), but wanted much more outside space (acreage....on which to keep a few animals). In order to get that we knew we'd have to move even further afield than our original expensive home area (south coast of England), so we opted to buy in Wales.

However, finding something that ticked all our boxes (detached with no/few near neighbours, rural, period house, a project, decent living space, something we could add value to and could afford to do so, near a pretty town, 30+ minutes drive from the sea) even in a location that was relatively inexpensive proved hard (and we were searching three Welsh counties!), so in the end we actually compromised on the thing we thought we wanted most.....the land.

The cottage we bought has *only* half an acre or so, but is in such a great location we were prepared to make that sacrifice. It was also a little smaller internally than we'd hoped for, with a pretty dodgy layout. Almost three years on and we've completely altered the internal layout (and are about to build an extension 🙄), love living here and realise that we're probably not cut out for keeping anything other than the chickens we plan to get next year, lol!

Managing your expectations and being honest with yourself about what you can afford is key, imho......

danlightbulb

RelievedSheff said:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85058479#/

The lounge is away from the neighbours but its badly overlooked by the flats at the back. I wouldn't buy that no. Its also in a very bad (rough) location.

RelievedSheff said:

I spotted this one for you and initially discounted it. Although from what you just said it doesn't have the large kitchen diner and the lounge opens onto the garden.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74382921#/

A 4 bed for the money sounds good on paper but I wouldn't be happy with the roadway under part of my house, and I expect this house wouldn't be freehold (or would have significant constraints) and the tunnel thing could cause some real problems. Plus the separate garage is under someone else's house. I just don't like it. This is one of those houses that should never have been allowed by the planners in my view, and I wouldn't buy it. Can you honestly say you think that is a sensible buy?