Should I buy a house or wait until I know what I want?

Savingforahouse123

Hi

A year and a half ago if you asked me what sort of house I wanted, I would've said close to a city centre to make the most of all the nearby amenities and have the convenience of things being on my doorstep such as restaurants, bars, shops and supermarkets, train stations and bus stops (both running frequently), gyms etc.

Fast forward until now and I'd love the complete opposite of this. I'd love to be somewhere super quiet, surrounded by nature, with beautiful views, without hearing constant traffic in the morning.

It makes me think that in a year or two my tastes will change again. This worries me as buying somewhere is a long term commitment.

I do have the money saved up ready to buy my first home but the uncertainty of what I would like is putting me off. What do you think?

MalMonroe

You may have heard that Benjamin Franklin once said, "when in doubt, don't" - I think that's very good advice.

Even though you are prepared financially, it seems that you are not prepared mentally and subconsciously you feel that buying a house is not for you right now. I think it's a fairly common thing. Your instinct is telling you not to go ahead yet because you are not in the right frame of mind. 

In my own case, I know now not to ignore my instincts because when I do, things don't work out as well as I'd have liked. It's not just about buying houses, though, it can be about anything. (Although I did once buy a house that I wasn't sure about and regretted it the moment I moved in. Took me 8 years - and a financial loss - to get rid of that place!)

If you buy a property and you are not 100% committed, it's an expensive mistake when you think about solicitor's fees, surveyor's fees and estate agent fees plus new carpets, curtains and even removal van costs. It's not easy to move out quickly either, as I found because you have all those extra expenses again, every time you move. 

It might be better to stay where you are, for now, if you can and keep on saving. Of course, all of this is purely my own opinion and my own experience but I have to say that old Ben Franklin knew what he was talking about! (Even if I did ignore him a time or two. . . )     

Murphybear

The country can often be noisy rather than super quiet.  Lots of birds early in the morning and rooks can be especially noisy.  If you live near a farm or fields then be prepared for Mooooo or Baaaaaa.   Don’t get me started on cockerels at 5.00 am 

Woolsery

Murphybear said:

The country can often be noisy rather than super quiet.  Lots of birds early in the morning and rooks can be especially noisy.  If you live near a farm or fields then be prepared for Mooooo or Baaaaaa.   Don’t get me started on cockerels at 5.00 am 

Yup, all of that, and don't forget tractors, which also start early and often don't finish until late now they have their own light shows! Our house within a mile of the city centre was often quieter than here, but we were in a posh enclave and once we left it the traffic and parking was 'Bleurgh!' I didn't mind when young, but when getting to Sainsburys half a mile away could take 25 minutes each way I began to feel we'd had the best years and it was time to go.

I think the OP should rent in the country for a while. Like city areas, there are different countrysides and it may take time to find a happy balance between isolation and convenience. Although we're 11 miles from anything approximating to a proper supermarket,  the doctor/dentist is only 5 minutes and basic amenities are the same. I'd also hate to be totally without neighbours, whose eyes and ears are your best security system.

Sorry about the cockerels. To be fair, we don't know they are till they get about 6 weeks old. Then we find it hard to do the deed so carry on till it's time for the trip to Mr Pluckaduck.

Coolhand2

I think you should wait and keep saving more. You don't want to make an expensive mistake. I am saving for a downpayment and hoping to buy next year. So I am using this time to look at what's available and locations I would prefer but I tell myself to be patient,  this will be the most expensive investment.

lookstraightahead

Carry on renting and try different environments. When we recently moved area we rented and this enabled us to get to know the surroundings. In fact, we were absolutely sure that where we rented was the place we wanted to be for ever then ended up a couple of miles away. It also meant we could check areas for noise etc as it is quite correct that the countryside has all sorts of noises too.