When you need somewhere to live - rent/buy?

homemover21

Have you had the property valued? House prices have gone up in NI in the last 2 years. Average increase in the last year is 7.2%.

SecondStar

homemover21 said:

Have you had the property valued? House prices have gone up in NI in the last 2 years. Average increase in the last year is 7.2%.

No we haven’t yet, I imagine it’ll be something for the new year, but we’re going to discuss on Friday.

When we bought ours for 115k at the end of 2020, I’d known from my last 4 years of research on the local market that 115k was a good price for the house. Even discounting how prices shot up during the summer of 2020 - the 115k was a good price, pre-Covid rise.

Since then, there have been about 3-4 houses sold on streets around us, with the same floor plan or similar, for between 117-125k. Some of these have had the wall between the kitchen and bed 3/reception 2 taken down, or a conservatory on the back, or a fancier kitchen, or a garage.

I’d be happy enough to make back the 115k, based on my own research and knowledge of the market within the town, but it’ll be interesting to hear valuations as well.

Helenochka

OK. I'm starting to see where you're coming from. Rents are indeed expensive in NI, relative to house prices. Which of course is why I bought a rental there in the first place.
Please, please, though, do not buy something on a "paramilitary estate".  You will not enjoy living there. Rather than that, go for something a bit rough and unloved in a good town and - if necessary - teach yourself DIY. Something like this
14 Railway Terrace, Ballygowan - PropertyPal

SecondStar

Helenochka said:

OK. I'm starting to see where you're coming from. Rents are indeed expensive in NI, relative to house prices. Which of course is why I bought a rental there in the first place.
Please, please, though, do not buy something on a "paramilitary estate".  You will not enjoy living there. Rather than that, go for something a bit rough and unloved in a good town and - if necessary - teach yourself DIY. Something like this
14 Railway Terrace, Ballygowan - PropertyPal

That property is in one of my open tabs at the moment - I’ve lived in Ballygowan before, and it’s a nice enough village, albeit a bit further out from my ideal locations.

For something needing some DIY, I quite like this -
It has clearly had Something happen, although I’ve not been able to find out what. The off-street parking and secure outdoor space are very appealing.

I like this too -
It’s only just inside the estate, and the private garden and ample communal parking are attractive.

This is nice, although I don’t know if it’s too small for the price, and again it’s just inside an estate. My pets would appreciate the outdoor space, though 

Or this -
I’ve lived in a street nearby, and I like the area, although I know that this particular street is a nightmare to get parked on.

SecondStar

And yes, rental availability and pricing in comparison to <100k properties for sale is wild at the moment. Which is why I’m skewing more towards buying.

Skiddaw1

SecondStar said:

Helenochka said:

OK. I'm starting to see where you're coming from. Rents are indeed expensive in NI, relative to house prices. Which of course is why I bought a rental there in the first place.
Please, please, though, do not buy something on a "paramilitary estate".  You will not enjoy living there. Rather than that, go for something a bit rough and unloved in a good town and - if necessary - teach yourself DIY. Something like this
14 Railway Terrace, Ballygowan - PropertyPal

That property is in one of my open tabs at the moment - I’ve lived in Ballygowan before, and it’s a nice enough village, albeit a bit further out from my ideal locations.

For something needing some DIY, I quite like this - https://www.propertypal.com/16-rowan-glen-bangor/792640
It has clearly had Something happen, although I’ve not been able to find out what. The off-street parking and secure outdoor space are very appealing.

I like this too - https://www.propertypal.com/8b-canberra-gardens-newtownards/776265
It’s only just inside the estate, and the private garden and ample communal parking are attractive.

This is nice, although I don’t know if it’s too small for the price, and again it’s just inside an estate. My pets would appreciate the outdoor space, though - https://www.propertypal.com/20-ashfield-drive-donaghadee/793172

Or this - https://www.propertypal.com/35-robert-street-newtownards/764728
I’ve lived in a street nearby, and I like the area, although I know that this particular street is a nightmare to get parked on.

They all have things to recommend them but I particularly like the Donaghdee house. It may be a but small but it's really pretty and has the advantage of the nice garden (and being so close to the sea of course ). The Robert Street house in N'ards is sweet too.

Good luck OP. I hope that you and your dear animal family will soon be moving forward into better and happier times.

SecondStar

Skiddaw1 said:

SecondStar said:

Helenochka said:

OK. I'm starting to see where you're coming from. Rents are indeed expensive in NI, relative to house prices. Which of course is why I bought a rental there in the first place.
Please, please, though, do not buy something on a "paramilitary estate".  You will not enjoy living there. Rather than that, go for something a bit rough and unloved in a good town and - if necessary - teach yourself DIY. Something like this
14 Railway Terrace, Ballygowan - PropertyPal

That property is in one of my open tabs at the moment - I’ve lived in Ballygowan before, and it’s a nice enough village, albeit a bit further out from my ideal locations.

For something needing some DIY, I quite like this - https://www.propertypal.com/16-rowan-glen-bangor/792640
It has clearly had Something happen, although I’ve not been able to find out what. The off-street parking and secure outdoor space are very appealing.

I like this too - https://www.propertypal.com/8b-canberra-gardens-newtownards/776265
It’s only just inside the estate, and the private garden and ample communal parking are attractive.

This is nice, although I don’t know if it’s too small for the price, and again it’s just inside an estate. My pets would appreciate the outdoor space, though - https://www.propertypal.com/20-ashfield-drive-donaghadee/793172

Or this - https://www.propertypal.com/35-robert-street-newtownards/764728
I’ve lived in a street nearby, and I like the area, although I know that this particular street is a nightmare to get parked on.

They all have things to recommend them but I particularly like the Donaghdee house. It may be a but small but it's really pretty and has the advantage of the nice garden (and being so close to the sea of course ). The Robert Street house in N'ards is sweet too.

Good luck OP. I hope that you and your dear animal family will soon be moving forward into better and happier times.

Thank you, truly.

RAS

What's the situation on electoral rolls in NI, although they aren't necessarily complete?

Skiddaw1

SecondStar said:

Skiddaw1 said:

SecondStar said:

Helenochka said:

OK. I'm starting to see where you're coming from. Rents are indeed expensive in NI, relative to house prices. Which of course is why I bought a rental there in the first place.
Please, please, though, do not buy something on a "paramilitary estate".  You will not enjoy living there. Rather than that, go for something a bit rough and unloved in a good town and - if necessary - teach yourself DIY. Something like this
14 Railway Terrace, Ballygowan - PropertyPal

That property is in one of my open tabs at the moment - I’ve lived in Ballygowan before, and it’s a nice enough village, albeit a bit further out from my ideal locations.

For something needing some DIY, I quite like this - https://www.propertypal.com/16-rowan-glen-bangor/792640
It has clearly had Something happen, although I’ve not been able to find out what. The off-street parking and secure outdoor space are very appealing.

I like this too - https://www.propertypal.com/8b-canberra-gardens-newtownards/776265
It’s only just inside the estate, and the private garden and ample communal parking are attractive.

This is nice, although I don’t know if it’s too small for the price, and again it’s just inside an estate. My pets would appreciate the outdoor space, though - https://www.propertypal.com/20-ashfield-drive-donaghadee/793172

Or this - https://www.propertypal.com/35-robert-street-newtownards/764728
I’ve lived in a street nearby, and I like the area, although I know that this particular street is a nightmare to get parked on.

They all have things to recommend them but I particularly like the Donaghdee house. It may be a but small but it's really pretty and has the advantage of the nice garden (and being so close to the sea of course ). The Robert Street house in N'ards is sweet too.

Good luck OP. I hope that you and your dear animal family will soon be moving forward into better and happier times.

Thank you, truly.

I’d be more excited about the Donaghadee property, except that my previous ex’s mother used to live in the row of houses just behind it, and his grandma used to live down the street. I broke up with him at the end of 2017, and he took it veeeery badly, and I had to block him everywhere.

I know he dates someone else now, but don’t know where he lives, or if his mum & grandma still live in the area. He used to visit them at least weekly when we were together.

Not sure if there’s a way of finding out, if anyone knows?

Hmmmm.... last thing you want is another saga isn't it? Any mutual acquaintances you could approach? Otherwise it might be best to err on the side of caution I suppose... as I say, the Newtonards house is a dear wee house too and the Bangor house, whilst needing some work, is also a bit of a potential stunner I'd say (and Bangor is lovely).

SecondStar

Skiddaw1 said:

SecondStar said:

Skiddaw1 said:

SecondStar said:

Helenochka said:

OK. I'm starting to see where you're coming from. Rents are indeed expensive in NI, relative to house prices. Which of course is why I bought a rental there in the first place.
Please, please, though, do not buy something on a "paramilitary estate".  You will not enjoy living there. Rather than that, go for something a bit rough and unloved in a good town and - if necessary - teach yourself DIY. Something like this
14 Railway Terrace, Ballygowan - PropertyPal

That property is in one of my open tabs at the moment - I’ve lived in Ballygowan before, and it’s a nice enough village, albeit a bit further out from my ideal locations.

For something needing some DIY, I quite like this - https://www.propertypal.com/16-rowan-glen-bangor/792640
It has clearly had Something happen, although I’ve not been able to find out what. The off-street parking and secure outdoor space are very appealing.

I like this too - https://www.propertypal.com/8b-canberra-gardens-newtownards/776265
It’s only just inside the estate, and the private garden and ample communal parking are attractive.

This is nice, although I don’t know if it’s too small for the price, and again it’s just inside an estate. My pets would appreciate the outdoor space, though - https://www.propertypal.com/20-ashfield-drive-donaghadee/793172

Or this - https://www.propertypal.com/35-robert-street-newtownards/764728
I’ve lived in a street nearby, and I like the area, although I know that this particular street is a nightmare to get parked on.

They all have things to recommend them but I particularly like the Donaghdee house. It may be a but small but it's really pretty and has the advantage of the nice garden (and being so close to the sea of course ). The Robert Street house in N'ards is sweet too.

Good luck OP. I hope that you and your dear animal family will soon be moving forward into better and happier times.

Thank you, truly.

I’d be more excited about the Donaghadee property, except that my previous ex’s mother used to live in the row of houses just behind it, and his grandma used to live down the street. I broke up with him at the end of 2017, and he took it veeeery badly, and I had to block him everywhere.

I know he dates someone else now, but don’t know where he lives, or if his mum & grandma still live in the area. He used to visit them at least weekly when we were together.

Not sure if there’s a way of finding out, if anyone knows?

Hmmmm.... last thing you want is another saga isn't it? Any mutual acquaintances you could approach? Otherwise it might be best to err on the side of caution I suppose... as I say, the Newtonards house is a dear wee house too and the Bangor house, whilst needing some work, is also a bit of a potential stunner I'd say (and Bangor is lovely). 

The Newtownards house is lovely, but that street is impossible to get parked on - I don’t know how they managed that photo with the space in front of the house empty!

The Bangor house that needs some work is a strong contender, but the Newtownards flat has an extra bedroom, doesn’t need the work, and still has a garden; for only 5k more, albeit just inside an estate.

I’ll hopefully have more clarity after Friday about what we both want to do, and then sit down and list my priorities for housing.