Disillusioned and just buying anything

Postik

Yeah I feel for you.  We tried for 9 months to find somewhere local so we didn't have to move the kids school.  There was very little around - eventually we found a couple of properties which we made offers on but they never came to anything due to strange vendors who weren't that serious.

In the end we found somewhere further away and moved the children schools. I hated the idea of moving area because I'd lived there my whole life.  On reflection it was a great move, the kids settled in their new schools and our location is just as good as the last but better connected.  I also look back at the other properties we offered on and I'm glad it took longer because what we ended up with was better.

Other people on MSE said similar things to the above and at the time I thought, "Good for you but I don't think I'll be that lucky" but in the end we were.

It's a very hard and disheartening process but I wouldn't rage buy anything, nor give up.

strawb_shortcake

What's your actual budget? 

I'd agree Gloucester itself is a bit of dump in places, but you don't have to go too far to find somewhere quite reasonable and acceptable. 
You can go from Wotton under edge, possibly even Thornbury up to Tewkesbury and be easy access of the M5. 
Cam, Dursley (maybe), Stroud, Nailsworth prices I think seem more reasonable than in years gone by. Nailsworth also voted 17th coolest place to live.

South glos house prices seem a bit stagnant at the moment, lots of houses been on the market awhile not moving, some being reduced others not. 
The few people I know in S. Glos that have had their houses valued recently are all being advised 3-6 months ago their houses would have been worth more - now seem to be valued 10/15% lower.

MFWannabe

What’s your max budget? 

What area are you looking to be in? 

What could you compromise on? 

Personally we wouldn’t compromise on location; that to us is everything so a smaller house but in preferred location 

Tucosalamanca

I think you need to pause and reassess what you are looking for that's within budget.

Looking on Rightmove, within 30 miles of GL1 postcode there are 4,943 properties for sale below £300k

I have fairly high standards but I'm pretty sure that I could find some pleasant, fairly priced properties among that lot.

First one I picked, looks presentable, detached with gardens, parking and nice enough street. What's not to like?
3 bedroom detached house for sale in Upper Stowfield Road, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire. GL17 9PB, GL17 (rightmove.co.uk)

On first glance, you get a helluva lot more for your money than say Bristol or Bath.

As well as all the other towns and villages listed above, is Forest of Dean not an option?

strawb_shortcake

Tucosalamanca said:

I think you need to pause and reassess what you are looking for that's within budget.

Looking on Rightmove, within 30 miles of GL1 postcode there are 4,943 properties for sale below £300k

I have fairly high standards but I'm pretty sure that I could find some pleasant, fairly priced properties among that lot.

First one I picked, looks presentable, detached with gardens, parking and nice enough street. What's not to like?
3 bedroom detached house for sale in Upper Stowfield Road, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire. GL17 9PB, GL17 (rightmove.co.uk)

On first glance, you get a helluva lot more for your money than say Bristol or Bath.

As well as all the other towns and villages listed above, is Forest of Dean not an option?

When we first tried to buy a house we looked at Forest of Dean, we were bottom of the market. There were some real peculiar features in some of the houses. One had sold the front garden and driveway to the neighbour. Another was only what I could describe as an open plan bathroom, which also contained the backdoor to the garden! 

Some villages are also prone to flooding. 

I also knew my Husband would have to mention the bear of Ruardean often just to see if still pushes buttons. 

All that said, FOD does have some good options

aliby21

FlaatusGoat said:

I've been looking for 2 years (granted I took some breaks one fell through and then the prices/demand were insane) Question though is what really is the money saving option here? I'm paying a grand a month on rent and I've got all the deposit I need to get out of here. What's more mad?

• Renting when I can easily afford to move / FTB
• Buying some S hole to live in
  

In terms of money saving, if you are thinking of buying somewhere just to own a property, which you will then  'drop on RM the day you move in', make sure you factor in the sunk costs associated with a house move - solicitors, estate agents, stamp duty if applicable, also any perks you would no longer have as a FTB

FlaatusGoat

annabanana82 said:

What's your actual budget? 

I'd agree Gloucester itself is a bit of dump in places, but you don't have to go too far to find somewhere quite reasonable and acceptable. 
You can go from Wotton under edge, possibly even Thornbury up to Tewkesbury and be easy access of the M5. 
Cam, Dursley (maybe), Stroud, Nailsworth prices I think seem more reasonable than in years gone by. Nailsworth also voted 17th coolest place to live.

South glos house prices seem a bit stagnant at the moment, lots of houses been on the market awhile not moving, some being reduced others not. 
The few people I know in S. Glos that have had their houses valued recently are all being advised 3-6 months ago their houses would have been worth more - now seem to be valued 10/15% lower.

Up to 300k, ideally 2 bed and Council tax B as I'm a single person. What my budget doesn't stretch to is mick takers, vendors whose house that was 170k 5 years ago they are now pricing at 290k with 0 work done in that time. Apparently just because my budget goes up to that it doesn't mean I'm able to find 'better' properties. Seems like everyone else has my budget any way so it's almost irrelevant what you can afford.

• Stroud - Very dense with odd quirky housing, some long streets leading up to the valley are pretty isolated and steep which makes it a mixed bag in terms of convenience and access to local shops. I'd like it but rarely does anything come up that isn't full of caveats and quirks and if not it's gone before a viewing can be arranged. Hopeless town.
  
• Cam/Dursley/Nailsworth Beautiful places but cut off with poor transport options apart from car ownership.
  
• Tewkesbury yes but too far in the wrong direction sadly but I've considered it and nearly bought last year when my circumstances were different
  
• Forest of Dean area my idea of pure reclusion and isolation, as beautiful as it is I'd know nobody (which I can handle...but only to a point) plus with poor local transport I'd be stuck so I'd hang myself eventually from the isolation
  

The only area where houses come up regularly is Quedgeley, it's like Gloucestershires answer to Telford, Milton Keynes, Stevenage or Welyn Garden City. I cannot stand the place but I'm facing up to the fact all roads lead to it.

aliby21 said:

FlaatusGoat said:

I've been looking for 2 years (granted I took some breaks one fell through and then the prices/demand were insane) Question though is what really is the money saving option here? I'm paying a grand a month on rent and I've got all the deposit I need to get out of here. What's more mad?

• Renting when I can easily afford to move / FTB
• Buying some S hole to live in
  

In terms of money saving, if you are thinking of buying somewhere just to own a property, which you will then  'drop on RM the day you move in', make sure you factor in the sunk costs associated with a house move - solicitors, estate agents, stamp duty if applicable, also any perks you would no longer have as a FTB

Is it possible to quantify this? I know you're right, but surely paying another 12k on rent is going to be worse and still having 0 equity to show for it.

Tucosalamanca said:

I think you need to pause and reassess what you are looking for that's within budget.

Looking on Rightmove, within 30 miles of GL1 postcode there are 4,943 properties for sale below £300k

I have fairly high standards but I'm pretty sure that I could find some pleasant, fairly priced properties among that lot.

First one I picked, looks presentable, detached with gardens, parking and nice enough street. What's not to like?
3 bedroom detached house for sale in Upper Stowfield Road, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire. GL17 9PB, GL17 (rightmove.co.uk)

On first glance, you get a helluva lot more for your money than say Bristol or Bath.

As well as all the other towns and villages listed above, is Forest of Dean not an option?

That's a nice house but well out in literally the middle of nowhere as much as the forest of dean can be nice. It's just not suited to someone (like I) who'd find the seclusion and isolation emotionally damaging. Obviously if you already have a local support network and community than it's fine but as an outsider it's dreadful. I can manage that to extent but without trains or any sort of decent local transport you're suggesting suicide fuel.

Actually, out in this part of Gloucestershire I'm finding you can typically get less for your money than certain parts of Bristol. Really! Try comparing Leckhampton Hill in Cheltenham to Patchway for instance. Patchway is you can often get more space for your money, it's madness out here.

Martico

I hear you about Gloucester (Cheltenham too, really). It's a really odd mix of soulless 70s estates and unkempt shabby town properties, with lovely but high priced out-of-town stuff. I reckon I'd struggle to buy something I'd like there. Shame, as the surrounding areas are gorgeous

Sunsaru

FlaatusGoat said:

Is it possible to quantify this? I know you're right, but surely paying another 12k on rent is going to be worse and still having 0 equity to show for it.

That's one way of looking at it but the way I look at it is that you're keeping a roof over your head (or as Crashy puts it "paying for a service". If you didn't have the money sitting there you'd still need somewhere to live. Doesn't matter what you do, you'll always be lining someone else's pockets.

I know (and understand) you're eager to get your own place but you'll find the right house eventually.

strawb_shortcake

FlaatusGoat said:

annabanana82 said:

What's your actual budget? 

I'd agree Gloucester itself is a bit of dump in places, but you don't have to go too far to find somewhere quite reasonable and acceptable. 
You can go from Wotton under edge, possibly even Thornbury up to Tewkesbury and be easy access of the M5. 
Cam, Dursley (maybe), Stroud, Nailsworth prices I think seem more reasonable than in years gone by. Nailsworth also voted 17th coolest place to live.

South glos house prices seem a bit stagnant at the moment, lots of houses been on the market awhile not moving, some being reduced others not. 
The few people I know in S. Glos that have had their houses valued recently are all being advised 3-6 months ago their houses would have been worth more - now seem to be valued 10/15% lower.

Up to 300k, ideally 2 bed and Council tax B as I'm a single person. What my budget doesn't stretch to is mick takers, vendors whose house that was 170k 5 years ago they are now pricing at 290k with 0 work done in that time. Apparently just because my budget goes up to that it doesn't mean I'm able to find 'better' properties. Seems like everyone else has my budget any way so it's almost irrelevant what you can afford.

• Stroud - Very dense with odd quirky housing, some long streets leading up to the valley are pretty isolated and steep which makes it a mixed bag in terms of convenience and access to local shops. I'd like it but rarely does anything come up that isn't full of caveats and quirks and if not it's gone before a viewing can be arranged. Hopeless town.
  
• Cam/Dursley/Nailsworth Beautiful places but cut off with poor transport options apart from car ownership.
  
• Tewkesbury yes but too far in the wrong direction sadly but I've considered it and nearly bought last year when my circumstances were different
  
• Forest of Dean area my idea of pure reclusion and isolation, as beautiful as it is I'd know nobody (which I can handle...but only to a point) plus with poor local transport I'd be stuck so I'd hang myself eventually from the isolation
  

The only area where houses come up regularly is Quedgeley, it's like Gloucestershires answer to Telford, Milton Keynes, Stevenage or Welyn Garden City. I cannot stand the place but I'm facing up to the fact all roads lead to it.

aliby21 said:

FlaatusGoat said:

I've been looking for 2 years (granted I took some breaks one fell through and then the prices/demand were insane) Question though is what really is the money saving option here? I'm paying a grand a month on rent and I've got all the deposit I need to get out of here. What's more mad?

• Renting when I can easily afford to move / FTB
• Buying some S hole to live in
  

In terms of money saving, if you are thinking of buying somewhere just to own a property, which you will then  'drop on RM the day you move in', make sure you factor in the sunk costs associated with a house move - solicitors, estate agents, stamp duty if applicable, also any perks you would no longer have as a FTB

Is it possible to quantify this? I know you're right, but surely paying another 12k on rent is going to be worse and still having 0 equity to show for it.

Tucosalamanca said:

I think you need to pause and reassess what you are looking for that's within budget.

Looking on Rightmove, within 30 miles of GL1 postcode there are 4,943 properties for sale below £300k

I have fairly high standards but I'm pretty sure that I could find some pleasant, fairly priced properties among that lot.

First one I picked, looks presentable, detached with gardens, parking and nice enough street. What's not to like?
3 bedroom detached house for sale in Upper Stowfield Road, Lydbrook, Gloucestershire. GL17 9PB, GL17 (rightmove.co.uk)

On first glance, you get a helluva lot more for your money than say Bristol or Bath.

As well as all the other towns and villages listed above, is Forest of Dean not an option?

That's a nice house but well out in literally the middle of nowhere as much as the forest of dean can be nice. It's just not suited to someone (like I) who'd find the seclusion and isolation emotionally damaging. Obviously if you already have a local support network and community than it's fine but as an outsider it's dreadful. I can manage that to extent but without trains or any sort of decent local transport you're suggesting suicide fuel.

Actually, out in this part of Gloucestershire I'm finding you can typically get less for your money than certain parts of Bristol. Really! Try comparing Leckhampton Hill in Cheltenham to Patchway for instance. Patchway is you can often get more space for your money, it's madness out here.

Stroud is one we've considered, but it's definitely quirky, Cam we'd also considered partly due to the train station, but we could get more for our money than Thornbury say.

Charfield has just had planning approved for the railway station, mixed response locally but can see there being more houses being put on the market before the building work starts. Not sure what the impact on prices will be. Public transport is shocking that way though currently with further cuts to buses due this year.