priorities when buying for yourself

[Deleted User]

tiger135 said:

thats a shame, they are quite nice and ideal for first time buyer or singles. plus you get the freehold. obviously apartments make more money, more flats on the same plot and service charges.

Honestly are you STILL still dithering over this? 

 For those who missed it the previous thread went over all the mummy stuff, the indecision, the "what/where/which would be best" etc etc. If Tiger135 doesn't do it soon, they might as well stay at home until the inevitable happens. 

RHemmings

lincroft1710 said:

Haven't seen any cluster houses built for over 20 years, developers prefer to build apartments.

If I was buying a 1-bed, I'd much prefer a cluster house to an apartment. But, I can see how developers would prefer to get more properties on the same piece of land. 

RelievedSheff

lincroft1710 said:

RHemmings said:

Flugelhorn said:

certainly the cluster houses I have seen in the past have been 2 floors, 2 outside walls - downstairs usually sitting room either open plan or with separate small kitchen. Upstairs one bedroom and bathroom. Windows on two aspects at right angles to each other - no "back door". Much  of it is like living in a terrace but the neighbours are against the "back walls"

Personally I think these cluster houses are a good idea.  

RedFraggle said:

They are quite likely right about the fence though to be fair. But it'll be a covenant in the title deed not the council. 

 

Haven't seen any cluster houses built for over 20 years, developers prefer to build apartments.

Not sure where you are based but they build loads of them here in the Midlands!

They are very popular. 

MFWannabe

tiger135 said:

thats a shame, they are quite nice and ideal for first time buyer or singles. plus you get the freehold. obviously apartments make more money, more flats on the same plot and service charges.

We lived in a cluster house and absolutely loved it. Would have purchased it in a heartbeat if we’d had the chance but unfortunately it was a rental 
If everything is right, right area, house etc then personally I’d go for it 

SadieO

tiger135 said:

Its just strange how friends, colleagues, cousins and sister all are positive about the properties Ive shown them, its only my parents who come up with negatives. 

Why are you giving so much weight to your parents" opinion? It's good to talk to people you trust and if everyone you spoke to said the same negative thing about a property then that might be worth giving some consideration to. But ultimately it's what's right for you, not anyone else, that matters. You're the one who's going to pay for it and live there! Either don't tell them, if you think they're just going to be negative whatever, or if you must tell them, just politely thank them for their thoughts and keep doing what is best for you!

lincroft1710

RelievedSheff said:

lincroft1710 said:

RHemmings said:

Flugelhorn said:

certainly the cluster houses I have seen in the past have been 2 floors, 2 outside walls - downstairs usually sitting room either open plan or with separate small kitchen. Upstairs one bedroom and bathroom. Windows on two aspects at right angles to each other - no "back door". Much  of it is like living in a terrace but the neighbours are against the "back walls"

Personally I think these cluster houses are a good idea.  

RedFraggle said:

They are quite likely right about the fence though to be fair. But it'll be a covenant in the title deed not the council. 

 

Haven't seen any cluster houses built for over 20 years, developers prefer to build apartments.

Not sure where you are based but they build loads of them here in the Midlands!

They are very popular. 

When I worked in the VOA (Beds/Herts area) came across loads of cluster and "Clipper" style homes built from mid 1980s through to late 1990s. But from around 2000, they just seemed to disappear and be replaced on new estates by apartments. There were also "T" houses - a building comprising 2 x 2 bed houses lengthwise and one 2 bed crossways on.

Titus_Wadd

In our family's experience the family branches who live near to our parents' original home town stay very close by and rarely travel out to visit those (like us) who moved away for work.  It's always us who used to travel "home" for Christmas etc.  This suited us fine.  Around the same time we relocated from the NW to the SE my sibling moved back the opposite direction.  There was a trade off, that they then took over keeping an eye on our surviving elderly parent, but they didn't have to stay overnight with her to do this and could always go home to their own bed. We either stayed with my Mum or later in a hotel when we wouldn't all fit at her house.  It's swings and roundabouts - they did the occasional run to hospital visits but rarely used their annual leave - we had to save AL for visits "home".  There's no right way to do things. 

Your family now is the folk you have chosen to live with - your partner and kids if you have them.  The house has to be right for them and no one else.  The distance isn't an issue unless an aging parent needs daily visits or you rely on the grandparents for childcare; it will mostly be you traveling back to visit your family than the other way around in my experience.

Make a short wish-list and a very short deal-breaker list.  Still view lots of places that have adequate accommodation even if they aren't your dream home on paper.  One of our happiest home was only meant to be a stopgap until we found our "dream home" but we stayed 20 years.  Our current "dream home" has the neighbours from hell!

There are so many variables before you start trying to accommodate the extended family's opinions.  If the house suits you and yours just go for it!