Best way to buy a house in another part of the country that you intend to move to?

Exodi

Hi All,

(Posting on behalf of my sister).

My sister is expecting to come into some money and combined with a mortgage thinks she may be able to finally buy a house. Unfortunately her budget is modest and she currently lives and works in Kent, with her partner and two kids.

They realise that they might only be able to afford a 2 bed terraced with their budget in Kent, however they've don't feel particularly bound to the area and would be open to relocating to somewhere where they can get more bang for their buck (such as the midlands, where they might be able to afford a 3 bed detached house, or an even bigger house up north). As they both earn close to minimum wage, the impact on their earnings would likely be negligible.

If they were intent on moving to the midlands for example (150 miles/3 hour drive from where they live now), they were confused on the best way to achieve this.

My sister works in a supermarket so could get transferred to a different store 'easily'. Her partner would need to effectively find a new job (he's currently what you might consider an unskilled labourer).

Do they:

1) Carry on living in Kent, view some houses in the midlands, eventually put down an offer and apply for a mortgage? They might then use the months it takes to buy for her partner to look for jobs in the area, but as I see it, this comes with two main issues: a) The lender refuses to acknowledge his income, as it's inconsistent that he could live in the midlands but work in Kent. b) He can't find a job before they complete 

2) Get a rental somewhere in the midland for a year, use this as an opportunity to browse houses, and find a local job before applying for a mortgage. This also has issues: a) Just like with the mortgage, they likely would not be able to get a rental without a local job, b) they'd need to pick the area to rent that they'd definitely intend to buy the house in, as otherwise they're in the same situation as they were in Kent.

Neither of the above seem really workable in practice. Perhaps he should be trying to get employment first, securing a job with a start date in a month or two to enable them to get a rental? Easier said then done I'm sure.

Is there another way I hadn't considered? At the moment the options seem challenging and risky and best, and unworkable at worst.

Martico

In their shoes, before settling on an area to either buy or medium-term rent in, I'd take several short breaks there to see whether I could see myself actually living in the place. I wouldn't look to cross any other bridges before I was certain that the area could be suitable 

mta999

I would agree with the rental comments - if at all possible rent for six months or a year as that is the only way you will get to know the area before committing to buy

Tabieth

I’d focus on the area first. Where do they want to live (rather than just where can they afford a detached house). Then they should visit the area to suss it out and narrow down locations they like. As they have children presumably schools are also a factor here? But also factors like do they want a city, a town, a village? Where exactly? The midlands and the north are both very big areas with a lot of diversity within them. For example, York, Harrogate, Barnsley, Liverpool and Manchester are all in the north of England but are very different. At the same time they can be job hunting in the local areas and getting an idea of what’s available. 

Once they’ve done all of that I’d recommend they rent somewhere to make sure they really do like the area. Ideally the job offers and rental properties start at the same time. Then, when they are actualy living in their chosen area, they can house hunt without the disadvantage of living hundreds of miles away. 

daveyjp

Visit areas, secure employment, relocate, rent, then buy,

Exodi

Tabieth said:

I’d focus on the area first. Where do they want to live (rather than just where can they afford a detached house). Then they should visit the area to suss it out and narrow down locations they like. As they have children presumably schools are also a factor here? But also factors like do they want a city, a town, a village? Where exactly? The midlands and the north are both very big areas with a lot of diversity within them. For example, York, Harrogate, Barnsley, Liverpool and Manchester are all in the north of England but are very different. At the same time they can be job hunting in the local areas and getting an idea of what’s available. 

Once they’ve done all of that I’d recommend they rent somewhere to make sure they really do like the area. Ideally the job offers and rental properties start at the same time. Then, when they are actualy living in their chosen area, they can house hunt without the disadvantage of living hundreds of miles away. 

daveyjp said:

Visit areas, secure employment, relocate, rent, then buy,

Thanks, I think this is all sensible - though would require her partner to get a job in area they don't live. It then becomes a chicken and egg situation because he'd need to live up there to actually go work at this new job, but I suspect any rental would want payslips from his new employer, which he wouldn't have until he's started work.

Perhaps they could pay a year in rent upfront out of the money they have an replenish it with the money they'd save in rent? Do we think LL's/EA's would be open to something like that. The justification being that during that time he'd look for a job (though in reality they'd likely intend to end the tenancy after the 12 months).

Albermarle

Tabieth said:

I’d focus on the area first. Where do they want to live (rather than just where can they afford a detached house). Then they should visit the area to suss it out and narrow down locations they like. As they have children presumably schools are also a factor here? But also factors like do they want a city, a town, a village? Where exactly? The midlands and the north are both very big areas with a lot of diversity within them. For example, York, Harrogate, Barnsley, Liverpool and Manchester are all in the north of England but are very different. At the same time they can be job hunting in the local areas and getting an idea of what’s available. 

Once they’ve done all of that I’d recommend they rent somewhere to make sure they really do like the area. Ideally the job offers and rental properties start at the same time. Then, when they are actualy living in their chosen area, they can house hunt without the disadvantage of living hundreds of miles away. 

I think they should first start to narrow down possible options, as otherwise there will be too much choice.
So as highlighted in bold in the post above, I would start with the type of place they would like to live.
Then with location, house prices only really drop significantly once you cross the historic England North/South split line which runs between the Wash and The Seven Estuary, although in reality it is not a dead straight line.
I would guess cheaper house prices only really start from Northampton on the M1, Grantham on the A1 and Birmingham on the M6

kimwp

Beeston is nice - tram to the centre of Nottingham, lots of lovely green spaces and playgrounds and Nottingham puts on loads of activities for children.

Martico

Exodi said:

Tabieth said:

I’d focus on the area first. Where do they want to live (rather than just where can they afford a detached house). Then they should visit the area to suss it out and narrow down locations they like. As they have children presumably schools are also a factor here? But also factors like do they want a city, a town, a village? Where exactly? The midlands and the north are both very big areas with a lot of diversity within them. For example, York, Harrogate, Barnsley, Liverpool and Manchester are all in the north of England but are very different. At the same time they can be job hunting in the local areas and getting an idea of what’s available. 

Once they’ve done all of that I’d recommend they rent somewhere to make sure they really do like the area. Ideally the job offers and rental properties start at the same time. Then, when they are actualy living in their chosen area, they can house hunt without the disadvantage of living hundreds of miles away. 

daveyjp said:

Visit areas, secure employment, relocate, rent, then buy,

Thanks, I think this is all sensible - though would require her partner to get a job in area they don't live. It then becomes a chicken and egg situation because he'd need to live up there to actually go work at this new job, but I suspect any rental would want payslips from his new employer, which he wouldn't have until he's started work.

Perhaps they could pay a year in rent upfront out of the money they have an replenish it with the money they'd save in rent? Do we think LL's/EA's would be open to something like that. The justification being that during that time he'd look for a job (though in reality they'd likely intend to end the tenancy after the 12 months).

I was OK paying a six-month AST upfront when I moved back to the country. That was more than ten years ago, so things might be tighter now, I'm not sure. I guess it probably depends on individual landlords and agencies

Exodi

Albermarle said:

Tabieth said:

I’d focus on the area first. Where do they want to live (rather than just where can they afford a detached house). Then they should visit the area to suss it out and narrow down locations they like. As they have children presumably schools are also a factor here? But also factors like do they want a city, a town, a village? Where exactly? The midlands and the north are both very big areas with a lot of diversity within them. For example, York, Harrogate, Barnsley, Liverpool and Manchester are all in the north of England but are very different. At the same time they can be job hunting in the local areas and getting an idea of what’s available. 

Once they’ve done all of that I’d recommend they rent somewhere to make sure they really do like the area. Ideally the job offers and rental properties start at the same time. Then, when they are actualy living in their chosen area, they can house hunt without the disadvantage of living hundreds of miles away. 

I think they should first start to narrow down possible options, as otherwise there will be too much choice.
So as highlighted in bold in the post above, I would start with the type of place they would like to live.
Then with location, house prices only really drop significantly once you cross the historic England North/South split line which runs between the Wash and The Seven Estuary, although in reality it is not a dead straight line.
I would guess cheaper house prices only really start from Northampton on the M1, Grantham on the A1 and Birmingham on the M6

By chance the two houses she had liked on Rightmove were in Northampton and Gratham!

I think maybe the best idea might be to book a week long trip or so, spending a day or two in places like Northampton, Peterborough, Leicester, etc and seeing which she prefers - maybe following up with a week trip to her preferred area to make sure - then begin the job search and if successful trying to find a rental?

I suppose from then they can breath easy that they have a year to find and buy a house.

I guess the hardest bit will be her partner getting a job 3 hours from where he currently lives.

kimwp said:

Beeston is nice - tram to the centre of Nottingham, lots of lovely green spaces and playgrounds and Nottingham puts on loads of activities for children.

Will let her know - she's all about her kids (aged 3 and 4 I believe) so things like activities and playgrounds would be high up on the list of priorities.

Myci85

Not too much advice, but I live in the west midlands area/on the Welsh border and my brother is also an unskilled builders labourer. I can say that based on his experiences, it seems easy work to come by round this way, although also can be short term work. He will often finish a job one week and have another in place the next week, however he has no commitments at all and is happy with very real risk that he might have no work for a few weeks between jobs. 
There are new developments going up left right and centre round here though, as I'm sure they are everywhere, so you'd imagine a job wouldn't be too hard for him to find.