60,000 second homes could be sold off in slump

PasturesNew

I'd be happy with that tiny bit... the little hermit hovel one in the grounds.

Running/maintenance costs would be the crippler on something like that. It'd be never ending ... and that stream. Whenever I see a stream mentioned I think "FLOODS!" and if it hasn't yet, it will one day!

merlinthehappypig

fc123 wrote: »

Good good.....In 5 years time 'I would very much like, please' this type of thing BUT in Dorset.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-15379360.rsp?pa_n=false&tr_t=buy

I love the stream.

I think it would be treble the price in Dorset?

Not for us I'm afraid.

We've done the 'old house with character' bit and the rented grade 2 listed place we currently have has put us old buildings for life. It too has a stream 11 months of the year - largely down the road and through the walls in a couple of places..............

Give us modern, light, airy, no maintenance every time now. South facing as well given the way energy prices are going.

We are looking in Pembrokeshire (just come back). It's a bit pricier there than Ceredigion, but still very good value compared with most of England. There is one near Brongest on the Carmarthenshire/Ceredigion border that we like, but we feel it's a bit too much in the middle of nowhere for us now.

Holiday home areas in Wales still seem to be holding up a bit, for now, but there are a torrent of reductions in Devon and Cornwall coming up on Property Bee.

neverdespairgirl

merlinthehappypig wrote: »

Not for us I'm afraid.

We've done the 'old house with character' bit and the rented grade 2 listed place we currently have has put us old buildings for life. It too has a stream 11 months of the year - largely down the road and through the walls in a couple of places..............

I'm the opposite - I love older houses. My parents' house has been dated via dendochronoloy (sp?) to the early 14th century, and it is absolutely wonderful.

lostinrates

fc123 wrote: »

and my own store is to expand into lifestyle too

IME these in of beautiful stores in the SW DEPEND on the 'incomers' and weekenders for trade, as your friend's experience shows, not locals, so really they can't be SO terrible for the local economy can they? After all, its essentially adding to the tourist industry, which in the SW is very significant. Although second home ownership as the SW has become so much more popular has rally added to the HPI here, it has also brought lots of work in recent years for local builders and decorators, farmers get the work on contracts or as tenants. I am one of the people priced out by this, so I understand the frustration, but I just don't think its as onesided as peole often make out.

Its always been so and despite comon thought its the same on much of Europe, I don't know about beyond, (only MORE widespread because the cities actually almost close so that the butcher, baker and candle stick maker can go to their second homes!

Norma_Desmond

You can still get a lot for your cash in Pembrokeshire - though locals are totally priced out and there are a lot of holiday 'picturesque' homes that lie empty for months.
Happy to say we live and work here full time and bought our ancient old house years ago - looks a bit like the Ceredigion house on here except it's whitewashed!

Lotus-eater

Old houses all the way, you would have to drag me kicking and screaming to live in a new house.

merlinthehappypig

Norma_Desmond wrote: »

You can still get a lot for your cash in Pembrokeshire - though locals are totally priced out and there are a lot of holiday 'picturesque' homes that lie empty for months.
Happy to say we live and work here full time and bought our ancient old house years ago - looks a bit like the Ceredigion house on here except it's whitewashed!

That's the problem, of course. Many of the most attractive places become ghost towns in the winter.

Norma_Desmond

merlinthehappypig wrote: »

That's the problem, of course. Many of the most attractive places become ghost towns in the winter.

I think the south of the county is generally worse for the 'ghost town' image; here in the north it's so wild and remote that the small towns and villages have retained their community, much more so than in say Devon or Cornwall.
Where abouts are you looking in Pembs?
If you're going to be a 'full timer' be aware that there are very few jobs around that pay a decent wage.

Best of luck house hunting!

Austin_Allegro

fc123 wrote: »

I was mystified by that...Newhaven is pretty grotty...are they the flats that blocked the views of the old house on the old harbour?

Could do with less 2nd homes on the coast as it reduces the ammount of local population who keep the local economy going.

My oldest friend has a lifestyle store in Dorset......deserted all winter and non term -time. Relies on the second-homers with their pseudo country lifestyle playing at country, village living for 2 or 3 months of the year.
They moan when a cutesy shop they like closes down as the poor owner didn't have enough customers from Sept to May.

Would it not be possible to run a general store catering for the locals in the winter, and then bring out the 'lifestyle' tat in the summer months to appeal to the grockles? Or aren't there are any locals left?

fc123

Austin_Allegro wrote: »

Would it not be possible to run a general store catering for the locals in the winter, and then bring out the 'lifestyle' tat in the summer months to appeal to the grockles? Or aren't there are any locals left?

She ticks over in the winter due to web sales plus she does sell useful items for locals but most are old (retired) or young mums (not working) and they prefer to drive (or be driven) out to Asda and Primark.
She stepped out off the London fashion trade hamster wheel 10 yrs back and has never looked back.
The only downside is that there is little good partner material, so having kids etc hasn't happened for her.........but she rescues lurchers instead.

I don't moan about the summer trade...it's how it is...in fact my total dream life (which is unlikely to happen) would have been Shad Thames appt Oct - Mch and country heap (with babbling brook, draughts, creaking floors) April - Sept.
Could be possible but I have to re-structure my business so it is not dependent on being in one location....and am working on the grand plan right now.;)