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Me again!! Help Me!! (again, you were all so good last time!!!)

58 replies

gabity · 28/01/2011 11:46

Well, since the magic (or coincidence) of mumsnet helped me sell my house - help me buy a house (before I need to be confined to the looney bin or divorce DH)

  1. Do-er upper. House needing totally re-done inside. 8k of work needed structurally. Fantastic garden. Forever house. Middle price range. Okay location. Would need to work but not full time.

  2. Move in condition. Ideal location. No prospect of making money on it. Not forever house. Cheaper than cheap. Would let me stay at home with DD or return to uni and finish my degree. Terraced house, with less than ideal neighbour.

  3. New build. Ideal location. Forever house. Quite expensive but affordable. I would need to work full time. (house right next to my mum, she would have DD no probs there). I wouldn't get a chance to finish degree.

  4. Okay condition, but needs cosmetic work. Totally out of the way location. (but great for DH's and my work, just not family). Middle price range. Would need to work but not full time. Lots of land and stables.

  5. Rent somewhere until something ideal comes along? Maybe wait forever? (but there have been ideals for sale in the last 18 months) There is nothing in the ideal location rental wise at the moment, but plenty round about.

  6. Cardboard box on the street. Sad

    How do people make these decisions without going crazy? Is it just us that are inept at decision making? (bearing in mind we are out of here 5 weeks on Monday) Shock
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CharlieBoo · 28/01/2011 12:14

I am thinking option 1....forever house...needs work but you can make it YOURS. You only need to work part time, you would never need to move again.

Surely in the options you have to work full time, it defeats the object of some of the plus points, great living near your mum but you're always at work.

Whats your heart telling you?

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lalalonglegs · 28/01/2011 12:16

Seeing as you have already lost money on the house you have sold, I wouldn't be keen to buy another that you had no chance of building up equity in, especially if you don't want to stay there too long.

So I would say a doer-upper, probably (1) or rent in your idea location which would be the same as moving into (2) or (3) iyswim.

That's the problem with the Scottish system, once the deal is done, the deal is done and there is no shilly-shallying. I feel for you.

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ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 28/01/2011 12:28
  1. How do you feel about living in it while the work is being done? Would be good to have lots of it done how you want it. Would you need to work to afford the mtge or just to get stuff done that's not essential?


  1. Absolutely NOT


  1. How much do you want your degree? How do you feel about working full time, missing out on DD, just to have a 'wonderful' house? (Sorry that sounds really 'judgey' but I don't mean it that way - but it's the bottom line isn't it).


  1. Can't tell how you feel about this one, so not sure - more info?


  1. Good option if you don't LOVE any of the others.


  1. Nah - too bloody cold Grin
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Guacamole · 28/01/2011 12:48

Did you sell? Fantastic!

I would go for 1 or 3 and avoid the others (especially 6)!

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gabity · 28/01/2011 12:50

Personally I love the doer-upper. And if it was in the perfect location, we would go for it without question. Probably if it was just cosmetic to do to it we would go for it. But the fact that is the not the location (although close), DD wouldn't be in the catchment area for the school we wanted, together with the work needed it stopping us going for it.

I don't mind working full time if I have to, but is it worth it for a house? I don't think so. I fell into my job, its quite well paid, but I don't have any qualifications and I don't love doing it. I would love to go back to Uni and feel I could be doing so much more with my life! (left school with fab exam results and have really not done anything with them - but thats another story!!!)

Yes, if a rental came up in the ideal location, I think I would force talk DH into going for it. But how likely is that? How much longer can we leave it without making a decsion? Sad

  1. The 8k is before we get the mortgage. After that is done it really is just cosmetic. We are in the very fortunate position that my mum has just sold my Grans house and she is happy to 'give me my inheritance' now so to speak so we could afford it. Would be happy to live in the house as we did it up, no where inside is so bad that it can't be lived with and we could just do 1 room at a time.

  2. I haven't really thought about too much. But maybe I need to? Looking outwith the area I had my heart set on? Gah I don't know.

    Just waiting on DH coming home from work now and we are all heading up to Mums for the weekend again. It is such a beautiful day here today, going to drive round everywhere and see what we can see.
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gabity · 28/01/2011 12:53

Yes guacamole it is fantastic! I need to keep telling myself that!

Regardless of where we end up we will be out of the town and into the countryside where we so want to be!

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MrMayoNessie · 28/01/2011 15:00

Gabity, Are U sure your not my wife!!!

We are in much the same situation and we have the choice of 1 and 3. We want doer upper but depends on costs!!

Ours sold 12K under valuation price but have still made equity on it in the 8 years weve had it.

Weve arranged a structural engineer (happened tuesday) to go and see the old house and waiting for the report to come thru, this should be with us Monday!!!! Renovation costs so far are approx 65K without anything structural!!!

The vendor has another offer on the table but willing to wait till we have report so we can also offer.

Good luck with yours

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gabity · 28/01/2011 19:14

Its painful MrNessie isn't it?

My OH said to me today, that at least we have sold our house, and come the summer we will be sitting in our new garden (where ever it maybe) and all this stress will be over with. Hope he is right!!

How are you going to make your decision - what is the deciding factor??

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MrMayoNessie · 28/01/2011 20:04

Gab,

We really want the old house (Love the character of period houses) but need to be realistic, if the structural comes back with problems other than the refurb then it will just cost too much. Unless the costs can maybe be gained back off the renovation costs.

A major prob is that the whole town is sitting on old coalmines. The home report had details of some structural movement but noted that it was historic. Ive found a map from the coalboard of the area and cannot believe how much has been mined underneath our feet (including our current home)!!!

We've made a note of interest on the property already via our solicitors and got a call from the vendors sols today that there is another offer on the table. We are not going to get into a bidding war!!Just offer what we can afford and think is reasonable.

Another way of looking at it is that last year when we put our house on the market we found a different house that was ideal but vv expensive, it was our dream house, we didnt get it as hadn't sold ours, so there's always more than one dream home out there!!
Fingers crossed!!!

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Lizzywishes · 29/01/2011 00:33

1or 2. Depends how you feel about working, I think. Surely not a coincidence that you made it option 1?!

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frenchfancy · 29/01/2011 08:40

1 or 3.

The benefits of living next door to Mum should not be underestimated.

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nymphadora · 29/01/2011 09:55

1or4

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noddyholder · 29/01/2011 11:59

Rent for about 18 months

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ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 29/01/2011 17:29

FrenchFancy - the downside of living next to Mum shouldn't be forgotten either Grin

Hopefully when Gabity gets back on Sunday she'll be able to give us an update!

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gabity · 30/01/2011 12:36

Update !!!

Another house into the mix:

7) Detached nearly new build. 4 miles from Mum, in a village not the open countryside. Opposite a fabulous nursery. Would need to work part time (only for extras at not right away). Walk in condition. Not the perfect primary school but possibly close enough. (been on the market for 2 years, we are stuggling to see why? Home report is fine and pice is really reasonable? How could we find out what wrong with it?!!)

3) Is getting properly valued tomorrow (builder only had a vauge idea of what he wanted for it). We have come to a price that we can afford to pay, prob less than its worth but we have our mortgage in place and are ready to go, something we think is worth dropping the price for. So if the price he comes back with isn't a million miles from the price we have come up with we are going to go for it. It is nearly finished now, just the landscaping and on suite bathrooms to go in so would maybe also consider making an offer for it as it is and doing the rest of the work oursleves?

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gabity · 31/01/2011 10:58

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Thought we had made a decision. Phoned estate agent to confirm a few things, and she throws another spanner in the works.

One of the guys in her office went to see a property on Friday - in our absolute dream location. But - she can't tell us anything about it because it isn't officially theirs yet. Another estate agent was also going to see it. There are only about 40 houses, if that, in the area so presume she thought I would just go and knock on their door if she told me!

Now got a nervous wait and nothing we can do until she gets in touch or something appears on Rightmove. GAHHHHHH!

Out of the 40 houses there are maybe 5 out our price range and 5 we wouldn't touch. So that leaves 30 houses that if it is one of them we will be buying!! Grin Chances - with my luck? Slim!

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ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 31/01/2011 13:45

How many times have you hit the REFRESH button on Right Move Grin

Are you listed with all of the agencies in the area?? I would be!

Any more news yet???

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lalalonglegs · 31/01/2011 14:04

Well, if the other house has been on for two years, it's probably not going to go in the time it takes for the estate agency to get an instruction - keep phoning every day and, if it's not right, then you have (7) to fall back on.

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gabity · 31/01/2011 14:22
  1. Builder just phoned, he is not getting his figure until 4pm tomorrow. Grrrrr.

    The hits on rightmove must be going through the roof. Refresh, refresh,refresh.

    Was speaking to the estate agent of 7) It was under offer for 6 months last year and then it fell through.

    Not heard anything else about the other one in dream location.

    Just to add a further spanner to the works I have got a job interview this afternoon. (it is easliy commutable from all the houses, but from 2,3,8) I applied for it ages ago, and just got the call to go in this afternoon! Its full time but a great opportunity, nothing relating to what I am doing now and lots of prospects for training/progression.

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ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 31/01/2011 14:45

Tomorrow??? Does he not want to sell it?? Annoying bugger.

I was like that with refresh too :) Drove myself mad!!

7) Hmm - it's a small area you are looking in so maybe it was just 'out of reach' for some people and not quite right for others, there's not necessarily anything wrong with it, but I would be doing a FULL survey, checking with council, trying to find out about the neighbours etc and getting my Mum to hang around there a bit :)

Job interview - so were you saying it's better from 2,3 & 8 or not good from them?

Do you want to work full time? Or just if you can get this fab job it would be OK to work full time?? Do you know what the money is like? Mind you, so long as it's 'affordable' then it's more about whether you want to do it or not isn't it.

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gabity · 31/01/2011 14:59

Angry !!

Builder got valuation done this morning and he has to phone the guy that did it at 4pm tomorrow if he hasn't heard before then.

yes, better from 2,3, and 8 from a distance to work point of view, but really very little in it.

I don't know if I want to work full time, I certainly didn't in the job I was doing before. My Mum worked full time and it never did me and harm. Might not even get the job anyway. Don't know what the money is like, interview at 4.15pm so will find out then! Hours are super. The job I was in before was on call practically 24/7, nights and weekend were the norm, this is mon-fri 8am-4pm. Which sounds like bliss, and its not as manual as my previous job - so I can have nice hands and nails again!! Yay!

Am away to have a large vodka get ready.

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ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 31/01/2011 15:21

Bugger about the Latte!!

For some reason I thought your interview was tomorrow or I'd have wished you Good Luck - probably too late now :( But I hope it's going well!!!

With regard to working full time, you just have to do what's right for you and your family don't you. There are pro's and con's for all situations.

The same with your Mum having DD fulltime - you might need to factor in some outside childcare.

As for this job, the hours sound good & it sounds interesting - well worth going to see what it's all about isn't it :)


Fair enough about the valuation, but honestly, don't they realise I you need to know? Grin

Do you really want to live right next door to your Mum? Really? No matter how lovely they are there's the

  • Popping in

  • I see you were up late last night are you OK

  • OH friend x was there again yesterday, is she OK, she's there a lot isn't she?


- Great Aunt Maude came to see you, again, I wonder why she hasn't been to see me.

- I took your washing off the line when it started to rain and put it inside for you, while I was there I ......

- Have you thought about putting some lovely flowers around the front, it would look so nice....

etc etc etc 4 miles sounds a lot better to me :)


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frenchfancy · 31/01/2011 16:02

Just looking in for an update - how did the job interview go?

In terms of Number 8 - if there are only 30 houses in your ideal location have you thought about putting a leaflet through the doors. If someone is looking to sell I'm sure they would anwser it.

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mitfordsisters · 31/01/2011 16:16


chippingin, re the flat over the shop - did not get a mortgage but due to credit issue not type of property iyswim. I know for a fact that HSBC and Natwest will lend on flats over shops and C&G up to 80%LTV.

Sorry for hijack gabity - hope you get your dream house
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ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 31/01/2011 16:39

Mitford - thanks for the update :)

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