calm-on-the-surface

Agents on the whole are weasels. The transactional nature of their business makes them inherently dishonest. Most of them just want you to pay as much as possible so their percentage cut is worth more. If you really want the property and are ok with the price then we'll done. If you are having doubts for any reason then contact the agent and tell them that based on what you now know you are withdrawing your asking price offer (in this case to have metal bars fitted to all windows and doors and to buy a bullet proof vest) but that you would stand by the previous one for a week to give the vendor time to think about it. That shows that you are prepared to walk away from the house and also that you are being rational. Asking about other viewing similar priced properties once you offer expires would help sure up your negotiating position. If you go down that route then ask your solicitor to pause work on your file in case it doesn't work out. The vendors might be pissed off but if they are rational they ought to seriously consider a reasoned change of offer. Viewing the area at varying time of day/night is a must. Certain crimes are much more likely when it is dark and quiet. Feral Kids are more likely to be kicking a ball against cars/walls/houses in early evening etc

Landlordzone is a good site for info on all legal stuff. I have used it and the posters are very helpful.

Only rules written into the leases (covenants) can be enforced. New rules are not allowed to be thrown in 'ad hoc' to suit changing circumstances. That is why leasehold is not a choice I would take again unless the lease is worded to cover all eventualities, includes share of freehold and there is an owner run management company. Freehold is a much safer and wiser choice if funds allow.

Indeed, I would only opt for a house that meets the minimum target via fabric alone. If it had renewables then it would need a sap score in the A range to interest me, as mid B can be achieved by fabric alone and gives a much better indication of what you are getting regards actual heating costs. The whole trade off thing is a crock and is only there to appease big builders who can't be bothered to move with the times because it impacts on floor area vs footprint. Are you an architect/surveyor/building control officer??

Are 800sqft houses going to sell or even rent in Omagh? That is a small house by any standards and especially so in NI. Townhouses are especially tricky to sell from what I see. With the current state of the market I wouldn't build anything that wasn't done for 'love'. New Developments aromd Enniskillen are sitting for sale and not budging- even with what appear to be rather realistic prices. People are scared of another crash post Brexit and seem to be waiting it out.

Apologies, I left out the 'tense' of my statement. I believe the current Scottish regs are a bit more stringent than the current NI regs. My friend achieved 0.2 for walls when he built back in 2008/9(I think) which is inline with the latest Scottish regs (I think ish) as opposed to the 0.3 currently Required here in NI. Basically, as you suggested, I'd build to the best (easily achieved) standard I could if I were building. An overall envelope of less than 0.2 with good air tightness and positive ain't input seems like a good way to go and shouldn't be too costly.

Can't argue with any of that. If I were building I'd go for the current Scottish regs for insulation as being the standard most suited for Fermanagh/Northern Ireland. A friend of mine who built 7 years ago went to 'about' that standard and he heats the 150m2 house with around 500-600 litres of oil per year. Not bad going.

Having the land definitely helps, as does planning permission It is all dependant on what you want to build. A 1400sqft house that is square and over 2 storeys and without a chimney stack will be much cheaper per ft than an L shaped bungalow with bay windows, a porch and several chimney stacks. What it includes will also make a difference. As will the spec of wiring, plumbing and the associated fittings. I believe you can build to passivhaus standards for circa £100 per sqff and that you can get down below £60 per sqff if you build to current regs and keep the shape and finishes simple. I'd ask local builders and your architect for ball park figures once you decide what you are going to build. Saying that, if you are out of town they will probably only allow you to go up 1.5 storeys and it will need to be white colour through render on the outside. There is also an odd prevelance of houses being so far back from the road that they are wedged back against the rear boundary So that there is no back garden and instead there is a big useless south facing front garden for some bizarre reason that I can not fathom. I guess that must be a planning condition too!

The jobs do not require degrees, a degree is merely used to wittle down the numbers that apply. 2 of the biggest employers of graduates in the uk are McDonald's and wetherspoons.

Where I am buying the average price is 112k and 4.5 times average salary so based on mortgage lending multiples the ceiling has been hit. I can not foresee a huge crash (like 2008) even with Brexit but the market has certainly slowed to a crawl. Properties that I would say are heavily overpriced are sitting for ages then reappearing with a new agent and a tiny reduction in price (£1.5k in most cases), as if that is the trick will make it sell. Brexit is apparently going full steam ahead though so things are going to get a lot more unsettled before long.

Indeed it all comes down to preference and how achievable the goal is. Where I moved from the average home (not house and more likely a flat) costs 11 times the average salary. 550k would get you a 3 bed that needs gutting. Young Nurses, Teachers, care workers and anyone else earning less than the average wage (37.5k) has no hope of ever buying any home. They are victims of the Neoliberal lie that working will make you rich. Being from money makes you rich. Choosing 6 winning lottery numbers is as good a plan as working hard.

I think we are agreeing! I am buying the best house I can get without going into debt. In my eyes I will be better off than anyone with a mortgage. I don't drive fancy cars, have loads of holidays nor chattels but I'll own my own home outright at 41. It is only possible because London housing prices are mental and double every 9-10 'years and gave me equity- not through hard work. No one gets rich working hard. I'm not Scottish by the way. Oh and I thought the Jewish community are the Richest?

Not technically true. Those from a money background tend to only mix In circles where everything has the cost premium that helps keep it an exclusive community. The only people who aren't skating close to the edge are the real rich, as in those who have enough to money not to need a mortgage for their £5million house, and who change their Range Rover every year without it costing a thought. Almost everyone else are a only a few months of no salary away form losing everything. Hocking yourself up to the limit is the norm and while I am not interested in being part of that norm, most people seem to aspire or even dream about being the one with Huge mortgage and finance on a flash car.

I had this 'chat' with my wife recently. She was talking about us buying a place and doing it up and making profit so we could move again to get a better house. I had to explain that the plan only works in a bull market where prices are flying up and you have lots of money and time to invest. In N.I the ceiling price for each type of house in each area is fairly clear and in most cases money spent renovating is going to be money lost. I talked her into buying a house that will see us out, with just a few cheap tweaks here and there when the time comes. Buying once is the way forward if you can afford to get a forever home first time around. I've moved about 8-9 times in 15 years to get to the point that I can buy a nice home without a mortgage. Only nice- not expensive though.

Cheers ?