Amateur FTB

Correct, its the cheaper of the asking prices for the apartments listed in that block but given the current market its working out what the actual value is at present of any apartment is in Belfast.

Given the current market what would the general opinion be on the expectation for a 2 bed in queens square to go for? A few on PP at 190K and one at 185K.

Agree on the points stated with risk etc, more the thought of spending a considerable amount of money per month on rent when the difference on a mortgage etc isn't that vast. Also with the general consensus being there will be a drop in housing prices coming in the not too distant future surely these city centre apartments will be the first victim with regard price cuts? When all of the Arc apartments for example arent sold after this long surely the developer will have to adjust from their 180K+ for a 2 bed. Rent of £750 seems a common rate per month for a one bed, someone is actually looking £750 pm for a 1 bed in The Gallery which is madness considering it looks like a shoe box.

I have considered renting but always think that at £750+ a month for a 1 bed is expensive when I could buy etc. Points you raised about lifts, windows and doors etc in communal areas isn't something that I would of thought of to be honest so definitely building age is something I would look into a little more closely. After a few years I would probably move again to a house and garden etc and rather than selling I looked at letting as a way of keeping an apartment as an asset until the resale value is worth getting rid of it, not really a long term BTL idea. With the amount of properties for rent on PP in the city centre it couldn't be long before rental prices drop significantly. As you say the airbnb model looks like it will be gone for some time. With the impeding downturn that is to come I would of thought that a lot of these 180K+ apartments in Belfast will be hard to move at those rates.

Young professional so city centre apartments represent the convenient option with the rental value appearing good so in a few years when I may look to move to a house etc I can look at this as an option. Suppose its easy to say they are all over priced but looking at the current offering of apartments in the city centre they really don't seem to represent good value but to have those asking prices some people must be paying close too them which is what I dont understand...

So as a FTB looking at the current state of the market with available 2 bed apartments in Belfast what is the general consensus on the usual blocks, seems the below is generally the opinions from any of the threads on here but really are any of them that bad?. Any opinions? Some seem a bit overpriced? Who is paying 180K for an Obel apartment with electric heating..... Looking for under the 190K mark Arc - Seem about the best in terms of looks, build quality and the area - 184K for a 2 bed (imagine without any view) although as not all of these sold I would be surprised if you couldn't do a decent deal Obel - looks old inside and out with electric heating doesn't sound great and at 180K seems very overpriced - general opinion seems to be avoid James Clow - Looks decent enough for the money at 160-170K but the location isnt exactly prime but with potential for movement on the price would it be worth it? Victoria Place - Penthouse for 185K looks decent although probably a no go given the location and bonfire damage etc Queens Square - Looks small and struggle for light with the prices at 200K+ seems a bit overpriced Custom House - Nice apartment and location but at 220K bit expensive Margarita Plaza - Looks good all round although is it worth 170K? St Annes - Nice apartment although noise could be an issue and also at 200K bit expensive The Bakery - At 200K+ seems expensive but do look decent in terms of the apartment Haven't really seen many others that interest me. Could look at 1 beds but seen a good few of these online and would worry about the resale value as they seem to sit on PP for a lifetime. Also the 1 beds would generally follow the same points as above. Does the convenience of buying an apartment in Belfast close to work worth the fact that they are slightly overpriced?