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St Albans Seems Very Busy At The Moment


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HOLA441
  • 3 weeks later...
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HOLA442

Just anecdotal but things do seem to have picked up a little around St. Albans recently.

I have three freinds who have all recently sold their places, very close to asking price, one on the first veiwing, and the other to the next door neihbours, who were renting and have decided to buy.

Also reading the local property rag asking prices in the area seem to be as ridiculous as ever ! :angry: :angry:

Will the madness ever end ???

I'm begining to wonder !!! :angry: :angry:

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HOLA443
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HOLA444
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HOLA445

Now they're not having problems off-loading Minerva Heights are they?

Shared ownership now available to any local FTB, not just key workers <_<

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property/6503980

I may make a trip on Saturday to see what the deal is. Strikes me that they are trying to sell these as flats in a primary location which is not really the case. Interesting that they haven't all been bought by BTL's.

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HOLA446
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HOLA447
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HOLA448

Bump.

I may make a trip on Saturday to see what the deal is. Strikes me that they are trying to sell these as flats in a primary location which is not really the case. Interesting that they haven't all been bought by BTL's.

a_j, did you get to see Minerva Heights last week?

mjd

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HOLA449

Bump.

a_j, did you get to see Minerva Heights last week?

mjd

Yes, quite interesting. I'm waiting for the EA to call me back with answers to a couple of queries. I'll post some comments in the next couple of days.

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HOLA4410
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HOLA4411
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HOLA4412

a_j

Have those useless EAs not got back to you?

:huh:

No - I've left my number twice. Is this a bad sign? Are they too busy selling things, or do I look too poor to afford one of their 'luxury' apartments?

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HOLA4413

Still no reply from Martins Treasure. Are they snowed under with viewings, or are they they only estate agent not to flood you with leaflets when you've expressed an interest and given contact details?

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HOLA4414
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HOLA4415
  • 2 weeks later...
15
HOLA4416

Darwoods are marketing some 'investment property', quoting rent and property valuations <_<

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-576...a_n=4&tr_t=rent

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-576...a_n=4&tr_t=rent

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-576...a_n=4&tr_t=rent

That'll be a 3.9% yield after service charges, but before voids and other costs.

Tempted?

:lol:

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HOLA4417

Darwoods are marketing some 'investment property', quoting rent and property valuations <_<

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-576...a_n=4&tr_t=rent

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-576...a_n=4&tr_t=rent

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-576...a_n=4&tr_t=rent

That'll be a 3.9% yield after service charges, but before voids and other costs.

Tempted?

:lol:

I am almost certain that we used to rent in that development when it was initially built 7 years ago. We paid £995 pcm (to Darwoods) for a standard 2 bedroom flat so rents appear to have fallen. Not only that but I am sure that they have appreciated by only 5% (if it sells at full price not including stamp duty and inflation etc.) in 7 years as I think our landlord paid around the £200,000 mark.

Edited by msgin
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HOLA4418

I am almost certain that we used to rent in that development when it was initially built 7 years ago. We paid £995 pcm (to Darwoods) for a standard 2 bedroom flat so rents appear to have fallen. Not only that but I am sure that they have appreciated by only 5% (if it sells at full price not including stamp duty and inflation etc.) in 7 years as I think our landlord paid around the £200,000 mark.

msgin

I know the flats you mean, but I think that these are the building that used to be the auction house that has recently been converted.

mjd

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  • 4 weeks later...
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HOLA4419
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HOLA4420

Don't really know what to make of this, I was under the impression that things had been really moving again just recently, seems not.

http://www.home.co.uk/guides/house_prices_...bans&lastyear=1

FaTB

Interesting trends - small samples though....

Try plugging in Jan05 to Jan06 - a very different story :angry:

I think that we're getting some very mixed signals at the moment in St Albans, probably due to the smallish samples in the surveys, and the lumpiness of top-end transactions that could be skewing some of the data.

The Nationwide report showed (IIRC) 18% growth (which sounded suspicious) - http://www.nationwide.co.uk/hpi/historical/Q1_2006_full.pdf

Then (IIRC) the Halifax showed 0% growth.

I'll upload a Connells update soon. I've also been running the Rightmove Hoover (posted on another thread) for AL1 since the end of last October - now could be the time for some initial analysis.

mjd

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  • 3 weeks later...
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HOLA4421
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HOLA4422

Thanks for re-directing me to this thread. It's interesting reading.

I think there is a real shortage of properties, that is houses to buy in St.Albans at the moment, which has pushed the prices up. I know this is not the case everywhere in England. Also that the ones on the market are ones that are difficult to sell. There seems to be a fair few landlords selling up.

We are in rented at the moment as when we moved we wanted to get to know the area before buying. Last year prices were being reduced and friends, who were selling were struggling to sell and getting very few viewings. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to look properly. Now I have time to do so and it's crazy here. Let me give a couple of examples. In 2 houses that I would have considered buying it was set up that there was a bidding war. The first had an open morning one Saturday and it was packed with people viewing. On Tuesday the agent phoned to say 6 people had made offers, did I want to. I had doubts about the house so I said 'no'. Time will tell how much it did sell for as it needed so much work doing to it. The second house we both liked. It was advertised 2 weeks prior to viewings being allowed, but bookings were made. In one week the house maybe had 40-50 viewings, I'm guessing from the owner telling me that on the first night she said she had 18 viewings. Then the following week I did put an offer in and was told that it had already got offers off, 36K, 34K, 30K and 25K above the asking price. The agent hinted if we put in a certain offer we were likely to get it as we were in a good position. I then declined to increase ours as the whole thing made me very nervous. What i don't understand is if the house had been purposefully undervalued to get interest. I would have always questioned if we had over-payed. We are not deperate to move but it would be good for us and especially the kids to have a place of our own.

Now there is no new properties to look at. The decent ones have sold last month and that's it.

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  • 2 weeks later...
22
HOLA4423

Game for a laugh!

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-124...=3&tr_t=buy

I rented near St. Albans (Tyttenhanger) until last year. I gave up on purchasing in St. Albans years ago and looked for a long time in London Colney. When ex council semis started hitting £280,000 there I looked further afield. Ended up in Hemel.

Get this! I bought a five bedroom detached with garage, en-suite, three reception rooms, fitted kitchen for under £300,000. Lovely location and approx 13 minutes from St. Albans.

Apologies for sounding like a smart a**e, but it can be done. I don't think prices will ever seriously drop in places like St. Albans or Harpenden. They are really nice places, and unfortunately that is reflected in the prices, which I still consider insane.

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HOLA4424

Game for a laugh!

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-124...=3&tr_t=buy

Apologies for sounding like a smart a**e, but it can be done. I don't think prices will ever seriously drop in places like St. Albans or Harpenden. They are really nice places, and unfortunately that is reflected in the prices, which I still consider insane.

I think that St Albans prices have to be judged in comparison with reasonable areas of North London with some adjustment for the price of a season ticket to London. To compare with the areas around doesn't reflect the fact that many/ most? of the people buying now are city workers or solicitors earning high London wages who need a fast connection. In comparison you get a lot more for your money in Berkhamsted - but an extra half an hour on the journey to work.

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HOLA4425

I think that St Albans prices have to be judged in comparison with reasonable areas of North London with some adjustment for the price of a season ticket to London. To compare with the areas around doesn't reflect the fact that many/ most? of the people buying now are city workers or solicitors earning high London wages who need a fast connection. In comparison you get a lot more for your money in Berkhamsted - but an extra half an hour on the journey to work.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-125...=1&tr_t=buy

Bit more value for your £600,000 but still damn pricey. Back in 1997 these were going for closer to £200,000.

From memory train to Euston takes just over 40 mins, not sure how long from St Albans.

That said I'm not sure what the reputation of the local schools is like.

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