2020 Vision Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 It seems to me many on here are planning to buy a house in the UK when the time is right. Lets ignore for now, that UK property may never reach a fair price if you think the country is in permanent decline. And instead focus the forum's considerable expertise on what kind of property to look for. For what it's worth the only genuinely good "tips" I've been given are: - Buy the worst property on the best street, rather than the best property on the worst street. - At the bottom of the market land will have declined much more in percentage terms than houses. Therefore it might make sense to buy a property with additional land / potential building plot. * The smell of fresh bread, twigs in vases, and manolia paint are "no-brainers" and do not need to be discussed here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Masked Tulip Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Not on main road. Not on bottom of hill Not on corner of road Preferably driveway Not in a BTL/Student area or in are that has potential to be one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablopatito Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 - Buy the worst property on the best street, rather than the best property on the worst street. I've never been convinced by this one. Doesn't it mean you spend your life coveting your neighbours' superior homes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikhail Liebenstein Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Â My advice is find someone who needs to sell and can afford to sell cheap. Â Lemon faced babyboomers will hang on to the highest valuation mentioned in passing by an estate agent for dear life, whilst builders who had to part exchange a property in order to sell one of the new creations will probably keener to offload at a discount - though make sure they haven't just done the deal and put both halves through at inflated prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Georgia O'Keeffe Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 It seems to me many on here are planning to buy a house in the UK when the time is right. Lets ignore for now, that UK property may never reach a fair price if you think the country is in permanent decline. And instead focus the forum's considerable expertise on what kind of property to look for. For what it's worth the only genuinely good "tips" I've been given are: - Buy the worst property on the best street, rather than the best property on the worst street. - At the bottom of the market land will have declined much more in percentage terms than houses. Therefore it might make sense to buy a property with additional land / potential building plot. * The smell of fresh bread, twigs in vases, and manolia paint are "no-brainers" and do not need to be discussed here. make sure it has a roof and walls, i know this seems obvious but youd be suprised how many buyers forget to check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomberbrown Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 - Buy the worst property on the best street, rather than the best property on the worst street. I never really understood this one either. It's the inhabitants that determine if the street is 'good' or 'bad' and over a relatively short period of time, you can get a few 'bad apples' that can make a street turn out bloody awful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sukuinage Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 It's got to have the "WOW" factor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCountOfNowhere Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Best tip would be: different country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Sando Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Find ten houses you would like to live in, then make the offers that you think their worth, then sit and wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twatmangle Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Find ten houses you would like to live in, then make the offers that you think their worth, then sit and wait. and wait... and wait.. and wait. Then one day realise that you've wasted your whole life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Quiet road, available parking close by, good public transport buses and trains, post office and local store, open space/park close by, garden/outside space, nice neighbours that take pride in their community, good schools.....close to work or within half an hour traveling......once the location is right you can make the house how you like it, but something older solidly built with character on a road and not on an estate will be easier to sell .....they don't make them how they used to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Sando Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 and wait... and wait.. and wait. Then one day realise that you've wasted your whole life. Thats a bit dramatic, I wouldn't say, not owning your own home in your life time was a waste of life. I think being a dept slave is thou. It's going to take people like me who arn't willing to be ripped off to get this market to change directions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plummet expert Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 It seems to me many on here are planning to buy a house in the UK when the time is right. Lets ignore for now, that UK property may never reach a fair price if you think the country is in permanent decline. And instead focus the forum's considerable expertise on what kind of property to look for. For what it's worth the only genuinely good "tips" I've been given are: - Buy the worst property on the best street, rather than the best property on the worst street. - At the bottom of the market land will have declined much more in percentage terms than houses. Therefore it might make sense to buy a property with additional land / potential building plot. * The smell of fresh bread, twigs in vases, and manolia paint are "no-brainers" and do not need to be discussed here. A sought after location is the most important factor of all. You can usually change a house, but not where it is. You may pay a little more, but you can always resell when you need to. Some main roads I know of, are virtually sale free zones at any price. Be very careful if you don't know the area as a 'bargain' could well be something else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarman001 Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 All good points. Here's one of my girlfriend's faves: Make sure the garden slopes downwards away from the house - don't want big puddles outside your house if it rains heavy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammo Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Go on A Place in the Sun: Home or Away. You get 2 presenters to find a house for you, one of which is not a bad looker I'm assuming you get paid for the holiday & to be on TV as well. Saves having to do all the leg work. Etc. Wouldn't go on LLL personally as I find the presenters annoying, and you don't get any holiday. Worth a try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winkie Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Go on A Place in the Sun: Home or Away. You get 2 presenters to find a house for you, one of which is not a bad looker I'm assuming you get paid for the holiday & to be on TV as well. Saves having to do all the leg work. Etc. Wouldn't go on LLL personally as I find the presenters annoying, and you don't get any holiday. Worth a try Many of them don't look like they have any intention of buying, they are only there to make a programme or there for the beer/beano. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alm0stCerta1n Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 and wait... and wait.. and wait. Then one day realise that you've wasted your whole life. I think you are allowed to get a hobby while waiting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alm0stCerta1n Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Don't stress yourself over it is the best advice I've heard. I took it to mean find a house you want to live in, pay the price you think is acceptable and enjoy living there. If you're not prepared to pay the price then find a home to rent and enjoy living there instead. Don't worry about the details as what you consider important will probably change over time. If you are trying to protect your financial investment then the traditional factors of schools, work etc should mean others in the future wanting to buy it off you... no guarantee on the price though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exiges Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 (edited) Find one in probate, you'd be surprised how quick the family members want to get hold of that cash and will do a deal fast. I went to look at a sizeable house in Clipston that was up for £900k, they accepted £600k. (I wasn't the buyer) Edited August 23, 2010 by exiges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEO72 Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 and wait... and wait.. and wait. Then one day realise that you've wasted your whole life. You know I've heard it's legal to have a career, kids, friends etc. whilst living in rented accomodation. Of course you don't have the luxury of paying for all repairs, or worrying about whether mortgage rates will rise, or whether prices will fall/you'll be stuck in negative equity - but hey, you can't have it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfit Posted August 23, 2010 Share Posted August 23, 2010 Not on main road. Not on bottom of hill Not on corner of road Preferably driveway Not in a BTL/Student area or in are that has potential to be one My tip would be to ignore all the housing programmes and take all the compromises you are willing to make such as on a main road or next to a train line, in an unfashionable area which may take a while to get to work but the chances are it will be these compromises which will mean you are paying a much fairer price than trying to "tick all your wish list boxes." This also means your time as a wage slave will be reduced compared to buying a nicer house in a quiet cul-de-sac in a sought after area with the possibility of stil having the mortgage post retirement. M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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