The_Equalizer Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 (edited) 42 minutes ago, JoeDavola said: ....although it does look like it might be a housing estate? Or do I have that wrong...125K for a housing estate house that needs completely renovated doesn't seem like so much of a bargain? Admittedly a terrace, but certainly not a housing estate. Perhaps take a look round on Google Street View? I bet it isn't what you think. The bottom line is so long as you don't lose cash, then there isn't a problem. Any work done should mean you are quids in (or certainly cushioned against any falls should they occur). As it happens the kitchen in my old house looks like that at the moment. I have costed it at £4.5k for a reasonable replacement with me doing all the work except for tiling and fitting the timber kitchen work tops. Edited July 29, 2019 by The_Equalizer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingray192 Posted July 29, 2019 Author Share Posted July 29, 2019 I think these are ex council houses but they are in a particularly good area, close to the sea, Hollywood town centre and the train station, it’s also a small estate and the rest of the area is private houses, there is nothing wrong with council houses but some of the larger estates can have rough area s within them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Equalizer Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 10 hours ago, stingray192 said: I think these are ex council houses but they are in a particularly good area, close to the sea, Hollywood town centre and the train station, it’s also a small estate and the rest of the area is private houses, there is nothing wrong with council houses but some of the larger estates can have rough area s within them Neither are part of a housing estate. The Kinnegar Road house is one of four similar houses and the Kinnegar Court is a cul de sac with about ten houses. There are estates in Holywood, but these houses are not part of them. The bottom line is the market is where it is. The house that needs work would be worth doing if you had the time and/or could cope with getting builders in. It would be a decent hedge as you would be 'adding value' (to use a tv property porn phrase). Spend £10K doing some of the work yourself and you would probably see an additional £20K on top which is either potential profit or a cushion against drops. The point I was making is there are houses out there in okay areas that, with some effort, can help you move on. The alternative is you sit and let fate take its course. I have spent the last eight months doing up the old house including most weekends and the odd week day evening. It always takes more effort than you think. Instead of sellling the house for £73K when we walked out the door back in October 2018 I am now aiming for £95K of which £10K would be clear after cost of materials, works, mortgage payments, rates and insurance. More importantly I have learnt a load and have several new contacts for building works should I wish to do it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 15 hours ago, The_Equalizer said: Admittedly a terrace, but certainly not a housing estate. Perhaps take a look round on Google Street View? I bet it isn't what you think. The bottom line is so long as you don't lose cash, then there isn't a problem. Any work done should mean you are quids in (or certainly cushioned against any falls should they occur). As it happens the kitchen in my old house looks like that at the moment. I have costed it at £4.5k for a reasonable replacement with me doing all the work except for tiling and fitting the timber kitchen work tops. Had a wee walk about on street view. Initial impressions were underwhelming, the houses seemed very crammed together and it seemed like it wouldn't feel terribly private, especially if some of the houses had kids playing outside, but I guess that's a risk anywhere where you have a bunch of terraced houses crammed together. It does have the look of a housing estate to me, although housing estate houses tend to be really well built but so that's no bad thing maybe. However, overall it's actually a really good shout for someone like myself in today's insane market when I really think about it: - I'm a cash buyer up to about 160K, and I have relatives/friends who are joiners and know about building regs ect...who can help tech me about DIY. So really the only houses I should be considering to try and get anything resembling value are cash-offer-only ones, so that I'm not competing with the 40-year-mortgaged masses... - I work near botanic station and much prefer a train commute to bus - and with the free weekend travel that 600 a year ticket actually offers better value than the bus into East Belfast does, and on average is probably a quicker commute than from the east (i.e. East Belfast -> City Hall -> Walk from City Hall to work...) - I like cycling and being outdoors ect...I used to cycle to hollywood a few years back and grab a wee coffee on the Cafe Nero on main street - seemed a pleasant enough place. I see on google maps just beyond the coastal path I used to cycle down there appears to be a small beach but I've never ventured down there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Actually the beach is nicer than I had thought; managed to get a good view of it via streetview from seapark avenue: https://www.instantstreetview.com/@54.646074,-5.828005,307.34h,12.87p,0.13z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingray192 Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share Posted July 30, 2019 6 minutes ago, JoeDavola said: Had a wee walk about on street view. Initial impressions were underwhelming, the houses seemed very crammed together and it seemed like it wouldn't feel terribly private, especially if some of the houses had kids playing outside, but I guess that's a risk anywhere where you have a bunch of terraced houses crammed together. It does have the look of a housing estate to me, although housing estate houses tend to be really well built but so that's no bad thing maybe. However, overall it's actually a really good shout for someone like myself in today's insane market when I really think about it: - I'm a cash buyer up to about 160K, and I have relatives/friends who are joiners and know about building regs ect...who can help tech me about DIY. So really the only houses I should be considering to try and get anything resembling value are cash-offer-only ones, so that I'm not competing with the 40-year-mortgaged masses... - I work near botanic station and much prefer a train commute to bus - and with the free weekend travel that 600 a year ticket actually offers better value than the bus into East Belfast does, and on average is probably a quicker commute than from the east (i.e. East Belfast -> City Hall -> Walk from City Hall to work...) - I like cycling and being outdoors ect...I used to cycle to hollywood a few years back and grab a wee coffee on the Cafe Nero on main street - seemed a pleasant enough place. I see on google maps just beyond the coastal path I used to cycle down there appears to be a small beach but I've never ventured down there. I think in your circumstances it’s one of the best buys out there, Hollywood is a lovely location and most houses go for bonkers money, you never hear of any trouble and you by the sea, the station being so close is the icing on the cake, the only downside in that particular area is extremely limited parking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Equalizer Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 There were a couple of others that came up last year including this that needed work at about £135K from memory: https://www.instantstreetview.com/@54.64039,-5.843725,95.09h,-2.79p,1z It might be the case that it is used as a stepping stone. From those I spoke to, it looks like the NI market is not keen on doing up houses any more and that includes first time buyers. This was part of the reason I decided to do up the old house we were in. I guess I can let you know whether or not I was right in the next couple of months. P.s. Do like instantstreetview.com! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 1 minute ago, stingray192 said: the only downside in that particular area is extremely limited parking ....I don't drive; so that's not even an issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 2 minutes ago, The_Equalizer said: There were a couple of others that came up last year including this that needed work at about £135K from memory: https://www.instantstreetview.com/@54.64039,-5.843725,95.09h,-2.79p,1z It might be the case that it is used as a stepping stone. From those I spoke to, it looks like the NI market is not keen on doing up houses any more and that includes first time buyers. This was part of the reason I decided to do up the old house we were in. I guess I can let you know whether or not I was right in the next couple of months. P.s. Do like instantstreetview.com! Seems Hollywood is big money; fair enough this is right beside the beach, but this 2 bedder went for 190K: https://www.propertypal.com/3-seapark-court-holywood/572366 If I bought a fixer upper now, I'd have a good 6 months to do it up as I've got a good long time left on my current rental contract, and I've got a ton of leave still to use this year so time's no issue either... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Equalizer Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 The biggest house buying regret was not having a punt at 22 Kinnegar Road which went out the door at about £260K in 2012:https://www.instantstreetview.com/@54.640851,-5.842605,144.92h,1.84p,1z It was nicely done, and near enought the bottom of the market (although there were no signs this was the case at the time). It so happened that the house next door (number 24) came on at about 2 years later at £345K and was a total mess by comparison. It sold quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 2 minutes ago, The_Equalizer said: The biggest house buying regret was not having a punt at 22 Kinnegar Road which went out the door at about £260K in 2012:https://www.instantstreetview.com/@54.640851,-5.842605,144.92h,1.84p,1z It was nicely done, and near enought the bottom of the market (although there were no signs this was the case at the time). It so happened that the house next door (number 24) came on at about 2 years later at £345K and was a total mess by comparison. It sold quickly. I've been taking a little virtual walk around Hollywood - it's funny how when you've lived all your life in Belfast you think the world revolves around the place; as far as I can see you have everything you need within walking distance in Hollywood (including a beach) to the point that you'd not need to go anywhere near Belfast on days when you're not commuting for work. Holywood town centre actually looks far more pleasent than Belfast city centre is these days...not as many drugged up folk with sleeping bags draped over their shoulders wandering around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Equalizer Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 2 minutes ago, JoeDavola said: I've been taking a little virtual walk around Hollywood - it's funny how when you've lived all your life in Belfast you think the world revolves around the place; as far as I can see you have everything you need within walking distance in Hollywood (including a beach) to the point that you'd not need to go anywhere near Belfast on days when you're not commuting for work. Holywood town centre actually looks far more pleasent than Belfast city centre is these days...not as many drugged up folk with sleeping bags draped over their shoulders wandering around It is about one of two places outside Belfast that I like that ticks all the boxes. Getting somewhere near a station and nice doesn't give you many choices and I think this is the best of them. I was there on Saturday, and much as I like where I am now, Holywood still beats it. Make no mistake, Holywood is not perfect, but there are little pockets of it that are spot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 9 minutes ago, The_Equalizer said: It is about one of two places outside Belfast that I like that ticks all the boxes. Getting somewhere near a station and nice doesn't give you many choices and I think this is the best of them. I was there on Saturday, and much as I like where I am now, Holywood still beats it. Make no mistake, Holywood is not perfect, but there are little pockets of it that are spot on. Well, the prices in the surrounding area are eye-wateringly high enough to suggest there's a bit of money knocking about. And it's beside things that I'd actually enjoy being near - the problem I always had with the rise in prices of places like Ballyhackamore was that I don't actually like the place and there's nothing there that I'd enjoy being near during the evenings and weekends (I know the area well as I grew up there). I see next door has done a dormer conversion of the attic which is another opportunity in terms of adding space: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Equalizer Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 1 hour ago, JoeDavola said: Well, the prices in the surrounding area are eye-wateringly high enough to suggest there's a bit of money knocking about. And it's beside things that I'd actually enjoy being near - the problem I always had with the rise in prices of places like Ballyhackamore was that I don't actually like the place and there's nothing there that I'd enjoy being near during the evenings and weekends (I know the area well as I grew up there). I see next door has done a dormer conversion of the attic which is another opportunity in terms of adding space: North Down is not known as the Gold Cost for nothing. I am sure you know that the neighbour's dormer is great as planning precedent has now been set. Perhaps give the EA a call and see the how the land lies? Even if not there will be others, although the cash ones seem a lot less frequent these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 46 minutes ago, The_Equalizer said: North Down is not known as the Gold Cost for nothing. I am sure you know that the neighbour's dormer is great as planning precedent has now been set. Well this is what I was thinking - if they have planning permission for a dormer, surely it makes it easier for me to get planning permission to do the same? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Equalizer Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 1 hour ago, JoeDavola said: Well this is what I was thinking - if they have planning permission for a dormer, surely it makes it easier for me to get planning permission to do the same? That's my understanding of it. All other things being equal there would be no reason for planning to be refused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 2 hours ago, The_Equalizer said: That's my understanding of it. All other things being equal there would be no reason for planning to be refused. Well I just spent the last few hours in Hollywood. Very interesting. I got the train from Botanic, and Botanic to Hollywood took 13 minutes. Couldn't believe it was so quick. Route I was on only stopped at Lanyon and Titanic stations before Hollywood. This makes Hollywood (if near the station) a faster commute to my work than East Belfast would be. Did the coastal walk from Hollywood to Cultra and back which was beautiful, then dandered around Hollywood town center briefly - all seemed nice. Walked over to the house, area itself seems very quiet, timed it as a 7 minute walk to the train though I'm sure I could get that down to 5 if I walked a bit faster! Very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingray192 Posted July 30, 2019 Author Share Posted July 30, 2019 52 minutes ago, JoeDavola said: Well I just spent the last few hours in Hollywood. Very interesting. I got the train from Botanic, and Botanic to Hollywood took 13 minutes. Couldn't believe it was so quick. Route I was on only stopped at Lanyon and Titanic stations before Hollywood. This makes Hollywood (if near the station) a faster commute to my work than East Belfast would be. Did the coastal walk from Hollywood to Cultra and back which was beautiful, then dandered around Hollywood town center briefly - all seemed nice. Walked over to the house, area itself seems very quiet, timed it as a 7 minute walk to the train though I'm sure I could get that down to 5 if I walked a bit faster! Very impressed. Couldn’t be the perfect move for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Equalizer Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, JoeDavola said: Well I just spent the last few hours in Hollywood. Very interesting. I got the train from Botanic, and Botanic to Hollywood took 13 minutes. Couldn't believe it was so quick. Route I was on only stopped at Lanyon and Titanic stations before Hollywood. This makes Hollywood (if near the station) a faster commute to my work than East Belfast would be. Did the coastal walk from Hollywood to Cultra and back which was beautiful, then dandered around Hollywood town center briefly - all seemed nice. Walked over to the house, area itself seems very quiet, timed it as a 7 minute walk to the train though I'm sure I could get that down to 5 if I walked a bit faster! Very impressed. Talk about getting on with it! Very pleased you liked it. One of the little things I really like is the view you get when getting off the train from Belfast - it is straight down Belfast Lough towards the Irish Sea. Edited July 30, 2019 by The_Equalizer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted July 31, 2019 Share Posted July 31, 2019 12 hours ago, The_Equalizer said: Talk about getting on with it! Very pleased you liked it. One of the little things I really like is the view you get when getting off the train from Belfast - it is straight down Belfast Lough towards the Irish Sea. Well I figured why waste any time - I pass by botanic on the way home so why not spend an evening there. Thank you very much for the recommendation; I had been at a complete loss for some time as to where I wanted to live. I didn't want to return to east belfast where I grew up, even before you take the price rises into consideraiton, and BT9 has gone crazy as well so that's out. I've spent a decade living in the city centre and I'm now of an age where I don't want to be slap bang in the middle of a bunch of nightclubs. I enjoy train commuting and don't like buses. I like the outdoors. With a yearly train ticket I could use the free weekend travel to visit friends who live further afield in NI. I also have the option of dandering down to the beach or hopping on my bike and cycling the coastal path. Hollywood sounds like just the ticket, I'm surprised I hadn't thought of it before. Of course it's not cheap, and if I don't decide to get this house I'll have to wait for the next fixer-upper, but it's given me an interesting new option that I'd never considered before. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Equalizer Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 (edited) Really glad that you liked it. I do have empathy for your situation. I too spent a very long time saving and found it jolly depressing that there didn't seem to be anything I wanted for the money I had. In the end a house cropped up just at the right time albeit not in the bits of Belfast I liked nor Holywood. In fact I had walked past the house we bought two weeks before it was put on the market. I said to my wife before it came up for sale that it was my favourite house in what is a very nice road. Funny how life sometimes work. Do let us know if you do bid on anything. I will no doubt be raking through Propertynews for houses too! Edited August 1, 2019 by The_Equalizer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeDavola Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 1 hour ago, The_Equalizer said: Really glad that you liked it. I do have empathy for your situation. I too spent a very long time saving and found it jolly depressing that there didn't seem to be anything I wanted for the money I had. In the end a house cropped up just at the right time albeit not in the bits of Belfast I liked nor Holywood. In fact I had walked past the house we bought two weeks before it was put on the market. I said to my wife before it came up for sale that it was my favourite house in what is a very nice road. Funny how life sometimes work. Do let us know if you do bid on anything. I will no doubt be raking through Propertynews for houses too! I'll send you a wee email - completely forgot that we got in touch outside this site and I never got back to you! Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimb.mccauley Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 On 7/23/2019 at 9:25 AM, mmca22gr said: If this house is not back on the market in a few months then you know that some one bought it and got the finance or self financed. Best of luck to them. So now that’s it’s back on the market what do we all think!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2buyornot2buy Posted June 27, 2020 Share Posted June 27, 2020 (edited) On 23/07/2019 at 09:25, mmca22gr said: If this house is not back on the market in a few months then you know that some one bought it and got the finance or self financed. Best of luck to them. Bump. Back on the market. 1 year later. Looks like it didn't sell. Edited June 27, 2020 by 2buyornot2buy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Glad to here, well overpriced by a seller blatantly trying to deceive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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