Help me buy a house

[JollyGoodBunting]

I sold a flat last year and have been trying to buy a house ever since. What's causing the lack of supply? I'm in Manchester, looking in Trafford. I can't even get a viewing.

I love that first one!

I thought Manchester was reasonably priced but it's really not is it?! All the gardens are so small!

That top one is lovely. It's expensive because it's in the catchment for one of the top state primary schools in the country.

oh yeah, i always laugh at the posters on here who say "it's cheap up north" @girlmom21 !! Parts of Trafford are some of the most expensive areas for property outside London.

I wonder who all these people buying are.

people with loads of month i think.

We are chain free & have lost out of 2 properties which have gone for more than the 30/35k we offered over asking.

Where are you looking?

I think Stretford is the answer.

Along with Urmston / Flixton. Thanks to the pp who mentioned those.

A night of right moving tonight I think.

Urmston maybe but with a budget of £400k I wouldn't buy in Stretford. What about Timperley? Catchment for Wellington and not too far from Sale....

Why not Stretford?

I could stretch to about 410k but that's maxing myself out on mortgage.

I'm a single parent but I've got a secure job - key worker. So not too concerned that I'm maxing out the mortgage debt, as I have job security but I am concerned about cost increases - petrol, gas, food etc.

@troppibambini6

What puts you off Stretford?

I don’t want to offend anyone but it’s not the best area. A lot of it is really ropey. I just think with a budget of 400k you could buy in a much better area with better schools. (I know Stretford grammar is good but don’t think other options are great)

I would have to agree with this!

I'm having sleepless nights thinking about it. I thought selling my flat and making myself chain free would make me an attractive option to agents and vendors but it doesn't seem to be having that effect.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/121841495

What do people think about a downstairs bathroom? Wondering if there is space to put a loo and sink in upstairs.

Garden is quite small too but the back garden is East facing, so I should get some sun.

I wonder if you could extend and put a second level on top of the downstairs bathroom/utility

It's under budget at 315, so I could find the money to extend. That's a good idea. A 2nd bathroom downstairs is handy but not if it's the only bathroom.

Could you extend in to the loft, do a bedroom with en-suite up there, turn bedroom three into a family bathroom and the downstairs bathroom can become a kitchen diner?

The Waverley Rd house is lovely, I think a colleague paid £350K recently for a similar one where they’d taken a bedroom for a bathroom!

northenden any good for school/ support? Maybe a bit less hyped. I also found Kirn in Northenden were the only estate agents who’d actually look for a house for you rather than just gatekeep these vast viewing days.

Also, I like Stretford but Firswood is even better and on both tram lines to Trafford, Chorlton, Didsbury, airport.

I don't think the loft is high enough to extend into. I'm viewing it on Sunday though.

Interestingly, it's been on the market since 4/4. Usually they are snapped up. I think the downstairs bathroom is probably putting people off.

Northenden is worth a look

Are you looking to stay in area of the most popular schools? Firswood has got popular with those with a slightly lower budget

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E9986&propertyTypes=&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

I would buy either of the cheaper ones, both really lovely streets.

I love that house! I'd be tempted if we didn't live in the south east 😂

There doesn't seem to be much for sale in Northenden either.

Wonder when this spring bounce is supposed to start 😬