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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel absolutely desperate re our housing situation

208 replies

AwfulMaureen · 01/02/2014 20:47

Some may remember my thread worrying about the fact that our Landlord is selling...we got our official notice today...2 months. Fine. I have no hope that the local authority will house us though I will try.

We have some savings...which we can double in the next two months if we save every penny and eat nothing but porridge...which will amount then to 20,000.

I don't want to try for a mortgage as A: We are both 41 and don't want one at this point ...the stress and worry of being chained to a bank is not for me...my sister is always in constant fear of her mortgage provider...and B: I doubt we'd get one anyway as we're both self employed and so not a good bet.

I did look into part ownership but around here the only properties available are flats...upper level flats with no gardens. So our 20 grand would go on owning 25% of a flat in an area we'd never choose.

What can I DO! It's SO frustrating....if we could find a little wreck of a barn with planning permission, we have the skills and patience to do it up...I've even found myself looking at frigging barges and Park Houses...you know...those little trailer park things! Most of those are for retired people with no children.

Why the arse should we continue to rent privately? I just don't want to!

The savings we have have come to us through freakishly good timing so we can't really replicate this amount of money over the next few years and I'm afraid it will all leech away on rent etc...I just want somewhere to call my own.

I think about all those English Heritage wrecks....rotting away...when we could improve and protect them...and other listed buildings which are going to waste. We're willing to be a bit quirky in our lifestyle but have to consider the children which is why a barge isn't really ideal!

OP posts:
EmmaBemma · 02/02/2014 18:21

ha ha. I live in one of "those little trailer park things". I thought this thread would be really sad and distressing but it's given me my best laugh in weeks! Thanks OP.

Mimishimi · 02/02/2014 19:49

Hmmm. My grandfather recently sold his house in Sydney for $2 million + to developers who are going to build a block of flats on it. He just put a deposit on a poky little 2 bedroom flat in a retirement village for $640,000. When he needs care, I imagine that will eat up quite a bit of his remaining savings although he has other investments. I know you said you aren't relying on an inheritance but the fact you even mentioned it indicates you are hopeful of it. Unless you are willing to have your in laws move in with you and you do all the high care yourself (if they were willing to do that), it quite possibly won't happen.

I'd reconsider emigrating to be honest. Australia is expensive. You cannot buy anything within an hour of the major cities (where most of the work is) for less than $500,000. Mining towns are worse. It's the US which has amazing real estate bargains.

DontmindifIdo · 02/02/2014 20:37

OP - if you are still reading this, can I make a suggestion, if you are thinking of buying but not sure as you might move to Oz, have you considered that you could buy in the UK now, then either sell when you move or rent it out in the UK, with the rent paying the mortgage (not you) then you'd have a place in the UK you could return to should you want to, or in your retirement, sell the UK house, or continue to rent it out and use that rental income as a second pension...

Apatite1 · 03/02/2014 00:12

Well as scottishmummy said, you're more interested in wallowing in your own self pity then seriously considering any of the many sensible options given to you on this thread. No one can you if you throw all your toys out of the pram and cry in the corner. But feel free to do so. Your situation will be just as "pathetic" as it was at the beginning of the thread. How in gods name do you manage to function as an adult if you can't even budge from your own entrenched views?

I'm not surprised that many people have found you completely unreasonable on this thread.

salsmum · 03/02/2014 01:45

friggin barges Shock my DS and DIL live in a beautiful house boat in Uxbridge..it's spacious and stylish and is so peaceful that if there was only me and DP I think I'd be very tempted Grin.

Bedtime1 · 03/02/2014 03:43

Renting is wasted money op! It's always better to buy than rent.

RedHelenB · 03/02/2014 17:35

If you have work lined up in Australia and want to emigrate then why wait? I'd move now of I were you.

specialsubject · 03/02/2014 17:37

living in London (Not the OP, someone else) is expensive. Tax evasion is a crime and living beyond their means is not an excuse.

they could get a 3 bed house for a lot less than that near me - and yes, there is work, and transport and facilities. But oh, it isn't London.

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