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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are we totally mad - buying a house and having a baby

77 replies

HairsprayBabe · 08/01/2020 10:18

Will try to keep this short the more I think about it the more I feel overwhelmed...

We are currently renting - rental period ends August 4th, letting agents will only let us sign a year's lease after our current one ends.

Baby number 1 is due July 24th

We have the deposit to buy a house - we need to move into a house ideally as close to the end of our lettings period as possible.

Can we swing this or are we mad to even consider it - buying would cut our bills significantly and I would feel more secure owning a house with a baby than stuck in rentals...

AIBU to think we can find and buy a house and move in whilst heavily pregnant/with a newborn.

For info - both our families are local, hands on and helpful, baby will be first grandchild on both sides.

OP posts:
Chipmonkeypoopoo · 08/01/2020 14:06

We packed up our home when I was about 6 months pregnant and moved into our new permanent home with a 7 week old. We did 2 trans continental moves in between. Was all totally fine. Just a bit slower to do jobs with the 7 week old than when pregnant.

Beau2020x · 08/01/2020 14:22

Totally do-able and I know LOADS of people that have done it.

Get your mortgage NOW before you have any financial dependents as it will be harder once you have a child. Personally I wouldn't even disclose the pregnancy to whoever you decide to mortgage with... as long as you are sure you can afford it once a baby is in the picture.

flirtygirl · 08/01/2020 14:26

Don't understand why you think this is mad, as is this not what people normally do?

Linguaphile · 08/01/2020 14:36

Buy the house and just budget in the cost of having a moving company do all the moving work for you! Definitely the best option.

Iambloodystarving · 08/01/2020 14:39

Do it. Much easier to move now than with a crawling baby. Also, when visibly pregnant you will get more help - weird but true!

lanthanum · 08/01/2020 15:10

We were going to move about a month before due date. DD was early, and we ended up moving a little later than intended with a 3.5 week premie. Came out of hospital on Sat, moved Thurs.

If you're moving from rental to bought then hopefully there can be a bit of flexibility about moving date in case of early arrival. You do need to consider that possibility.

We did our own packing, just about (despite me being in the hospital for 3 weeks) - the removal men did end up doing about the last 3/4 boxes for us. I had done quite a bit before DD turned up. On moving day I had someone booked to pick up me, baby, Moses basket and beanbag. The removal men packed around me, and I was mid-feed when they left. By the time I got the new house (not far away), they'd nearly finished unloading, and I had very little to do.

I'd bunged clothes into a packing box as I outgrew them, which backfired. I ended up in hospital having to estimate what size I was, and sent my husband to find that box and try to dig out something I could wear!

Two removal boxes are exactly the right size for a changing mat, and you can choose what height stack to use. We didn't unpack the pram from its box until we'd moved.

If you're changing area that may mean a change of midwife/health visitor. I had a call from the local midwife for the old house, but she passed me on very efficiently to someone at my new address. Getting DD registered at the doctors was obviously a priority, too.

There were three of us in the SCBU at the same time who were all in the process of moving - this was commented on, although I don't think any of us were particularly stressed by the moves, so probably just coincidence.

Original poster
HairsprayBabe · 08/01/2020 16:37

But dosnt a mortgage in principal only last a month or so??? Then you have to get another and another credit check?

I feel really daunted by it all - I am desperate to buy and I want to as soon as possible - but if we find the perfect house and move asap then we are liable for the rent until August anyway. So it would be better to move as close to August as possible?

OP posts:
Inliverpool1 · 08/01/2020 16:38

My brother did exactly this last year the baby arrived literally the day after they moved in

Original poster
HairsprayBabe · 08/01/2020 16:39

Regardless of whether I am heavily pregnant or we have a new born financially we can't move untill as late as possible as we don't want to pay rent and mortgage at the same time

OP posts:
Inliverpool1 · 08/01/2020 16:39

Mortgage in principal lady’s 6 months I believe

Original poster
HairsprayBabe · 08/01/2020 16:40

I don't know where I read they only last 30-60 days or something if it is six months then I can do it asap.

OP posts:
Inliverpool1 · 08/01/2020 16:41

Definitely check, I want to leave mine as late as possible so if you find the answer out I’d be grateful if you’d post but I’m at least 80% sure it’s 6 months

Original poster
HairsprayBabe · 08/01/2020 16:47

Google says 60-90 days Hmm don't know why I didn't just check sooner

OP posts:
Xyzzzzz · 08/01/2020 16:49

A mortgage in principle is an initial credit check that lasts 30 days a snap shot.

mortgage application can last 60-90 days depending on the lender.

The mortgage offer can last 6 -9 months depending on the lender

dontgobaconmyheart · 08/01/2020 16:50

Ita doable OP but you need to be very proactive and be very prepared fo the fact that the process can take ages, if you are buying a house in a chain it can drag on and may even fall through.

What is your backup plan? You say you can't fork out for rent and mortgage but do you have somewhere (parent's house) etc you can stay in (and somewhere to store belongings) should it go past your move out date. That far along the line you will have shelled out a fair bit in survey fees and solicitors fees, council checks etc, arrangement fees for the mortgage.

It sounds as though you would be well placed to arrange to see a mortgage advisor. An agreement in principle will tell you what you MAY be likely to borrow providing all info and funds remain correct under later scrutiny, it is not binding but is the first step of the process.

Arranging the mortgage will cost money and does expire (usually within 6 months) after which you would have to reapply, rates may change etc. Bear in mind the hidden costs of owning vs renting to add on to your outgoings- buildings insurance etc

toomuchtooold · 08/01/2020 16:52

It's probably actually better to be moving when you're pregnant or the baby is small than when they are a toddler and fussy about where they sleep. Do it!

MarshaBradyo · 08/01/2020 16:53

Yes you can. Just get packers and go for it.

Original poster
HairsprayBabe · 08/01/2020 17:04

Yes backup plan is staying at my parents - storing stuff variously at my parents, DHs parents, my grandparents and any other family willing to help! My lovely aunt has a nice big garage she has already volunteered for me if we need it!

OP posts:
Nuttyaboutnutella · 08/01/2020 17:09

Totally doable. We moved into our first property together when I was 8 months pregnant (he's nearly 3). We then moved into out current house when my youngest was 3 months old (summer just gone). Both are hard but manageable.

I'm not having any more kids or moving ever again though as I'm craving some calmer times 😂

waybird · 08/01/2020 17:56

I think you can - I think if you get really organised in advance with things like packing - ie things you must have in the first week, things you need in the first month and things that can be left a little.

A key thing is to have an 'important box' and in it things you will need but can't afford to misplace ie passports , baby hospital notes, painkillers, nipple cream etc etc

Also just make sure you have blinds curtains or at least black out fabric and duct tape! It's do able if one relaxes about everything being perfect ! Just my 2 pennies worth !

Robs20 · 08/01/2020 18:03

Buy the house! We are doing this (or trying). We should be moving in the next 5 weeks...I will be 7 months pregnant with twins by the time we get the keys.

Poetryinaction · 08/01/2020 18:09

Can't you hand your notice in on your flat once you have an idea of your exchange/ completion dates? I would be asking the vendor to complete by June. It's only January now.

KellyHall · 08/01/2020 18:14

We bought and renovated while I was pregnant. If we hadn't renovated, we wouldn't have been able to afford to buy!

It's really nice making a new home while you're already 'nesting'.

Original poster
HairsprayBabe · 08/01/2020 18:15

We are tied into a contract till August if we leave we are liable for all the rent

OP posts:
AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 08/01/2020 18:22

I started labour with DS early, at our house-warming party in the house we had just bought moving from a flat.

We did have carpets on the ground floor when he came home from hospital, but only just! I arrived with him in the afternoon just after the fitters had left. He was in SCBU for ten days or the room he was going to sleep in wouldn't have been decorated or carpeted before he got home.

And it was all fine. Slightly hectic, but probably not all that much more than having a new baby is anyway.

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