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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you think there is a catch with this house?

217 replies

whereismormonjesus · 27/01/2021 13:40

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/57341298?search_identifier=ee83ceb5222b41500122e9029c5cd8bd

Basically that. A young (talking uni age) relative with 30k saved up for a house deposit has seen it and thinks it’s the lucky jackpot.

OP posts:
ifchocolatewerecelery · 27/01/2021 15:38

Where are the wardrobes for clothes, can only see one chest of drawers?

Sauvblanca · 27/01/2021 15:38

For a moment I was confused as to why all the windows are at the front, then realised it's a back-to-back. That alone would put me off.

If it looks too good to be true, it is.

Madcats · 27/01/2021 15:42

Being nosey, I had a look on Streetview. That porch and (new) windows have been added in the past 5-6 years. I'm not sure whether this link will work:
www.google.com/maps/@53.7950955,-1.7248039,3a,75y,201.16h,86.19t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sigIVF2lC4fH9Na_mn0_bTw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Houses don't seem to change hands round there very often.

davidsSchitt · 27/01/2021 15:43

What does he want to do for a living?

davidsSchitt · 27/01/2021 15:44

Sorry, posted too soon. He could buy a similar priced house in a better area in Cumbria if he were willing to move and sellafield are recruiting currently

Sammilouwho · 27/01/2021 15:45

Having just sold a property in Bradford, they don't hold any value, we pretty much sold for what we bought for even though it was valued a lot higher.
If he's not from Bradford I wouldn't recommend BD3, I definitely wouldn't be buying anywhere near Leeds Road unless he wants a racetrack, no parking and a lot of ambulances. Look at the nicer areas like BD18, or even some areas of BD9 (just not Heaton or manningham haha)
It does depend on what he's after, if he wants something he can sell for profit then no, these types of property do better by renting them out.

hammeringinmyhead · 27/01/2021 15:46

@Puzzledandpissedoff

It's just taken my relative 5 years to sell a terrace in Bradford, for £30k less than they paid

Dear god Hmm

Yep - decided a 2 bed was too small when second baby arrived. Second baby is now 6! They bought in 2007 at the top of the market.
BoJoHoNo · 27/01/2021 15:48

If he's never lived in Bradford before and doesn't know the area then I'd advise against it. My friend's Mum lives not too far from there and goes through periods of getting her windows smashed in and firewworks through the letterbox from the local youths. Bramley, Farsley and Pudsey are not too far away from the house he's looking at, but generally better regarded areas. He'd be better waiting and saving up a bit more for a deposit. Would also be worth testing an area by renting for a while first.

Original poster
whereismormonjesus · 27/01/2021 15:51

As I said before, I think he’s just been sucked in by how the house looks from the front. It’s misleading and doesn’t look like a typical 2 up 2 down.

Anyway, thanks for everybody’s advice. I am going to go ahead and recommend he forgets this one. I think he needs to look for a terrace in Manchester or Leeds, near the uni’s etc or in an area that is likely going to receive investment.

OP posts:
HomeSliceKnowsBest · 27/01/2021 15:51

It's in Bradford.

BorisandHarriet · 27/01/2021 15:52

Well i just clicked on “other properties in Bradford” or whatever it said on that page, and this came up.

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/57526472?search_identifier=dd2cff98b64b235a01180d710d0e9f0e

Now that’s a bargain... 8 bedrooms. Ok the bathroom needs a bit of work.

steppemum · 27/01/2021 15:53

OP - basic rule for buying a house is - location, location location.

It doesn't matter if it is small, or if there it needs decorating etc, if it is big enough for him, and gets hima step on the housing ladder, great. My brother bought the tiniest 1 up 1 down you have ever seen when he was 19. It was the best thing he ever did.

BUT it has to be resellable. Location matters, if you can't resell it, it is not an investment. Doesn't really matter if it isn;t the best area of town, it just matters if people are buying. If it is in a down at heel area that people are happy to live in and the houses trun over steadily, fine. if it is in a rough area and no-one will touch it with a barge pole. Then don't touch it!

Rosehip10 · 27/01/2021 15:54

Bradford is rough.

davidsSchitt · 27/01/2021 15:54

If he's dropped out of uni why would you recommend he look near a uni?! The prices are inflated.

He needs to follow the job market not an education he's not pursuing.

user1471462428 · 27/01/2021 16:01

If I were him I’d buy a flat in the centre of Bradford and jump on the train for nights out in Leeds and working. It’s very cheap and then he can save for his next step.

ElizabethofpeanutYorkies · 27/01/2021 16:02

If he is buying as an investment to let out in the future, then near a uni is good. Can be let as student accommodation.

littlepattilou · 27/01/2021 16:03

@whereismormonjesus I would definitely not buy there! The area is dreadful.

Look at the house prices...

www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/bd3/rochester-street.html

Averaging the middle 5 figures. One went for £29,000!

You couldn't get a shed for that price in some parts of the country.

I would avoid this for sure. So many negatives to that area.

WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants · 27/01/2021 16:05

I can understand that he's excited & just wants to buy something & move out, but buying that would be a big Mistake!

He needs to do a lot more thinking before he leaps into something.

Crankley · 27/01/2021 16:06

Tiny rooms and there's not a wardrobe in any of the bedrooms, no mention of outside space.

Alaimo · 27/01/2021 16:07

Yes, don't recommend buying near the university. As pp said: prices there tend to be high. If it's a 2-bed flat he also won't necessarily be able to rent it out more easily. Most students aren't looking for 2-bed flats, and most professionals don't want to live among students.

If he thinks he will want to rent it out at some point, then he needs to figure out who his target market will be and what those potential renters are looking for in a property.

user1471462428 · 27/01/2021 16:07

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/96919997?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard
I used to live here and it’s a minute walk from Foster square station and 20 minutes on the train to Leeds. He could rent a room out.

CleverCatty · 27/01/2021 16:08

@Crankley

Tiny rooms and there's not a wardrobe in any of the bedrooms, no mention of outside space.
Agreed, I looked through the house and though it's a back to back which would put me off too - the things the struck me especially were the tiny bedrooms!

No way even if I were a student would I want to rent a tiny bedroom like that.

HikeForward · 27/01/2021 16:11

No garden or parking, tiny bedrooms, cramped kitchen, only one bathroom. And the location isn’t great. Has he/she checked crime stats etc for that area?

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/01/2021 16:14

They bought in 2007 at the top of the market

Ah yes, that would make a difference, but it also raises the question of whether no

If that happens you may not be able to give Bradford houses away

Puzzledandpissedoff · 27/01/2021 16:14

Sorry, that should have said "whether now's the right time to buy at all" ... don't know what I did there!!