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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this house is worth it and London won't crash?

466 replies

Yazhi · 18/06/2021 19:20

After searching for a long time we have found a house in an area that both DH and I like. DH thinks we should wait and see if the prices drop in London. Flats seem to have dropped and he's hoping houses follow. Who do you think is right?

OP posts:
BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 18/06/2021 22:41

It's not that it's cheap. £1.6m is still a fuck load of money, obviously. But you've got to remember that it's on a street of houses very much like this house. It's not a solitary mansion that also owns most of the village. People living in those houses will be in all kinds of situations - lucky with inheritance or business buyouts like OP, built up a pile working abroad, owned it since it cost £60k, two skilled professional knowledge workers in 6 figures (not that uncommon a London situation). There is a reason the local market can bear that price, and it's that enough people have it to spend, one way or another. It's not a house that will make a child stand out.

MyMushroomsInATimeSlip · 18/06/2021 22:41

@SandysMam

That noose by the kids bunk beds is the most horrifying health and safety concern I have ever seen!! Other than that, if you like it buy it. Crazy though, my Nan lived in a house like that in similar area and it sold for about 300k 20 years ago!!!
I thought the same about the rope. Just why would anyone think that's a good idea in a child's bedroom Shock
Nataliafalka · 18/06/2021 22:43

Your kids are going to be living in a massively more expensive home than many of their friends. I wonder how that will play out. Will it be awkward for them?

OP the people making these comments have no clue about living in the affluent parts of N London. Your kids will not be out of place in state school in any of those areas of N London, people put their money into their homes not school fees and many of not the majority of children will live in similar houses. And as for people posting links to admittedly lovely houses out of London, the whole point is that people pay the price and compromise on space because they don’t want to move out.

My house is worth about £1.3m, my kids are in state school. Their friends in the most part live in houses worth much more. That’s the nature of state education in London. You might be able to manage a massive mortgage but if you’ve got 3+ kids private school is still a step too far

Akrotiri1 · 18/06/2021 22:44

Have you actually viewed it? The ad states the photos are from 2018.....may still look similar but worth bearing in mind.

Mbl1234 · 18/06/2021 22:44

Not many send their kids to private schools in MH; even the ones living in houses more expensive than that one.

ArgyleIsle · 18/06/2021 22:53

WOW! Misses the piont of the thread completely...but how much? For what is 'just a house'.

I could buy this here...

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74275272#/

Have £600,000 left over and not have school fees either because we have an excellent grammar school.

Prices in parts of London are shocking.

SoupDragon · 18/06/2021 22:55

The ad states the photos are from 2018

Yes, that's kind of weird isn't it? Why are there no up to date photos?

SoupDragon · 18/06/2021 22:56

PMSL at all the faux shock at London prices. How can this still be a surprise to people?

Grellbunt · 18/06/2021 22:56

@SoupDragon

The ad states the photos are from 2018

Yes, that's kind of weird isn't it? Why are there no up to date photos?

Privacy? I've never understood why you'd want your kids' bedrooms and stuff all over the internet...
SoupDragon · 18/06/2021 22:58

Privacy? I've never understood why you'd want your kids' bedrooms and stuff all over the internet...

What do you think people are going to do with pictures of a kid's bedroom? Confused

Nat3kids · 18/06/2021 22:58

Pretty sure it’s Graham and Green. I love their stuff too!

Nat3kids · 18/06/2021 22:59

I mean the lampshade Blush

Camdenish · 18/06/2021 22:59

People move out of where I live to Muswell Hill because it’s cheaper and because of the good mixed sex state secondary schools.

I think OP should also look at the offer she got up thread of the house that’s not yet on the market.

Grellbunt · 18/06/2021 23:01

@SoupDragon

Privacy? I've never understood why you'd want your kids' bedrooms and stuff all over the internet...

What do you think people are going to do with pictures of a kid's bedroom? Confused

It's not about that. I just don't want my house all over the Internet, punkt. It's private. Our private, personal space.
intheenddoesitreallymatter · 18/06/2021 23:08

Stunning houses.

For the area they're not extortionate.

Though living in the north such house prices make me want to cry for you.

I would go for it. You'll haggle over what 50k for a nearly two million pound house? It's pennies in comparison to what you may end up paying for a similar house.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 18/06/2021 23:08

We also spent on a house in an area with great schools rather than pay for private school and compromise on the house-at least then you have something solid for your money

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 18/06/2021 23:09

@Grellbunt how do you think you can sell your property without photos?Confused

Grellbunt · 18/06/2021 23:12

Well on the Continent often the houses are marketed empty which makes more sense because it is a house you are buying, not furniture.

If I was in this market segment I might get stunt furniture- get someone in to dress the house

notgoodenoug · 18/06/2021 23:16

I do sort of understand where @Grellbunt is coming from but it's just not practical for most not to photograph it as is. I do always have the photos removed after sold though.

MrsNewms85 · 18/06/2021 23:17

@Yazhi

After searching for a long time we have found a house in an area that both DH and I like. DH thinks we should wait and see if the prices drop in London. Flats seem to have dropped and he's hoping houses follow. Who do you think is right?
Property in London's especially houses are not going to drop. Houses all over the country are rocketing up in price!
Ellmau · 18/06/2021 23:19

@SoupDragon

The ad states the photos are from 2018

Yes, that's kind of weird isn't it? Why are there no up to date photos?

I noticed that. It might be because the current owners are too anxious to let the EA in to take photos because of Covid, but I would honestly wonder if it was likely to still be in the same condition.
SunglassesSeventy · 18/06/2021 23:27

@Yazhi thanks so much for answering my very nosy question!

That's so great that your work with the start-up paid off. Nice one. I work in digital and there are quite a few digital startups around so I've heard of being paid in stock, but didn't realise it would ever be anything that would be any use to anyone. Looks like you've done really well out of it.

SunglassesSeventy · 18/06/2021 23:31

@BakeOffRewatch wow you're right, I just went to Halifax and did their mortgage calculator 'how much can I borrow' and found out that a combined salary of £260k could get you £1,300,000!

I'd never done that calculation before. Imagine being £1,300,000 in debt for your mortgage! How scary (if you lost jobs you'd be so screwed).

oakleaffy · 18/06/2021 23:37

Agents always use ridiculous wide angle lenses on houses.
Two family houses we lived in were photographed for sale , and the rooms looked Massive… and the gardens never ending.

In reality they were not.

The distortions of the windows and floorboards &c give the game away.

The gibbet device in the child’s room is creepy though- but expect they’ll take that with them.

I wish agents would be more honest with pics of interiors. Eg, no wide angles.