Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not be excited about buying my first home

85 replies

Beafortea · 17/07/2022 13:54

I'm a first time buyer and have been saving for 15 years for a house deposit. I've viewed about 12 places over the past couple of months. And I'm so disappointed and disheartened by what I can afford. I'm considering an offer on the best flat of the bad bunch I've seen so far, but I'm not remotely excited about buying it or moving in. It needs so much work and is in a slightly rough area with nothing much going on. Other than having two bedrooms I've compromised on everything else I would have liked (no parking, no bike storage, no balcony or communal garden/outdoor space). The bathroom will need gutting immediately, it's vile. The kitchen will need doing as soon as I can afford it. Oh and the communal/entrance stairwell smells of urine.

Isn't moving into your first home meant to be exciting and happy?

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 17/07/2022 15:21

I'd look further afield.

erinaceus · 17/07/2022 15:24

I am another one who says do not go ahead if you feel the way you do. If you buy a property that does not feel like home it is not really possible to be happy there. There is a reason people talk about falling in love with a property and there is something alchemic about choosing somewhere to buy that you like.

Do you have a good, local estate agent in the area where you are looking, and a good mortgage broker? You might have to widen your search area or see what you can stretch to financially. Or, yes, post your budget and area and let MN have a look for you!

Snog · 17/07/2022 15:26

Making your flat nice inside won't attract future buyers if the hallway stinks of piss and the area is bad. You could end up stuck here or struggling to be able to sell it.

RedHelenB · 17/07/2022 15:29

Yes it is. I would wait to buy a flat until you find one that doesn't hit you with the smell of urine when you walk in.

Spanielsarepainless · 17/07/2022 15:34

Keep looking. That place sounds dire.

TokyoTen · 17/07/2022 16:14

I don't think it's good for the event to be particularly exciting/happy. I think it's better to have a cool head and make a sound investment decision. Whilst you want to be happy there, if it's not a sound decision then there will be issues down the line.

Original poster
Beafortea · 17/07/2022 16:45

My budget max is 250k. I'd like two bedrooms because I work remotely mostly but need to travel to London and sometimes Leeds or Reading for work a handful of times a month. My family live in Essex and Sussex/Hampshire and I'd like to be not a million miles away from them all too. (I now expect get a lot of people suggesting I pack up and move to Carlisle or Newcastle etc).

OP posts:
SweetSakura · 17/07/2022 16:52

I'd go for a one bed somewhere reasonable (and sellable) over a horrible two bed

SweetSakura · 17/07/2022 16:56

Or move further out - eg (and only as an example) - close to direct station to London Waterloo takes about an hour (Southampton airport parkway) .£215,000 for 2 bed with parking.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124713005#/?channel=RES_BUY

D0lphine · 17/07/2022 16:57

Beafortea · 17/07/2022 16:45

My budget max is 250k. I'd like two bedrooms because I work remotely mostly but need to travel to London and sometimes Leeds or Reading for work a handful of times a month. My family live in Essex and Sussex/Hampshire and I'd like to be not a million miles away from them all too. (I now expect get a lot of people suggesting I pack up and move to Carlisle or Newcastle etc).

Defo not! Being near family is important, that's for sure.

I think people might advise you to expand the areas you're looking at though...

SweetSakura · 17/07/2022 17:01

Or in reading www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124355720#/?channel=RES_BUY

DasAlteLeid · 17/07/2022 17:08

Where are you trying to buy at the mo?

Somewhere in Essex with a mainline to London would probably be good for you commute/family-wise… have you thought of somewhere like Witham? Lots of nice flats in your budget! And it’s a nice little town.

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E1471&maxBedrooms=2&minBedrooms=2&maxPrice=250000&propertyTypes=flat&primaryDisplayPropertyType=flats&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

hassletassle · 17/07/2022 17:11

I would go for a one bedroom in a nicer area

SnBLurker · 17/07/2022 17:11

I think a lot of people feel disheartened these days when buying their first home. I have to say though OP, your compromises are way too much. As others have said, a hallway smelling of wee?? 😬 No. You don't need to do that. Yes, prices are going up, but this sounds like hell and yes, you'll be on the ladder, but at what cost? Your sanity? Keep saving and hold off for better. I know it's not easy, but there has to be better!

We compromised on area to get on the ladder. It nearly destroyed me. My mental health was completely shot by the time we moved.

Not worth it .

OooErr · 17/07/2022 17:18

OP that place sounds vile. Please don't feel pushed into buying it. prices are going to come down and you'll benefit.
In general I don't think homebuying is a particularly happy process for ANYBODY, unless you have oodles of dough.

There's always some compromise. We need a place to live. So much stress at every bit between mortgage approvals, searches, surveyors and of course taking on debt several times your salary.

When our purchase goes through I'll feel relieved, yes, but not excited/happy. It's a financial decision.

DasAlteLeid · 17/07/2022 17:18

Brentwood is nice enough too, with an easy London commute. You can afford some nice things there!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/124874579#/?channel=RES_BUY

OooErr · 17/07/2022 17:19

Also have you considered a place like Macclesfield? Easy connections to London/Reading etc, also to the North of England.
Your 250K would get you an entire house.

DasAlteLeid · 17/07/2022 17:23

In fact I don’t know if I’m being dense, but I don’t know why you’re looking at any piss-stained hell holes with your quite healthy budget! Are you looking exclusively in London boroughs or something?!

Original poster
Beafortea · 17/07/2022 18:25

Im not looking in London - I don't think you could buy a parking space in London for 250k. Have looked at 'cheaper' areas of Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire, Sussex. I grew up in Essex so not hugely keen to live there, but within travelling distance. I'd love to move to Yorkshire but can't really afford to rent first to see if I like it.

My main fear is also becoming very isolated, and just being stuck at home all the time. I'm currently renting with my partner in a dead end commuter town with nothing. We hardly ever go out because there's nothing to do and no community/clubs or anything. It's quite miserable. But I don't think I'm going to have much choice in the matter, will just be another compromise.

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 17/07/2022 18:29

Are you buying together?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 17/07/2022 18:30

What about somewhere like Grantham? Lovely feel, very green. Affordable. 1.5hrs drive up to Leeds, 1h20 train into King's Cross.

OooErr · 17/07/2022 18:40

OP I’m sure the collective wisdom of MN can find you a nicer place to live

holidayelbow · 17/07/2022 18:46

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85493439

holidayelbow · 17/07/2022 18:47

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119646986

girlmom21 · 17/07/2022 18:50

@holidayelbow both of those are sold STC