Should I buy a house?

[Whatinthedoopla]

I have been begging my partner for years for us to buy a house, but he says he doesn't like to be in 1 location, and likes the flexibility of moving around. Which I totally understand, however I want to buy a house, I am in my mid thirties, and properties aren't getting cheaper and I'm not getting any younger.

We currently live near his parent's due to childcare, but we plan to move once kids are in primary school, this will be in 4 years time.

I don't want to wait 4 years to buy a house, and he keeps putting it off, I can't guarantee he would even want to in 4 years time.

I am on £40k a year, with 2 children. Can I buy a house on my own? I have a deposit for a house, and ready to buy. Should I buy alone? And he can live with me, or ask him to join if he wants, but I am going on his journey whether he likes it or not?

He's your partner yes? Not your husband?

In all honesty it sounds like he doesn't want to commit to you and settle down.

You are absolutely right if you can afford to buy a house buy a house otherwise you're just buying someone else a house.

You should start looking around and speaking to your bank about how much you are able to borrow. Hard to say whether you can buy by yourself without knowing where you live. If you can, you should.
Nobody stops you from moving if you have to later on. Your property will always be there (although letting it will have implications on your mortgage but you can cross this bridge when you come to it)

Yes I think you should buy a house yourself if you have the deposit and ability to pay the mortgage and ongoing costs yourself. Don’t marry him if you do this though.

If you can afford to do so then do it for yourself and your children. However, be sure to seek legal advice about the implications this could have should you marry or let your partner move in with you.

Have a read of the threads on here about women who allow their partners to move in and the problems they face subsequently.

Buy your own house, don't get married. Stuff him. Time is running out and you may as well pay into your own investment instead of a landlord's.

Unless you have a mahoosive deposit & live in a veeeeeery cheap part of the country you won't be able to buy on your own🥲

I understand him 'wanting' to move around & be 'footloose & free' but the time to think about that was before having kids. He can't keep changing their childcare & schools. So he needs to realise he's already tied down really. To grown up & give them some stability. Being a tenant you're always at risk of being told you need to move & with such little rental property available these days, it's a risky choics to make if you could buy a property & it's one thing for non parents to take that risk, it's utterly bloody selfish to take it once you have kids.

he needs to grow the hell up.

Well, the question if you can buy a house in the area you want will depend on how much house are in that area. You might be able to borrow 4.5x salary - so £180k. But maybe less if you have childcare etc which will impact affordability. So can you get an house in your area for that sort of price plus anything you have as a deposit?

Check out how house prices in your area relate to rent for an equivalent property. The standard international measure is called the rent-to-buy ratio. If properties are priced higher than 20 annual rents you're likely better off investing in another appreciating asset class (so index funds/mutual funds, NOT a savings account.)

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/price-to-rent-ratio.asp

Buy your own house, for your security. Rent it out if you want to, do not share the income with him. never marry him, ever!!! Your house would then be at risk !!! And he can’t have all the reward with none of the risk !

or tell him you are buying it and he either does it with you or not. But if he chooses the ‘not option’ … then you need to re-evaluate your relationship ,,,