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Original poster

looking in Cambridge to buy

45 replies

goldenpeach · 15/06/2009 17:08

We are looking in Cambridge and noticed that there are very few properties on the market compared to other locations... Any reasons? Would leafleting houses help?

OP posts:
jumpjockey · 15/06/2009 17:14

Depends on what you're after - I'm signed up to primelocation (out of nosiness more than anything!) and usually get emailed one or two houses every day. Whereabouts are you looking and what for?

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 15/06/2009 17:36

Goldenpeach, from my understanding the popular roads very rarely get boards up, the house is sold without any marketing at all.

Original poster
goldenpeach · 15/06/2009 20:47

We are looking on rightmove as we don't live there. We don't mind if it's a bit out of the centre if it's cyclable.

OP posts:
Overmydeadbody · 15/06/2009 20:51

goldenpeach they just get snapped up really quickly.

Presumably you ave a access to a small fortune in order to actually be able to afford anything though?

Overmydeadbody · 15/06/2009 20:54

there are still a few empty properties in the very smart new development I have just moved into, but that would only be any good to you if you wanted a new build place.

There are a lot of local estate agents that only operate around Cambridge, have you done a search for them?

Original poster
goldenpeach · 15/06/2009 20:57

Most houses we spotted were around 300-370K, which is not bad for a family house. You should see the prices in Oxford where you need 500K to buy anything similar and there are plenty of ugly ex rentals. We are not on the first rung of the ladder but we are not made of money either.

OP posts:
ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 15/06/2009 20:57

where have you moved to OMDB??

Overmydeadbody · 15/06/2009 22:14

riverside development just past midsummer common

What about you?

ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 16/06/2009 13:38

live out in the sticks in Bottisham :-)

LeninGrad · 17/06/2009 11:08

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LeninGrad · 17/06/2009 11:09

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ByThePowerOfGreyskull · 17/06/2009 11:10

Hi LeninGrad,

Rubyrubyrubyinthegame · 17/06/2009 11:30

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Original poster
goldenpeach · 17/06/2009 18:56

Glad there is some actity on the thread! We did put an offer on a house but due to scarcity of stock I'm not sure we will get it as we are not prepared to offer over asking price to secure it. Having sold our house and gone into rental, we are chain free and ready to move. Had a look at riverside area, it's pretty close to centre, but the only thing that worries me about new build is height of ceilings and small gardens. We had a house in London with a 60ft garden and it's a bit disappointing to go for much less.

OP posts:
jumpjockey · 17/06/2009 19:28

golden, what sort of thing are you after in terms of number of rooms? Looking at the budget you mention above and searching for a garden, how about this?

www.primelocation.com/uk-property-for-sale/details/id/ACCA3989191 Trumpington is about a 25 minute cycle from the city centre and the house has got nice high ceilings. Vincent Shaw and Bush&Co are good local estate agents that usually have lots in your price range, it depends really on if you need 4 bedrooms or if 3 is ok.

I'm in Romsey town, small terraces with little gardens but quite quaint

Original poster
goldenpeach · 17/06/2009 19:49

There's the rub, we really need four bedrooms, we'd consider three if we could extend. We have been looking in quite a few counties since we moved out of London and it seems like there aren't many four beds around and so many gardens have been split to build something behind or sold off to developers... I will check your suggestion as we are hopen to cyclable villages!

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Original poster
goldenpeach · 17/06/2009 19:56

Saw your suggestion, we thought it was a great house but it's on busy traffic light junction. My DP was also put off by the fact that they said, offer over 350. Personally I lived on a main road before and although I didn't relish it I could put up with it if set back from it.

OP posts:
Rubyrubyrubyinthegame · 17/06/2009 21:55

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Original poster
goldenpeach · 18/06/2009 19:14

Thanks for suggestions. We are watching rightmove and now primelocation, so we do see the houses coming up, I was wondering if there are other ways we 'non local' can use to find out about elusive properties!

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LeninGrad · 18/06/2009 19:30

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MizZan · 18/06/2009 22:23

goldenpeach we have been looking to buy in Cambridge too and I have to say it's been incredibly discouraging. the prices here have not come down at the same rate as outside of Cambridge so if you sold somewhere else in order to move here, you are going to be out of luck (at least for a while...). I am not too sure what the future holds here - it's not practical for us to be out in a village for a number of reasons but something has to give.

part of the problem is there's always lots of rental demand here so many people just rent out houses instead of selling. the other is that, as you've noticed, there are very few 4 br houses. much more available if you're happy to have a 3 BR with a small garden. anyway best of luck - if you are happy to live in the north part of the city it's much better value for money and still very nice. unfortunately we are looking in the south because kids are already in school in that part of town, otherwise I'd definitely be looking around Chesterton/Castle Hill areas.

gizmo · 18/06/2009 22:41

Hi goldenpeach, don't lose heart, I've seen quite a few things coming back onto the market after going under offer - I think people are making offers in advance of their mortgages and then finding it difficult to raise the funds, so if you have finance you may be in a stronger position than you think.

Anyway, another suggestion for areas worth considering would be the area off Huntingdon road, and as it happens there is a 4 bedder just come to the Market in Richmond Road for 365k. I can't give you the link I'm afraid - posting from my phone - but a search on rightmove of houses within 1 mile of cb4 will turn it up

Original poster
goldenpeach · 19/06/2009 20:51

So we lost the house, being a chain free buyer ready to proceed is not worth as much as being chained and making outrageous high offer to secure it (house needs total update and over 2 miles from station, so not really in hot spot). DP read on a forum that lots of chains collapse, we could have completed in two weeks. Sometimes I'm a bit down because to be chain free we sold our house and went into rental with most of our stuff stored in the garage as the house isn't big enough for everything we own. We are in Warwickshire too, so not exactly round the courner! I thought I'd be out in six months, it's nearly a year now and we have been feeling anxious for the money we have in the bank for house purchase, scared inflations would eat our savings, unsure of what is going on with the economy.... I'd rather have the money invested in a house, so we have the roof over our head.

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Original poster
goldenpeach · 19/06/2009 20:54

MizZan, we were trying in Oxford before and you should see the prices, they are mad! No downturn for university cities. London is cheaper now, we could go back and buy a bigger house than the one we sold.

OP posts:
Claire2301 · 19/06/2009 21:06

Hey Goldenpeach,
There is a house in Teversham on the High Street up for sale, looks like a fair sized one. Will see if I can find it, if not will have a walk down.
You can easily cycle into Cambridge from here and there's a lovely primary school.
Will see if I can find that house...

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