Selling your house in 2006

[noddyholder]

How many of us have our house on the market atm ?We were advised not to put ours on in December as it is so quiet but we wanted it out of the way and are now hoping to sell in the New Year Is the market still really slow?

Glitterygook, your house seems now the subject of a discussion over on the HPC thread. Have a look. Someone is saying that the house seems correctly priced.

All I can say is, the summer was the summer. The market may have cooled off further since. All that matters is what you can sell your house for now. Maybe you will sell it in spring at your price, maybe prices will slide more in your area, who knows. I am an experienced trader in the financial markets, and the one thing I can assure about is that yesterday's price means nothing.

There is a risk that you end up what is called "chasing the market down". This happens when the vendor is always pricing slightly too high for the market to achieve a sale, then reacts to a market fall by slightly cutting the price, but just not enough again the achieve a sale. The property then sticks on the market for a long time and the vendor repeatedly cuts the price.

What you should do depends on your individual situation. If you want a quick sale, you could cut the price a good deal, maybe just below the £250k stamp duty threshold. You could make up for the cut price by making a low offer on your next property. If you are in no rush to sell, maybe hang on for your current price, maybe it will sell for that in Spring, but remember the danger of chasing the market down. Also remember that £250k produce £12.5k interest per year in a savings account, so selling now at £250k puts you in the same position as selling for £262.5k in a year's time.

Well we've sold our house again but again can find nowhere we want to move to . Facing the prospect our buyers getting fed up of waiting, again. Mind you our first ones did only give us 3 weeks which I think was a bit unfair.

GDG, I've seen your house and have no idea why it's not sold. From what I can remember, the only thing about it was that the kitchen looked a tiny bit bare (but a definite improvement over total clutterfest!), but I think you'd sorted that? Must be so stressful for you

Floss, had literally just been thinking about you and wondering where you were! How's the house purchase going? Hope you had a good Christmas!

We're hoping to move either late 2006 or early-ish 2007, but our house still needs finishing, so don't want to put it on the market unfinished and have to drop the price more than it would cost us to finish iyswim.

Paranoid bunch on that forum, aren't they?! Am sure they're v friendly though - like a bit of paranoia, me

Perhaps they're aware that there are loads of journalists on this site?

Scarey that they could identify GDG's house that quickly though.

OMG, a bit scared that I'm being discussed over there.

I can't even see how you register on there but anyway, if they look here - thanks HPC regular. Thank you for respecting my privacy and thank you for supporting what I was saying.

Ladymuck - I know what you mean, but then most houses for sale are advertised in the local paper and on the internet anyway. The fact that they can link it to a poster on a parenting site doesn't mean much really.

GG, if the 'p' stands for primary, it's BP. It's the one that was in the MEN because the governors were driving around of an evening to check that people actually lived at the addresses they said they did. She told me she hears all sorts of stories about people clubbing together to buy a house in the catchment area so they can all use it as their address.

Incidently, neither of her children go there as she found it very overbearing and arrogant when she visited. She still uses it to try and sell her house though!

I know the one you mean and yes, they did go round checking addresses!

If her house is in that catchment it most likely is lovely! There are a few round there that have been on a while - now I'm wondering if I've spotted it too as I can think of one that's been on since early last year round there!

I don't really want to put too much detail here but it's rather imposing and classy looking both inside and out.
I honestly can't see what the problem is as it's tastefully decorated and spacious (no, I'm not her E.A )
I think the problem is that we had such a huge jump in the NW over the last few years that the market is now very flat.

I think you need it remarketed. Make very minimal changes just so the details can say it's been re-done. Then have new pictures taken. Maybe get your EA to do an open viewing or something. Hope you get a bite soon.

I understand that - I still think I've spotted it and if so, it is lovely - it's had a couple of price drops too I think. Hope she has some luck soon too!!

Ricky89, am about to check out your website. V interesting. Wonder if my dh has seen it. Do you ever use the Motley Fool?

Hi Hunker, We're ok, had a lovely xmas thanks, but back down with a bit of a bump today!! How was yours? How's bump? Not long now! Have you decided on a name?

Only just applied for mortgage, DP had more debts that came out of the woodwork, the last now I think. Had to rethink things a bit more again, but now managed to apply, so fingers crossed. Just looking again at solicitors. DP grumpy old git this evening (ear bashings all round RE debts in recent weeks!), and his parents refused us a loan, so he's quite upset.

Why people use debt to pay off debt is beyond me. However have you tried Ocean Finance ?

If you are suggesting you know better RR perhaps you could share your wisdom instead of just taking the p*ss?

Trolls creating their own stupid threads are one thing. But to come onto someone else's thread and make insensitive remarks about a M'netter's life goes beyond that and just pisses me off.

Although this is an open forum, people have the right to post about worrying family situations on here and feel that their posts are being read by other mums (and dads) with sympathy or at least critical understanding. Just go away!

ricky89 sod off and get your own thread This one is for all of us hoping to move onwards and upwards in 2006!

Exactly how do you think you get rid of debt? In my book taking the p*ss is getting others to pay off your debts for you with suppossed loans that will frankly more than likely never be repaid. And if that was not bad enough "more debts" (thus implicating that this has happened before) have been found to have been hidden from the partner. All at a time when they are just starting out in life together, and hoping to buy together. What does that say for their future?

So anyway as you wanted me to share my wise words of wisdom I say... stand up on your own two feet and be a man, have some balls, get a spine and get out there and work off your own debts. Work off the money you spent and no doubt enjoyed. I know the truth probably hurts but work and budget hard, be proud of yourself.

Ohh yes and never, ever, ever consolidate a debt with more loans and debts - if you cannot rein in your budgeting and spending (and I suspect an individual with a multiple number of debts and a free willingness to pay debt off with more debt cannot) you are simply just digging yourself and your partner a bigger grave and putting off the inevitable.

Anyway good luck to the young couple, although I do fear deep down someone knows they are making a big BIG mistake.

who exactly are you addressing with these comments?

Floss I think, Noddy.

I think RRs points are valid and sensible but it's unnecessary to address someone in this way - as if they are completely stupid. It's not how we do thinks on MN - the aim here, RR, is to be supportive and understanding. There is a way to make a point and yours is not it.

RR - and I don't think the fact that one partner has had debt problems means this will continue in the future. People can learn from their mistakes I think and it's not necessarily a reason to bail out of a relationship - for better, for worse and all that.

RR, FYI although it is none of your bloody business, I am going to take over spending in our household. DP does have issues with his spending, but I am hoping he has realised that now. Although far from ideal, his salary will be paid into my bank account and he will get a proportion, agreed and discussed between us. He has agreed to this, which in itself is a big step for someone who has always been as secretive as him about his money.

His credit cards are going to be destroyed and he is going to ask for his overdraft to be removed. Like all plans, it might not work out how I plan, but I very much intend to clear as much of our debts as I can in the first few years in our new home, which is actually a cheaper alternative for us than renting. DP's history is not ideal, but I am trying to build a life for us all. I'm sure as such a money savvy rat you wouldn't like me spending your taxes as a single mother when I can try and make the best of things with the partner I love who does intend to change.

some people spend in the same way others over eat or drink too much It is not your business to come on here and launch this sort of attack from a position of pure ignorance on the facts.General advice is fine but you are a cheeky git!sorry but you are

I'm actually really not bothered by him at all. This is a person who has nothing better to do with their time than to discuss the possibility of an event happening at some point in the future. Hmm, what a life!!! Dp's read this and is slightly incredulous that someone who knows so very little about our situation feels qualified to give out advice to two proffessionals who are able to recognise when they are being patronised and made fun of by someone who is obviously rather financially anal.

well said floss