If you had £170k to spend on a house, what price range would you view?

[PogoBob]

Probably seems a really stupid question, but given that everyone keeps saying it's a buyers market and nothing is selling for asking price what asking price would you view up to if your limit was £170k.

We'll be moving into rented when we complete on the sale of this place (hopefully next month) so would be a ready to move buyer if that makes any difference.

Don't want to waste anyones time looking at places we can't afford but equally don't want to miss out on the possibility of a nicer house of something on for £177k is likely to go for £170!

I would go as far as £185,000 to even £190,000 - we recently bought around this price for £19,000 under the asking price although it did need work doing. Friend's who are selling have all had ridiculously low offers on their properties - you just never know if people are desperate enough. You will be in a great position if you are chain free.

We paid around 87% of the asking price on our house, around 2.5 years ago. I think that was a good deal, but I don't think it was exceptional. I think you could definitely look at houses on up to£195,000.

Thanks both, going that bit higher will really open up what we can view.

Guess I'm a little soft as feel guilty about going in with a low offer, but we I suppose we did accept an offer below our asking price which we had already set a few grand below comparable properties as we wanted a quick sale.

Don't feel guilty - as long as you aren't taking the piss, it's reasonable to offer what you can afford. It helps to have a husband who is an ace negotiator! :)

Dh would probably feel even more guilty than me!!! Rather stupid really as my job involves negotiating and being pretty tough with people so not sure why I'm such a push over in my private life.......

I would say £190k also

Up to 190.

Up to £195. They've all been priced high because people are expecting now to have to discount heavily.

I was going to ask a similar question although I've kind of settled on my own answer anyway - my max is £195k and I'd view up to £220k but I also look on Zoopla to see how much I think it's over-valued so this comes into my calculations as well - so I wouldn't see something valued at £220k that seemed to fit with other sales but I would where it's too high.

I would look up to £210k. 10 percent of asking is the norm in parts of the country and you may be able to get up to 20 percent off depending on the vendor's circumstances.

We have found that younger people are more willing to take a write-off while the older retired ones will just sit for ever on their heaps of brick.

I would go up to 200. If your in a good position to buy then you could find yourself a bargain, however do be prepared to be disappointed if the seller won't budge. Some people just think you being cheeky when you put in too low an offer.

Oh we have always looked at least £50,000 over budget even when we had a similar amount to spend and have always got a deal in the last 10 years.

I agree with flatbread.

We've taken a builder around 2 derelict older peoples homes and they have refused to budge even a pound on the price even when they have been told by the agent it is a good offer.

Another one that we have our eye on is much more realistic. He needs to move due to a relocation.

No guessing which ones will still be on the market in 6 months time.

When we had £180k we looked up to around 225, partly to see what was around with more money and get a better idea of what we wanted and could compromise on, but also the agents had told various sellers that they wouldn't get more than £180ish even if they listed at 225!

In fact the first place we tried to buy was on at 230 and accepted our offer of 185... but admittedly the git did pull out on the day of exchange. It actually worked out well for us as all the local estate agents were on our side then and a lovely retired couple at the nicer end of the same estate sold us their place for 175, turning down higher offers!

Haven't been able to come on all day as been at work.

Thanks for the input, will start looking at a few - now just need to decide where we want to live!

We had £170 max

Been looking at places for up to £185K

We are chain free btw - as you will be - and we had our offer accepted last week and move in 4 weeks!

Eeeek!

(They accepted £170K - it was on for £185K)