First time buyers seeking advice

[thehousethewitchandthewardrobe]

OH and I are looking to buy our first property - we currently live in a 1 bed flat in London which we have massively outgrown just the two of us, without the addition of a little sprog joining us in Dec.

I've been reading some horror stories of the current housing market, and wondering if we're better off renewing our lease for another year and look at buying next year or whether we should start the process now as it sounds like it will take us well into the new year by the time we move anyway?

We would look to buy outside of London to get more bang for our buck. We can make our current 1 bed rental work with sprog as long as there is an end in sight. Renting a 2 bed not an option as it would eat away a chunk of our savings which we need to buy.

We are totally new at this so welcome any advice from seasoned house buyers!

I'd say if you can afford to buy now then do it - there is no guarantee how house prices may go and you don't want to find yourself priced out. Plus you never know how your work situations may change after baby. I would always favour getting a solid asset under your belt rather than wasting money on rent.

Yeah I'm in favour of buying now.
Ignore the horror stories, there's a lot of sales that have gone through smoothly.
Good luck!

I would start looking now. You never know how long it might take you. DP and I were looking for nearly two years before we settled on something.

If you can buy now then just start looking, who knows what might happen with the housing market, it might take you ages to find anything you like and I just think you might as well get on with it sooner rather than later with buying houses - good luck!

Thanks all - think I just needed a little nudge :)