First time buyers pushed out from Brighton. FRUSTRATION!

[neffertyty]

Hello there,

My partner and I are trying to buy a flat since 2020. The share ownership schemes are ridiculously unaffordable, the market price is always over 400K for a 2bed FLAT!

Partner just submitted the new tax return and we have been given 175K to borrow. I work 30h a week in a Museum in Brighton and although I do LOVE my job, the salary is crap and is not going to get better anytime soon. I spent the last 6 years getting a degree and then a postgraduate masters in the field so a career change is not an option right now. We are renting 1bedroom flat with garden in Kemptown for £1100/month and I am struggling to save. We want to have a baby soon and I get super anxious about the living arrangement. I really don't want to be renting when welcoming our first kid... In the past 6 years we had to move out of two properties because landlady wanted to sell, I found it very stressful and bidding for properties we even didn't like.

I know that there are not many properties available right now but I just feel we should get onto the property ladder rather than wait and wait. Our savings cannot match the average yearly rising prices, we are so stuck. We have visited almost every place commutable BY TRAIN & car to Brighton and these are our options right now under 200K:

-A VERY SMALL one bedroom flat in Worthing/Lancing or Shoreham
-Two beds in Eastbourne

At this point we came into terms with no having outside space, no share of freehold or freehold. I would love to buy in Worthing for the commuting to Brighton but the flats we saw are very very small and just one bed. We have visited Eastbourne and I have a friend from there who says is lovely. I really liked when I visited but it was a lovely sunny day in the summer. I don't know what living there is like. Is the commuting to Brighton (by train) a pain in the ass? My partner will drive but he is a tiler and I presume he will eventually have a customer base in Eastbourne and around rather than sorely Brighton. It seems that in Eastbourne we can get far more from our money than in Worthing...

We are a very relaxed couple who love the countryside, in Brighton we are paying a Premium for being in a "cool" place we do not have money or motivation to enjoy... we find the town quite dirty, run down and most of our friends have left!

I appreciate any insight, tips and recommendations
THANK YOU SO MUCH and Merry Christmas

(Apologies if the post feels too long!)

Yeah I’m familiar with the area and with the greatest respect you simply can’t afford to live there. We were considering Eastbourne and Worthing for a family home on one full time maxed out with locums/one part time Drs salary and whilst it was entirely possible we were shocked at how much prices have risen in Brighton (we know as we were students there in the early naughties).

As your DP’s work is more portable, I would be looking for a full time museum job in a cheaper area.

What I meant to say is people on a combined income of over 100k were scratching their heads about potentially buying in Brighton as it’s effectively London prices.

I sympathise, I really do but....
Why would you spend 6 years studying in a field that is notoriously badly paid - why do a post grad?
It doesn't make sense!
I agree with others - 30 hours when you don't have child care issues to worry about is not enough!

When I wanted to buy I got a second job. You have a lot of free time to do doing a couple of shifts a week in hospitality/ care.

If it helps with budgeting and planning, don't forget to allow £1000 a month for a full time nursery place for a baby. If you drop to part time during the baby years, don't forget to top up your pension as much as you can.

Eastbourne is fine, although like anywhere there are 'good' and not so good parts. Seaford is quite nice, closer to Brighton and you'd get more for your money than Worthing.

This is £200k, close to the station and the seafront.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/114985262

Slightly over budget but in a good location and it has a garden.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/117815612

We are moving next week to Hailsham, and we have been up to now in Burgess Hill - this area has become incredibly expensive, I agree with you, and we also had real trouble finding something within our budget. Have you looked at Polegate at all? Or alternatively, have you entertained the thought of buying a car which might help you to get on the property ladder by buying something without a train station (for example, Hailsham)? There are loads of new house developments in that area, so you might want to do your calculations whether a car vs train is worth it. I also understand that you want to expand your family after you bought a house, and I think this is the right thing to do. Once baby is here, there will constantly be costs here and there (childcare, aaaah), so I think if you don't buy before you have a baby, it'll probably go into the far future..

I have recently done the move to Brighton(well, Hove) as you state 400k for a 2 bed flat which is exactly what we bought.
Other area suggestions -
Uckfield
Bexhill
Burgess Hill

@leavingthispoohole I think you have to say "Hove actually"

unfortunately that is the Brighton issue - too many London commuters pushed the prices up with their London wages and there is a weird paradox where those who work in Brighton cannot afford to live there.

We ere pushed out of Brighton 20 years ago. Both went to Uni and stayed and I worked at a Uni DH for the council. We foolishly bought a small 1 bed flat even though at the time we could have pushed to a 2 bed or small house. Thought we'd travel and have fun for a couple of years etc - then within months got pregnant and we needed a 2 bed place - somehow in those few months prices had risen significantly and we were suddenly unable to afford a place in Brighton. Was heart breaking DD was born there, we had jobs, our friends etc but we ended up leaving the area completely and moving to Gloucestershire where we were able to secure jobs and buy a cute little house for the same as we sold our little flat for. We visited Brighton loads to see friends but that faded away as most of our friends were also priced out and moved sway when they had families. Since then have left Gloucestershire and we're in London but probably still not able to afford a house in Brighton.

Sounds like you need a reality check. Most people don’t get a job they love, a home as big as they want/need, and a baby when they want. Very few people can even afford to live near work. DH commutes for over an hr, before kids I did too. Don’t mean to be mean, it all sucks. England is not a great place to live at the mo.

Just accept that the country’s housing market sucks and navigate it as best you can. Go on Rightmove, put in your max budget and 2+ bedrooms, search properties within 40miles of Brighton and sort them by distance. This will identify the area you can afford.

Or rent permanently (I know people in their fifties still renting), or get a different job 🤷‍♀️ most people I know who work in ‘the arts’ have family money…

Short answer is you can’t have everything you want.

Thank you very much for all your replies and advice, I do really appreciate it. The reason why I am working 30 hours is because I am still studying my Masters which I'll finish in June as currently doing my dissertation. My Masters is in Culture and Arts management. I am also volunteering one shift in another department within the organisation so I can get more experience. Everyone I know at the organisation are on 30 hours contract, even managers, it seems is the way it is.

I agree with all of you who mentioned that the job will be an issue long term (specially including childcare) and this is something I am very concerned about since long time ago. I did realised (too late) that in order to work in the Museum field you don't necessarily need specific studies. That's something I know now and also that the industry is really badly paid even more if your job is tied to the Museum setting and cannot be done elsewhere, i.e a conservator or curator.

I am seriously considering a career change but if I am honest I feel that I am failing and it feels heartbreaking leaving the museum. I am not sure what other profession could be good for me. Also if we are wanting to buy now I don't think is the best time (also Covid) to leave my job and explore other options. I tried to look for other jobs within the creative industries but they are not many and are so unrelated, all ask for specialisations or years of experience in a similar job that seem out of reach.

The reason why we like living in this area is A)my partner has a very solid customer base here and around, B)The weather is not too depressing C)We are very close to Gatwick which is super convenient to fly to our home countries. D)Plenty of nature around + the sea. I understand these are probably the same reasons why others choose to live in Sussex and that explain the prices... but we would really love to stay if possible (not in Brighton though)!

@Thirtytimesround yes I know it sucks. You are very right about privileged people working in the arts, unfortunately that is not my case and that's why I am struggling. I was volunteering for two years before I finally got a job in there and while volunteering I had other two jobs because my partner was just starting his business, it wasn't't easy. That prevented me to save and now I am in this situation. We don't want to keep renting, is a financial suicide. I don't mind driving to Brighton, I am concerned about the parking situation, I know is an absolutely nightmare specially if you work in central Brighton.

@Thingsthatgo Yes, I usually start at 8am so yes defiantly before 9am. I have been doing some calculations and it will be around £200 a month commuting from Worthing, Eastbourne, Lancing etc...

@DontKeepTheFaith

Yes, I think commuting is far better from Worthing than Eastbourne and I did look at Littlehampton but trains seem really long, I think Eastbourne will be a better commute by train than Littlehampton although I am sure is not the same case if you drive... ? Littlehampton is cheaper than Worthing, I will visit to have a feel of it, perhaps is a good idea to go by train and have a real sense of what the commuting will be like.

there are small towns along the coast, towards eastbourne you have rottingdean, saltdean, peacehaven, newhaven (denton, south heighton), seaford, all with great bus links

If would be a shame for you to change careers. Life is long, and you're at work a great deal, so I wouldn't rush to do that. Having a job you love is something many people dream of. However, I echo what PPs have said about working more hours- it would make a huge difference- to your savings and also your mortgage, surely! If you can't do that st the museum, then see what other work you could do as an extra- somebody suggested tutoring? I earned £50ph tutoring for a while when I needed some extra cash, and it can be pretty lucrative! I know you said you're doing a masters but many people manage a masters degree while working full time- I did. In fact, I've just completed my PhD while working full time and with 2 young children! It can be done, but it takes a lot of dedication and some sacrifice of social life for a short time. Not long though- so why don't you investigate other job options in addition to the job you love to top up your salary?

I know what you mean about the expense of Brighton though. My husband and I have good salaries (£100k plus join income) and we ruled out Brighton because we felt it was too expensive!

Good for you doing postgraduate study though. I know people have questioned why do it if you don't need it, but I think it's great to keep learning for learning's sake!

Going against the grain here but DO NOT quit your career in the arts. Ffs we can’t all work in bloody insurance or whatever… careers in the arts should be celebrated!

Tradesmen are in high high demand at the moment. Can you husband do any other building work? This is a time he can make money. I don’t know a builder who has a wife that works, they all make so much. My friend recently paid a tiler £1400 for one days work as he priced it as a 3 day job but did it in 1! I know it doesn’t help the mortgage now but you could add to that savings pot if your husband can tap into the current demand for trades.

Have a look at Folkestone, Kent.

How about Portsmouth? You'd get a lovely house for that plus it's about a 35 min drive to Brighton? ( I take day trips there all the time straight down A3)
If you don't mind a commute I'd recommend! It's lovely here

@Limegreentangerine

How about Portsmouth? You'd get a lovely house for that plus it's about a 35 min drive to Brighton? ( I take day trips there all the time straight down A3) If you don't mind a commute I'd recommend! It's lovely here

How on earth is Portsmouth to Brighton 35 minutes drive???? its 1 hr 22 min (49.5 mi) via A27 - and thats not even including traffic!

@Limegreentangerine

How about Portsmouth? You'd get a lovely house for that plus it's about a 35 min drive to Brighton? ( I take day trips there all the time straight down A3) If you don't mind a commute I'd recommend! It's lovely here

And the A3 is London to Portsmouth, not Brighton to Portsmouth

I purposley tried not too!!!