About to start viewing houses and having complete meltdown...

[Redqueenheart]

I think the stress of looking at new houses and dealing with pushy estate agents is already getting to me and would appreciate any tips....

I have lived in the same London flat for almost 14 years, the sale of this flat is almost complete and now looking at 2bed houses to buy in a few locations in Kent and Scotland (I am looking to semi-retire by the sea).

I have bookings for viewing in Folkestone and Deal next weekend and already I am panicking as I have not done this for so long.

One of the reasons I am selling and semi-retiring is long term health issues and this will be my forever retirement home so I really don't want to make a mistake.

I have listed the usual questions I would need to ask the agent and things to keep an eye for:

• how long has this been on the market?
• how long have the owners lived there?
• check neighbours' houses/gardens to see how they are kept
• check for damp patches (although I would of course commission a full survey) and other visible issues with the structure of the house
• I there a chain? if currently rented have the tenants been served notice?
• council tax rates
• I don't need parking so that is not an issue I need to raise.

Have I missed anything essential?

Also what advice would you give me on the best way to play it in this current market?

If anyone knows Deal and Folkestone well, please let me know what areas I should avoid as well! My budget is not massive so they are my best options.

Thankfully the Scottish system is more straightforward if I end up buying there but I thought I would try these two Kent seaside towns first as they are closer which makes it easier for me to view properties.

I know it should be an exciting time too but the stress is hard to deal with....

What's your exact budget and how flexible is it?

Ramsgate near addington street - but upon reflection is very much on the up and coming end of the spectrum and is very brought around the edges. Broadstairs is nicer than ramsgate but also more expensive.

i agree thst margate is not the lovely place to retire vibe - fab as it is to visit

please update as you check out all these places!!!

Have PMd you. Its quite unusual in this area not to have a car if you can afford one, but I didn't for the first 18 months of moving here and it was fine I just then had to buy one to use during my working day. I think though as you said you have health issues you would benefit from being near Folkestone central and also both 16 and 102 bus routes. Somewhere like Linden crescent might be good or the area between Linden crescent and the railway track (not the poshest area but central).

I would honestly consider renting for a while in either one or both of these places so that you get a proper feel for areas and what will suit. Prices aren't going up so you if you held off buying for 6 months, a year or even 2 you might find you are in a very strong position once you find what you want.

Also, you might not need parking, but if you have health issues, if you have doctors, carers etc visiting you in future, they will need somewhere to park, so parking might be relevant.

Best parts of Ramsgate are usually considered to be on the west side of town where you can still pick up Georgian gems with an arty vibe (eg: Addington St, Spencer Square, Vale Square, St Augustine's and all the roads around) or across towards Cliffsend / Pegwell for more modern properties with a slightly quieter, more suburban feel.

Deal is lovely, as is Broadstairs, but definitely more expensive twee. Margate is great for a visit (some fab restaurants / bars) but much rougher outside of the 'old town'. Avoid Whitstable - tourist trap hell and vastly over-priced.

What's your budget?

If it's for longterm retirement and you already have health issues, I sugest you give special consideration to

Bungalows or ground floor flats
Not at the top or bottom of a steep hill.
A kitchen, bathroom and potential bedroom all on the ground floor
level walking distance to public transport
Easy access to a supermarket, GP surgery, library, church, park, sports centre (whatever you like doing)
Distance from nearest hospital

Some small pretty coastal villages fall into the category of "Gods waiting room"; a social desert of housebound oldies and holiday home transients. Avoid like the plague any that have limited bus service, only one small failing shop, housing too expensive for local workers (the people who provide services).

Redqueenheart
I was looking at Troon

I used to live in Troon, admittedly a long time ago. It's a pretty wee town but not the most welcoming place to 'innies', as they call incomers.

If you want a pretty but bustling and friendly town on the west coast, maybe look at Largs; if our circumstances were different (specifically my husband's commute to Glasgow) I'd move to Largs tomorrow. Stunning coastline, gorgeous independent shops, big variety of houses and apartments and you'd be blown away by the property you could buy compared to the same price in the south of England. Transport links are as good as Troon, and it's easy enough to get to Glasgow/Edinburgh and beyond, just expensive and long if you were doing it every day for work (approximately same price and cost as from Troon).

• time and cost, sorry

Take a compass and work out how the light goes round - will your garden be in shadow half the day? - ditto your living room?

Light is always the main factor in my mind when house-hunting.

Folkestone has seen massive property price increases in the last 2 years, properties which would fit the bill for DFLs (Down from London's) have gone up £100 thousand or more, so I do wonder if there are likely to be some drops due to the rise in mortgage interest rates.