Post-war prefabs - would you buy one?

[AInightingale]

I don't have any serious intentions about this, I have to say, but there's a prefab three-bedroom bungalow in my local area has just gone up for sale at £49 K. Lovely location, seafront, and large garden, but clearly non-standard construction house. I would be looking to buy in the next year or too but will have a pretty low budget. If you had a choice would you buy an ex council property or a prefab house in a nice quiet area? Anyone any experience of living in one?

It depends what your appitite for risk is. 49k for a place to live is below what a static caravan would cost!

If it were me, no. Non-standard construction is not mortgagable for a reason - they often become money pits. Also tend to be badly insulated so expensive to heat. They also have a habit of collapsing!

But if you want better advice post a link to the 49k house and we'll have a look.

Like most things in life, it's fine so long as you know what you are getting into.

The thing has been standing since the war so clearly isn't going to be blown down by the big bad wolf.

Getting a mortgage on it may well be very hard and you may have to buy for cash. It may be poor on energy and difficult to add to/repair. Also worth thinking about whether there might be hazardous materials (eg asbestos) used in its construction. I am sure there are web resources that outline the advantages/disadvantages better.

Most pre-fabs are unmortgagable aren't they?

I know over the years I have seen a few listed they tend to be cheap as the list that they can't be mortgaged.

If you have the money in cash then I guess its just personal choice.

I was just idly scrolling through property websites and it caught my eye - this is the link. No I'm not in a position to buy right now, but I was just wondering what others think. 5 Abbeyville Park, Newtownabbey - PropertyPal