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put all our money into a house or buy a cheaper run down flat

18 replies

jioagiahg · 11/11/2022 13:18

We finally have a buyer for our place - great. However, it seems that for our onward purchase we have the option of either borrowing to the maximum to get a house or settle for a rubbish flat (the only one we are close to getting our offer accepted on is quite small and run down). We're in London so it does feel totally insane to be borrowing our maximum but on the other hand ended up in a run down flat with a kid also doesnt seem ideal. My parents are advising us to go for it and just get the house we want but with the rising interest rates, I am feeling very unsure. There aren't any two bed houses in this part of London and we are stuck here because of schools. We tried to put offers on nicer flats but our offers got turned down. Any pearls of wisdom from MNetters?

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sarahb083 · 11/11/2022 14:32

Does the run down flat have potential to be lovely? Is it a nice building in a nice area? Does it have outdoor space?

If interest rates did rise, would you be able to stretch to a higher mortgage? Do you have savings or, worst case scenario, could your parents help out temporarily?

Lilly11a · 11/11/2022 19:34

I d go for the house honestly, it sounds flippant but you will find a way to make it work .

If you go to the flat and then buy a house later you ll double the moving fees

Artygirlghost · 11/11/2022 19:50

Don't buy a flat. They come with too many issues: lease, ground rents, service charge, noise.

Also they are harder to sell these days if there is no outside space (balcony, garden).

I would always buy a house even if that means going a bit further out to a different borough or even to a commuter town.

Also you are likely to stay longer in the house so will save some money in the long term rather than having to move again in two years and go through the same stress again.

I just sold my London flat and will never buy a flat again.

jioagiahg · 13/11/2022 17:10

In terms of the flat, its in a really nice are and ok building. Whether we would make it lovely long term is harder to tell. But with a house - we would have to go interest only. 550k on a 30 year mortgage at 5.2% rates is 3k a month which honestly is quite a lot seeing as we only bring home 6.7k per month after taxes and pensions.

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NellyBarney · 13/11/2022 18:58

Why can't you move schools? It sounds like your dc is still quite young, or are they already coming up to GCSEs or A levels? There are good schools further out where 550k would certainly buy you a nice 2 or 3 bedroom house. I am not per se opposed to flats, I always enjoyed living in flats in the past, but it sounds as if your heart is not in it. I wouldn't buy anything, especially not in the current market, that I wouldn't enjoy living in. Why don't you just rent for a while and spend some time looking at other parts of London/commuter belt. Cross rail made so many places more accessible, you could look as far as Reading and still have under 30 min commute.

pilates · 13/11/2022 19:01

Freehold house always

NellyBarney · 13/11/2022 19:04

This 5 bed victorian terrace is in walking distance of nationally top 10 Reading School and Kendrick Grammar and of Reading's new Cross Rail station. It's a leafy area near Reading University and hospital.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/127441163#/?channel=RES_BUY

jioagiahg · 13/11/2022 19:40

@NellyBarney it looks like a lovely house but how is it to get into a grammar in Reading. Around us in London the competition is insane and I am just not sure that I want DC to spend two years prepping only to fail. We did look outside but we both have to be in three days per week so the cost of travel adds too much to the mortgage.

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OnlyFoolsnMothers · 13/11/2022 19:43

Success in housing is to go up the ladder in as few rungs as possible. I see no point buying a flat, rates won’t drop down to 2% within a couple of yrs.

Pinniepot · 13/11/2022 19:43

Oh god

Don't move to Reading

I was in your shoes and bought the house. It's fine and we love the house and area. Close to work so we can do school drop off and often pick up with no need for wrap around care. We earn the same as you roughly.

SweetSakura · 13/11/2022 19:45

House. Flats come with a host of additional headaches

Rotherweird · 13/11/2022 19:51

Interest only and a 30 year mortgage sounds stressful unless you are expecting to be earning a lot more money in the future.

As someone in her late 40s with a teenager I am glad I haven't overstretched myself and that the end of my mortgage is in sight. I wouldn't want to be locked into large mortgage payments for another 20 years.

Could you wait and try to find a flat that you feel more excited about?

Pinkdelight3 · 14/11/2022 09:39

we only bring home 6.7k per month after taxes and pensions.

That's loads. Get the house. No way you should be getting a rundown flat on nearly 7k a month. And I've lived in London for decades so this isn't some 'you could live like a king on that income' perspective. I get it, but you can afford the house and the pros are too obvious and numerous to name.

Pinkdelight3 · 14/11/2022 09:40

(Would you really have to go interest only for a 550k house on 7k a month?? I know things are bad, but mates buying at the mo have better deals than that.)

Eek3under3 · 14/11/2022 09:42

Get the house. Twice we’ve been cautious and twice we’ve wanted/ needed to move sooner than we would have if we’d stretched our budget further.

RandomMess · 14/11/2022 09:57

Does the house have an additional bedroom to have a lodger if need be?

RandomMess · 14/11/2022 09:58

TBF £3k after mortgage is still a decent income!

jioagiahg · 14/11/2022 10:33

@Pinkdelight3 the house is 850k so the mortgage would be 550k.

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