Housebuying-A mugs game

[Vlad_Dracul]

I am a mobile worker. I have 25 years experience of all sectors of the general public. I visit umpteen houses everyday,meet people,see their circumstances ,have conversations.

There was once a time, not so long ago,when social housing had a certain stigma. If you lived in a council house you were the lowest of the low. It was a place for single parents and crminals to live. People still refer to council estates in a derogatory fashion. I know all about them. I was brought up on them. I am from one of those broken homes that we keep hearing about. The ones that are the source of all the nations' ills. And yet every sinle mameber of my family has been fully employed since leaving school, are successful members of GB PLC and have never been in trouble with the law.

But i digress.

Largely, there is no such thing as a council estate any more. Times have changed. Local authorities want nothing more to do with housing. Most have transferred their housing stocks to arms length management companies or housing associations. The quality of such housing has increased considerably to the point where they are often better constructed or in better condition than many homes for which people slave to pay vastly inflated prices for in our ripoff housing market.

The contrast can be like this

Socal housing-nice new semi detached house with lots of space, front and back garden,latest heating and electrical systems,all maintenance done for you-increased policing of antisocial neighbours so fewer problems-rent maybe £70 a week paid for by the benfits system if you play your cards right. You can live life in a relaxed manner,no stress or hassle,have as many kids as you want.

or

Shackle yourself to a massive mortgage to get yourself on the housing ladder.eg typical small old terraced house in Manchester costs about £100,000. House is held together by gravity and needs constant maintenance paid by you. You live hand to mouth to service the debt. You pay way over £150 per week to service the mortgage insurance and all the rest of it. If you default,your homeless and you get practically nothing back. You get worried,stressed and feel trapped,another victim of UK PLC.

Which one are you?

[basa]

Originally Posted by dooper786

<snip>....Which one are you?

The latter

[Nugget]

Personally, I bought a house 2½ years ago, for monthly payments of 230 quid (and a few pence). The house is in reasonably good nick (needs some work doing, but nothing major league) and, most importantly, in 20 years or so, it'll be mine. Frankly, I'd much rather be in there than in some 'council' house that I'll never own

[homealone]

We are mortgage payers, but bought our house 18 years ago - we would struggle to afford a mortgage on what it is allegedly 'worth', now. My son also has a mortgage, but his terrace in a poorish area was 'only' just over £50K, even then he has a part time evening job to help pay the bills & still have a social life.

In an area with higher housing costs I'm not sure what he would have done, but I suspect staying at home would have been an easier option than renting - which would cost more than his mortgage, anyway.....

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by dooper786

I know all about them. I was brought up on them. I am from one of those broken homes that we keep hearing about. The ones that are the source of all the nations' ills. And yet every sinle mameber of my family has been fully employed since leaving school, are successful members of GB PLC and have never been in trouble with the law.

Then by definition, I'd suggest that you aren't from one of those homes that we read about being the source of the nations ills.......

btw......I'm the latter but in the last 15 years we have done incredibly well out of the property market....but only because we have been able to afford two or more houses at the same time. Thats really the only way to make money out of property unless you downsize or sell up and emigrate.......

[grandmaster]

i'm almost the latter.

I bought my house a few years ago for less than 50 grand.
The house next to which is identicle to mine has just gone on the market for 120 grand.

Thus my mortgage is quiet manageable and i have enough money left over to own a motorbike and other bits and bats.

I dont drink or smoke which *may* help my fiscal situation...

[TheBlueRaja]

The latter, but then im going to see in a few years and bugger off to Oz with all the cash!

Suckers!!!!!

[Mike]

The latter 5 times over ....

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by TheBlueRaja

The latter, but then im going to see in a few years and bugger off to Oz with all the cash!

Suckers!!!!!

Prices are going up massively over there as well. Sydney doubled in about 2 years a while back.......

---------- Post added at 15:54 ---------- Previous post was at 15:53 ----------

Anyone who likes to dream should have a look at escapeartist.com

[AndrewJ]

I am in a council house I moved in here in April of 2005, and viewed its remains in 2004 November after a major fire, it has been refitted with the latest electrics, heating etc and is a lovely place to live, even with it's few problems.

But I admit I would not bother to buy a house, my parents rent their house from the council too we moved from a private house and we are happy, this house is home the area is decent enough, you have your idiots anywhere yo go. I love how when something goes wrong I just inform council and go off into town or stay in but I am not thinking how do I pay for this.

[Shaun]

There is a third sort - me - Living in a privatley rented house becausde we can't afford to buy

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by Felinix_Devotion

I am in a council house I moved in here in April of 2005, and viewed its remains in 2004 November after a major fire, it has been refitted with the latest electrics, heating etc and is a lovely place to live, even with it's few problems.

But I admit I would not bother to buy a house, my parents rent their house from the council too we moved from a private house and we are happy, this house is home the area is decent enough, you have your idiots anywhere yo go. I love how when something goes wrong I just inform council and go off into town or stay in but I am not thinking how do I pay for this.

Out of curiosity, how did you get a council house if you moved out of a privately owned? Surely that would have put you right at the bottom of the list?

[AndrewJ]

Originally Posted by Nugget

Out of curiosity, how did you get a council house if you moved out of a privately owned? Surely that would have put you right at the bottom of the list?

We left Blackburn in 1990 when I was alot younger, basically financial reasons, and my father needed to be nearer to his workplace in Middletons, London house.

We informed the local council of this or my parents did, and a written letter from the company also helped us get a house, even still it took 6months to get the house at my parents place

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by Shaun

There is a third sort - me - Living in a privatley rented house becausde we can't afford to buy

I'm there too. Earn to much to be eligible for nice easy council rent, but paying privately means you can never afford to save for a deposit. Vicious circle.

[handyman]

I'm looking at seeing if I can work from home and moving out to Bulgaria. Can get a nice house for will under £20,000 with pool, orchard outdoor bbq.

I can get 2mb ADSL, Sky TV and work via VOIP.

My paltry £26,000PA will allow me to live very comfortably out there as well.

I also plan (don't shoot me) to look into the possibilty of setting up a call centre out there to handle uk tech support calls. Be horribly expensive over here but in Bulgaria I think it would be possible. Ohh a Pint of lagar is 12p also

Over here with my gf working as well we don't get close to being able to afford a mortgage with properties under 100k selling in days as they are so rare.