I'm scaring myself

@Fleura (35124)
United Kingdom
June 28, 2016 8:54am CST
For about two years now we have been going around and around and around on the question of 'should we stay in this house (and modify it) or should we move?' First we thought we'd move - then we looked at prices and thought we'd stay - then we looked at the cost and upheaval of alterations and realised we could move out temporarily and it would still be cheaper than buying another house - then we thought of all the ways we could alter this house (sideways, backwards, even knocking it down and starting again - which might surprise the neighbours we are joined to!) and concluded it would never be quite right - then we thought we could move somewhere else entirely as we no longer have the same work constraints - then we decided we are just getting settled here and we all like it. So having finally concluded we would stay in the area and just have to face up to the high prices, we started looking, and almost straight away found a house we like, less than a mile away. It seemed too easy to be true, but now it looks as though it is all going ahead. We have visited it twice, I've walked or cycled past lots of times, we've had all our questions answered, I've made lists of all the pros and cons, I've added up my savings, we've thought of all the bad things that might happen especially in the current economic climate, and decided to go ahead. The house is really nice, it ticks almost all the boxes, it has a nice garden, the girls can walk to school, it's on a quiet road, we'll still be near local friends, basically it seems just right for a family home where the girls can grow up and play and invite their friends and we can invite our friends and family to stay, we have space to work, it all seems just right. We know the village pretty well (have lived here almost 9 years now) so we know there can't be many other houses as good as this for us even if we wait and see if prices do go down, we might have to wait years for something as good to come up for sale and there's no point waiting so long that the girls have left home! If we scrape everything together we can afford it so everything seems set and makes sense. It's just when I look at the actual numbers my mind recoils in horror. I can't believe we are seriously considering spending that much money! It scares me. I just hope that in ten years' time we will look back and think it was cheap at the time!
15 people like this
11 responses
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
29 Jun 16
If it's what you want you might as well go for it. I remember our first house cost £3500 which seemed a heck of a lot at the time, but 4 years later we sold part of the garden for £2000 as a building plot, then a couple of years later sold the house for £5000. I know that prices are all relevant to wages etc, but I'm sure you can't go wrong with bricks and mortar. Good luck.
2 people like this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
29 Jun 16
@jaboUK - Ms Janet - By way of adding to your interesting comment here, I remember when my parents bought our big home back when I was a teenager. Three floors (all with a number of rooms) plus a basement, and a multi-vehicle garage with an upstairs apartment. The grounds were 204-feet x 135-feet, with lots of trees and shrubbery. The cost was $5,600 US at that time. I don't have a clue as to what the exchange rate (USA dollars to UK pounds) but I would guess the place may have cost 2500-3000 pounds or so. Recently I saw a tax assessment of the house and property - $570,000 US. Interesting how those things go, isn't it. I forget the person who recommended that people invest in real property, but he gave as his reason that real estate would only increase in value with time because no one is going to ever make any more of it. Anyway, you and your husband did well with your purchase and later sales. Nice.
2 people like this
@Fleura (35124)
• United Kingdom
29 Jun 16
I'm hoping that it will be 'safe as houses' as they say. After all it isn't really an investment, it's a place to live!
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35124)
• United Kingdom
29 Jun 16
@Ceerios I remember as a child thinking £5,000 was a vast sum for a cottage that went on sale across the road from us. Then 25 years ago the average house price around here was £100,000 and that seemed such a huge, unattainable sum, I thought I would never reach it. Now £100,000 doesn't seem that much in comparison.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
28 Jun 16
Buy the house. When we bought this house 17 years ago I thought it was expensive. Looking at what we paid now, it was a great deal.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502812)
• Italy
29 Jun 16
@Marty1 Of course a house bought in the 70's has gained even more value.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
28 Jun 16
It does involve lots of self questioning. I hope you do well with these changes.
2 people like this
@Fleura (35124)
• United Kingdom
29 Jun 16
Thank you. I think now it's time to stop deliberating and just get on with it!
@silvermist (19701)
• India
28 Jun 16
@Fleura You had looked at all the pros and cons and have decided this is what you want.I think,now you go ahead and move to that house.It is better than regretting later on for not buying it when you had the choice.Good luck.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382542)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Jun 16
Be brave! It sounds like it is just what you want. If it ticks all the boxes I'd be going ahead and trying to keep a positive outlook.
2 people like this
@Fleura (35124)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 16
I think I have basically talked myself into it!
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
28 Jun 16
Go for it. I don't know about what its like there but property prices escalate like anything inIndia.10 years down the line you'll should be chuckling. I regret not buying because I was scared 10 years ago...now we are paying high rentals at the same flat we didn't buy.... And your description sounds just perfect:)
2 people like this
@garymarsh6 (24078)
• United Kingdom
29 Jun 16
If you wait hoping that prices will go down the price of your house will also go down! It sounds like you have found a house you are happy with. Once you are in it you will soon make it 'your home'. Alternatively you could always buy mine I want to downsize.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35124)
• United Kingdom
29 Jun 16
True but if prices go down by x% then the loss is less on a cheaper house! Anyway we have decided to go ahead so just keep your fingers crossed we can sell this one!
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13147)
• Northampton, England
28 Jun 16
Good luck with that. I guess the big issue now is how long it would take to sell your current place.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35124)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 16
Yes that is the main problem, in case people decide to put their plans on hold and wait and see what will happen to the UK economy!
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
28 Jun 16
Better you move out. Decisions should be fast and any delay will not give any result.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35124)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 16
I think you're right, no point in deliberating too long!
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 16
I'm not sure as I've never owned my own home. Are you selling yours then adding your savings to get a more expensive house or just getting a bigger mortgage? I'd probably get some professional advice as things are so up in the air at the moment.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (35124)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 16
It is basically a massive gamble, and in the current situation even the professionals basically have no idea what will happen. But in the end, we will have a place to live no matter what happens (even if prices go down in the short term, it won't matter if we're not intending to sell again) so it isn't as bad as buying a lot of shares, for example!
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15504)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 16
@Fleura You're right. If you can afford the mortgage or other outgoings you'll be fine. You can always just stay there very long term and things even themselves out over time.
1 person likes this
@sj3011 (621)
28 Jun 16
Have your own house na.
1 person likes this