[shakyle2906]

Hi

We moved into our house, a unit really, in July last year and have spent last 6mths doing it up............. its never ending!

Its practicaly finished now thank god!

But, in meantime, since Christmas, we feel its too small for us...........want something bigger..........

Have spent this weekend and last weekend looking around bigger houses, houses that are on their own section, not shared and a back one like ours and have decided to put an offer in for one of them

Has anyone been in the same position, moved/wanted to move within a few months of buying ??

Its not that we are fed up with the house as all we have done is do it up, just think/feel we jumped into this one as we wanted to 'feel more settled' ?

Sharon
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[willsken]

It's not just you! We bought last year and although we are happy here, we also bought 2 plots of land. We always intended to build on one, sell it and then build a house for ourselves. 1 year in this house and already I can't wait! :yes

[Sam B]

We bought this house last June, and we intend to sell and move as soon as our next house is built. We just needed to have our own place, but although it's lovely, it doesn't tick all the boxes. Hopefully it will sell ok.

[shakyle2906]

Dont feel so bad now, even if only had 2 replies so far...........

We love our house now, but as you say Sam, it doesnt tick all the boxes. There are only 3 of us and we wont be having any more, unfortunately...... but the other house is so much bigger, more potential and 'on its own', no shared drives, no back section and no neighbours that sing about 3-4 nights a week.............................(they say they are professional, but more like cats choir.......)

Its still within walking distance for me for work as i dont drive and still within zone for our son for school which is most important.

Fingers crossed, decided to put an offer in, got the Real Estate Agent coming over at 4pm to sort paperwork out.

Thanks so far

Sharon
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[ellenmelon]

Dont feel so bad now, even if only had 2 replies so far...........

We love our house now, but as you say Sam, it doesnt tick all the boxes. There are only 3 of us and we wont be having any more, unfortunately...... but the other house is so much bigger, more potential and 'on its own', no shared drives, no back section and no neighbours that sing about 3-4 nights a week.............................(they say they are professional, but more like cats choir.......)

Its still within walking distance for me for work as i dont drive and still within zone for our son for school which is most important.

Fingers crossed, decided to put an offer in, got the Real Estate Agent coming over at 4pm to sort paperwork out.

Thanks so far

Sharon
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good luck! hope you get it :) ive not owned my own house yet, but when i do i'll want a bit of space and for it to be nearly perfect (nothings perfect but 8 out of 10 ticks will be grand!)

[jubjub]

We are constantly drooling over the property press, even go to the odd open home... but we are stuck here until end of winter '09 cos the mortgage, or at least until mortgage rates drop a bit again, so we can afford a top up mortgage for the property we REALLY want... we like our house, it has some great features, but a few drawbacks and we don't love it... if we had enough dosh we would keep it as a rental investment...

We have a MUCH better idea of the area now we have lived here for a good while, and know which streets to avoid, which ones get used as rat runs etc, and we are also getting a pretty good knowledge of what school area we want to be in, these are all aims for the next house... which we hope to stay in until DS gets to college age, then we can reconsider if need be.

If we could just win lotto, 2nd division would do! or big weds!

[Lupin]

I have perpetually itchy feet. I'm not really a stay putter!

Good luck on the house Sharon!

[shakyle2906]

Well, update!

Just put an offer in on the house, the previous family are now living in Australia, and by sounds of it have been for a while, renting out to a family, who i cant believe, have just not looked after the house! I would not be happy at the state that they left the house in this morning, but it didnt put us off, ist a gorgeous house and i am keeping everything crossed..........

It is 3-4 bedroom (4th bed could be another living room), long living room with kitchen attached, bathroom, wooden flooring i most rooms, french doors on the main bed and a deck all round. It even has a sleepout with ensuite!
L shape garden, long drive for car and seperate garage..............i am in love with it! It is secluded, has hedge all around and a nice manageable garden.

We should know by middle of the week!!!!!!

We now have to take a day off work to spruce ours up, as the professional photographer is coming next monday to take pics of house to go into property guide, on web, etc..........all very exciting.

All being well, we would be looking at early May to move in as have to give the tenants notice!

Fingers crossed!

Sharon
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[pinkpiggy]

Got my fingers crossed for you Sharon. We should be going unconditional on the house we're buying in the early part of this week. :exit

[lockstock]

Fingers crossed for you all. We bought quickly after renting for just a few weeks. We love our little house but can't help looking at other properties. I'd love to get a do-er upper or two and spend my time buying and selling. I don't think I could stand the stress of it all though.

[Asli&Mark]

Hello Sharon,

I hope everything goes well for you guys :raebanana and your offer gets accepted as well as your house being sold for good price.
I wish we could find one to buy too :wah
Asli

[JandM]

Oh, good luck to you people with offers in etc. Even back here in the UK, we look at the real estate websites every day for the area we'd like to live in over there, keeping an eye on what's available.

[sizzlingbadger]

Good luck Sharon, not at all mad to have itchy feet. The house sounds fantastic, great to have the space as you'll have the space to spread out.

Having just moved last July I've got the itchy feet back but then I've always got itchy feet :exit :D Hoping by working as a real estate salesperson it'll settle me down again, well I can hope as we've moved 7 times in 7 years so far :)

[shakyle2906]

Well, our offer has been accepted by the people selling, but understand there is another offer in too.............keeping everything crossed!!

Had an interesting conversation tonight with an Independant Financial Advisor, who is sending on some details to us, that there is an option to keep our current house as a rental, we would be looking at putting just a very small amount of money a month to

Its a thought and something that could be an investment for the future........

Keep you posted!

Sharon

[Lupin]

Great news Sharon adn the IFA's advice sounds interesting. :clap

[Red Devil]

Great news... if you can afford to keep your current house as well, and use it as a rental then you can't beat bricks and mortar for investment... certainly beats stocks and shares.

Good luck with everything :nice1

[shakyle2906]

Oh, well we have been gazumped as they say!

GUTTED!!!!!!!!!!...........

The previous offer went unconditional today, bit p'd off as hadnt been told things had progresses that far or may not have bothered.

Oh well, more houses to look at..............more open homes!!!!!!!!

Sharon
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[Jo Jo]

Oh, what a shame. I hope you find something else you like as much, if not better, soon.

[shakyle2906]

Well, looked at 2 tonight and one was nice but not worth the money, the other was complete yuck!

Then the lady came round who had helped us with the other house, and brought us a listing that has just gone on market and WOW!!!!

Apparently the house that fell through for us, the people buying it are having a hard time getting permits on the sleepout, so perhaps it is better it wasnt to be for us!!

It is a 3 bedder, living area, kitchen with arga (?? spell) range, a stunning kitchen with an island (always wanted this - sad i know) and its just fab complete with a spa pool!!!!!!!!!!! Gorgeous drapes and blinds included plus dishwasher.

My mum always used to say, when one door closes, another always opens!

Going to view on friday..............cant wait!!

Fingers crossed AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Sharon
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[Lupin]

And are you going to tell them all how much you need for such gorgeousness in gorgeous Hawkes Bay? :) :) :)

Everything crossed for you!!!

[peebles16]

Best of luck sharon - now if only we'd sold in the UK we could exchange house hunting notes (and prices!!) from north to south island :D :D

Karenx

[dusk]

it's an aga I think, as far as I know they are a bit on the slow side to actually use - no switch on and immediate cooking heat - something worth looking into at least - perhaps the model in the house has optional extras that make it less of a pain (or maybe you have time to deal with its 'quirks'), I'm not sure all the models are the same...

hope its a great house anyway, didn't mean to come over all gloom and doom there :D

[shakyle2906]

it's an aga I think, as far as I know they are a bit on the slow side to actually use - no switch on and immediate cooking heat - something worth looking into at least - perhaps the model in the house has optional extras that make it less of a pain (or maybe you have time to deal with its 'quirks'), I'm not sure all the models are the same...

hope its a great house anyway, didn't mean to come over all gloom and doom there :D

Oh dont be silly, no offence taken.
Prob wouldnt ever use it, more of a feature than anything.........

Trying not to get hopes us but you do dont you............

Sharon
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[shakyle2906]

Best of luck sharon - now if only we'd sold in the UK we could exchange house hunting notes (and prices!!) from north to south island :D :D

Karenx


I know, never mind!

Its the thought of keeping this house clean and tidy day in day out thats the nightmare! Especially with a 5.5yr old running around as you can well relate to!

We were lucky in the Uk, the first people we had look at the house, bought it! But then, we were in middle of boxing stuff up so had bit of an excuse too.........

Sharon
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[shakyle2906]

And are you going to tell them all how much you need for such gorgeousness in gorgeous Hawkes Bay? :) :) :)

Everything crossed for you!!!

Actually its quite reasonable, thought would be a lot more!

Thanks for the best wishes, fingers crossed AGAIN!

Sharon
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[Lupin]

Actually its quite reasonable, thought would be a lot more!

Thanks for the best wishes, fingers crossed AGAIN!

Sharon
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Exactly :)

Wonder what same would cost over the mountains .......

[shakyle2906]

Totally gutted, it wasnt what we expected at all...............

Lovely big grounds, but garage roof would need replacing and wood shed totally gutted.

Kitchen was nice but tiny china sink, no draining board.

Aga rangehood appeared to be on last legs, and filthy.

All woodwork in house (and theres lots) would have had to be sanded down, all doors replaced.

Bathroom would need new bath, had nice corner bath but was on last legs. Wash basin would need replacing as very old fashioned.

Looking closer at the windows, all would have needed replacing, esp before winter sets in as some had gaps.

Total let down! Gutted.............

Was well within our price range, but heard they wanted about $30k more than what we would pay for it, that difference we would need to spend on doing it up!

Also, one thing that grabs me over here, hardly anyone takes care in making their house 'presentable' to buyers...........mess everywhere.

The professional photographer certainly did his job well there!

Oh well, never mind, back to drawing board!

Sharon
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[shakyle2906]

We had decided to stay put for next few months.............

The house we put an offer in for, before i even started this post,(not the one mentioned at beginning of this post) we both fell in love with!

It was a 3 bed, all separate rooms (which is nice as all ours lead to the living area and sometimes its nice to have them seperate, especially when hubby watching tv and little one trying to sleep!!) 2 seperate living areas and lovely size kitchen with a huge back garden you could build another house if you wanted.

Well, to cut a long story short, we put an offer in $15k originally under their asking price, then upped it to $10k under the price, again refused. We werent prepared to go to what they wanted.

Now, a month down the line, we are contacted last night by Tremains, asking whether our offer was still open ???? They would be prepared to accept what we had originally asked........

We have had long talks about it and really dont know what to do...........
It is a beautiful house, not far from where we are which is great as i dont yet drive and would need absolutely nothing doing to it, just adding a few new units to kitchen (which hubby could do) and change the benchtop, but its liveable if you get my meaning.

We were both absolutely gutted when they said no the first time as we had had our hearts set on it, but werent prepared to go on upping the price just to get it. Albeit we have seen a further few and put an offer in for one, but none have matched this first house at all.


What do we do ?? HELP...............

We can afford it, it wouldnt be too much of a stretch and its the kind of house we could see ourselves in for next 10+ years or so.

It all depends on the sale of our house, which at the moment isnt on the market and gather houses arent doing too well at the minute, hence i suppose them having second thoughts about our first offer..........in a way we also have thought about saying no, but thats being pig headed as we like it so much..........

Decisions, decisions.................. HELP!!!!!!!

Sharon:uhoh

[jubjub]

If you love it and 6 months down the line will kick yourselves for not taking it, then I would say go for it...

but make any offer conditional on the sale of your house and put a time frame on it so neither of you are left hanging around....

[Smiler]

What do we do ?? HELP...............

We can afford it, it wouldnt be too much of a stretch and its the kind of house we could see ourselves in for next 10+ years or so.

It all depends on the sale of our house, which at the moment isnt on the market and gather houses arent doing too well at the minute, hence i suppose them having second thoughts about our first offer..........in a way we also have thought about saying no, but thats being pig headed as we like it so much..........

Decisions, decisions.................. HELP!!!!!!!

Sharon:uhoh

My thoughts Sharon for what they are worth..........:D

Don't say no just to be pigheaded lol! If you liked it that much to make an offer in the first place it must be good. They have reduced to meet the market and your offer. Nothing's changed about the house, it still suits your needs and it sounds like it's ideal living space, go for it.

Why don't you ask if they will accept a conditional offer on your house being sold, or you could rent yours out for a while, if thats financially viable? Obviously get an agent in to value it for both.

Even better ask to meet the vendor and explain it all rather than going 'he said, she said' through the agent. If you explain your position they'll be more inclined to wait while yours sells, but put a time limit in the offer, so you're not in limbo for ages.

Then if it works, all good, if not well you still have somewhere nice to live!

A Hard decision but go with your gut feeling. Good luck :nice1

D x x

[shakyle2906]

Thanks Jubjub and Smiler!

They are my thoughts too, go for it!!!!!!!!

We have told then that it would be an offer subject to our house being sold and they were fine about it.

Trying to persuade hubby that if we say no, we would be kicking ourselves!

Have until Tuesday to make final decision anyway..............calculator out working things out - thats way make hubby see things properly!

Wish us luck!

Sharon
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[Smiler]

We've just done this working it out larky. Well OH did it in Excel and it does help to look in black and white, gets things in perpective. :D Don't forget to factor in some $$ for contingency, just incase!

Oh and go back and see the house on a rainy day, if you didn't already...:laugh

Look forward to hearing your decision - Good luck!

[dusk]

well thats a turn up for the books, I'd definitely say you got lucky and should definitely think very hard before saying no! :D

best of luck with the decision making

[shakyle2906]

Well, after a lot of thought and workings out, we decided not to go for the house we had fallen in love with. We could have just managed it but OH is worrying about over stretching ourselves and i had to agree with him. We loved it but not worth stressing over payments if things come tight. Steve recalled last year when for about a month, everyones hours were cut down to bare minimum, sometimes sending them home half way through the day , and as he is the main earner, we couldnt afford to be like that. I know it may not happen but we want to be financially stable to take that extra leap financially, after all it would be an extra $60k on top of what we have now.

Then, we went to view another house just at top of our road, one block up actually and was $30k cheaper and as my late mum used to say 'when one door closes, another always opens'................it was stunning! Not a thing to do to it.

So, to cut a long story short, we put an offer in last night, and half an hour ago we found out it had been accepted, we were bit cheeky and offered $5k less and they said ok...........they need to downsize as they have another baby on the way.

Now got to put ours on market this week and keep everything crossed!!!!!!!!!
Back to keeping the house spotless every day...........slightly hard with a 5.5yr old running around...........


Sharon
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[Familyofmonkeys]

Ohhh....very exciting stuff....hope it all works out well for you :)

[JandM]

It sounds 'meant'. All the best.:yes

[Kerry and David]

Hope your house sells quickly and you get the house that you have settled on, I can relate to house viewings with little people running around - we have just gone on the market my youngest is 3.5, I think we will be having lot's of outings in the weeks to come:D

Look forward to your next update.

K x

[dusk]

yay! exciting stuff, good luck with the house sale :)

[shakyle2906]

Just spent best part of 2hrs with financial advisor completing the paperwork for finance application................

Got professional photographer coming tomo to take pics..............

For sale signs go up this week and first open home scheduled for sunday...............

Just hope it all works out!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sharon
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[shakyle2906]

Professional pics done and online..........they added blue skies and grass to our pics...............

Been hell of week!

Monday - financial advisor for 2hrs

Tuesday - parents/teacher mtg at school - prof pics taken also (was up 5.30m cleaning!)

Wednesday - long call with FA, followed by 1hr mtg with real estate agents

Thursday - night off!! - hubby's boss did builders report for us FOC

Friday - FA back on phone confirming finance, hubby off sick but went to sort LIM report out

Sunday - got to look forward to an open home...........

Monday - boards going up outside for sale!


Keeping everything crossed!!

Sharon
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[Sam B]

Good luck Sharon, hope things are moving faster there for you than they are over here in Cambridge. We have our third open home this Sunday, not a sniff of interest.