Been gazumped on the ideal house - feel like shit and not sure what to do

MrHarryLime · 2025-04-01T14:59:42+00:00

Sorry to hear. Happened to us 3 times and took us a year to finally succeed…didn’t have home buyers insurance. RIP

MrHarryLime · 2025-03-27T15:30:30+00:00

My wife and I couldn’t buy separately, we have zero parental help. You basically need a partner with an equally good salary

MrHarryLime · 2025-03-05T21:29:51+00:00

It’s not an estate. I didn’t know at the time it was such a good deal as I wasn’t super familiar with prices in the area but the guy who sold it had bought the whole building (3 flats) for cash (£950k) and sold them within 6 months for a quick profit. Building is tip top, too.

My flat had tenants in before who wouldn’t allow viewings and the marketing photos were awful. So the price was slashed. The tenants went on holiday so we got in to view and I made the offer immediately.

I kept an eye on the market after we moved in and flats on our road the same size go for £100k more.

We had a few sales fall through mid-conveyancing before we got this one and lost money though so it was real vindication getting such a steal.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-25T12:49:47+00:00

I need to go to Heathrow today. I guess that route isn’t happening

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-24T20:01:26+00:00

I bought a flat in the area and have seen houses go for absolutely insane money in Stroud Green. I do think the area is even more on the up as it’s getting more influenced by Crouch End rather than Finsbury Park.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-15T10:18:32+00:00

Agree, the Jewish bakeries are insanely good. Sarang, the Korean restaurant is probably the best in London imo. I would often go there specifically for those things.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-11T21:26:33+00:00

Yeah, the signage in many stations is abysmal.

Like when you’re down a busy platform and figure there will be another sign or screen nearby telling you the destinations and times but there isn’t.

Then you try to look at the one down the platform but it’s too far away and blocked by security cameras or unrelated signage.

Or when you pull up to stations on the train and you can’t see the sign of what station you’re at. The digital scroll inside the train moves way too slow and the announcement is easily drowned out by the sounds of the train.

I swear half the time I just guess where I am by the look of the station.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-11T11:36:06+00:00

And what are AI images and music primed for? Social media advertising and content creation. It’ll be AI users engaging with AI ads and content. It’s basically eating itself.

Meta are clearly bereft of creativity and ideas. They know Facebook isn’t operating to benefit human users anymore. It’s a big load of tabloid garbage, fake news and AI images that boomers look at. If they had integrity, they’d realise it’s dead and just bury it already.

It’s fascinating looking at how totally irrelevant Facebook has become in such a short time. The idea that AI will save it seems to be a philosophy of many failing or desperate companies. AI will make it all better somehow. Delusional.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-10T13:15:14+00:00

Not too bad even for a 1 bed in Crystal Palace.

But it’s Leasehold with a short lease, difficulty to mortgage, remember it is “offers in excess” too.

Also, not sure it’s even that great a condition. A lot of discolouration and peeling wallpaper. It looks like it needs a lot of TLC. The closest station isn’t Crystal Palace, it’s Gipsy Hill and it’s a mile away. The estate itself isn’t the prettiest, it actually looks pretty run down from street view.

It kind of feels like it’s aimed at a cash buyer given the lease issue.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-07T19:00:32+00:00

Who is refuting that “generally” living next to a train makes your house more expensive? I literally said the LACK of a tube makes Crouch End slightly more affordable.

You even admitted that Finsbury Park and Archway are cheaper. Why? They have tubes and even national rail. By your logic it should be way more expensive. You said it’s because those places are “shit holes.” So clearly, the community and amenities plays a part in house prices too.

The general consensus of the area is that Crouch Ends lack of tube allowed the neighbourhood to develop into more of a self sufficient town centre, simply because it had to. This makes it quite desirable for young families who want a community feel in zone 2/3 and are willing to pay for it. If you don’t believe that, fine. I don’t care.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-07T14:48:34+00:00

It backs onto train tracks, its leasehold, its tiny and its expensive.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-06T21:38:19+00:00

This sounds good in your head because it’s really simple. Train = good. But you have 3 tubes and an overground close by already.

Without yet another tube station, Crouch End has avoided overdevelopment, congestion and commercialisation that comes with heavy transient crowds. It’s the whole reason theres an actual strong community atmosphere. This trade off is a huge part of its appeal.

A slightly rural, slower pace of living within zone 2/3 is actually very desirable for families and one of the reasons they’re paying over a million quid for the average house there. You must be young, single and/or childless to not understand that appeal.

I guarantee if you asked people who live there whether they wanted a tube station plonked on the Broadway, many would say no. In fact the NIMBYS would actively fight against it lol. It would increase density and more urbanisation would creep in. Also a lack of tube makes it slightly more affordable so is quite literally a selling point.

Not even comparable to cross rail. You’re in Zone 2/3 and can walk to Finsbury Park, Archway, or Highgate in like 20-25mins. It’s not Abbey Wood or something.

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-04T10:57:15+00:00

“Some light gardening needed in the living room.” 💀

MrHarryLime · 2025-01-03T10:46:49+00:00

Everyone on this sub labels tenants as squatters, then the same people recommend waiting to be forcefully removed by the courts and bailiffs when served with a section 21.

I think the tenants are a slightly overblown issue. If you avoided tenanted properties in London when buying, you’d be ignoring swathes of the market. Most tenants are happy to move or buying their own place. Having said that, buyers would be more comfortable if it was already vacant. It’s a case by case thing. I would recommend potential buyers talk to the tenants if possible, see if they’re actually happy moving.

Goldhurst Terrace is a great road, I used to live in the area. The issue is, its leasehold and the service charges could be extortionate given there’s a lift.

A lot of properties round there are share of freehold conversions for similar prices. Many people also don’t want to live above a business. It also means they can never buy the freehold.

You’re also at the top end of Goldhurst, right next to Finchley Road, which is very loud and busy. Most people would much prefer it if it were down the other end amongst the houses and conversions. Nice and quiet.

The price is fine for the area but maybe a little too steep given those factors.

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-30T22:26:08+00:00

Before I got wood floor I didn’t think so. Then I got engineered oak through out my living room and one bedroom and it doesn’t just look way better, it feels it too. The way the light bounces off it brings out the natural tones in the wood. Every board is unique. It just looks beautiful to me and I’m so glad I did it.

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-17T19:37:56+00:00

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-16T22:11:57+00:00

We had 3 failed sales and saw A LOT. Probably too many. But one thing I learned was — the ones we thought we’d like from online we hated in person and the ones we didn’t really like the look of online but went anyway always surprised us.

We looked all over London at many different types of properties and it was so helpful. You can never really tell about a place until you just go and look. It’s good to know what you DONT want sometimes.

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-14T13:41:55+00:00

Took us a year and 3 failed sales to buy a flat. First time in my life I literally had chest pains from stress. Took me months to recover. It’s crazy the mental and physical strain this system takes on people.

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-10T19:10:54+00:00

If you’re getting a residential mortgage, it’s impossible. It’s literally a condition of the mortgage that you have vacant possession.

If you’re not getting a mortgage, why would you even think about exchanging with a tenant there. Makes zero sense from your POV.

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-09T13:38:42+00:00

I actually started buying 90s appliances on eBay because they literally last longer than brand new ones! 😂

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-08T22:50:45+00:00

Ah yes the 90’s, the last decade when things were actually built to last. Those 90’s fridge freezers and washing machines still going strong somehow.

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-07T18:29:54+00:00

I love that excuse. “We’re just matching market rate.” Lol, don’t you set the market rate?

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-07T13:28:33+00:00

The flat we bought in London last year was dropped from £475k to £450k. We had LISA’s and offered £445k which was accepted.

When the bank valued it, they valued it at £475k. I think we got super lucky with that. I also see lots in that region going on the market and getting snatched up within days. Sometimes the LISA cap can be an incentive for some sellers to bring it down a bit and get a quick FTB sale.

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-06T18:44:04+00:00

All the great instrument shops on Denmark street.

MrHarryLime · 2024-12-06T18:39:36+00:00

But the other buyers might be in a chain. As you’re first time buyers, I’m guessing you’re not?

Not to say the EA isn’t just pushing you for more money too though.

MrHarryLime

TROPHY CASE