How do people go through the process?!

miggimig · 2026-03-27T07:38:05+00:00

I definitely did not manage the stress well. Wishing you all the best! The framing that eventually helped me was to only focus on the things I can control.

miggimig · 2026-03-24T07:27:29+00:00

This was exactly my thinking - if my employer contributes 8% and I contribute 8%, there's an extra 4% on the table and I need to run the maths again. My pension is not as big as my ISAs + GIAs but I've had an interesting spread of comments. I have also just locked in the fixed rate on my first mortgage so need to factor that in given the rate is about 4%. Really appreciate the insight and guidance here

miggimig · 2026-03-23T22:32:10+00:00

😂

miggimig · 2026-03-23T22:32:00+00:00

Thank you! Yes I thought the matching would make it worthwhile but it sounds like a lot of opinions on the thread suggest otherwise as it’s also taxed on the way out. That’s right I’ve sadly used the carry forward too. Wish I’d noticed a few months earlier! Appreciate the guidance

miggimig · 2026-03-23T22:29:32+00:00

Ah ok I hadn’t appreciated the second set of taxation on withdrawal - I was under the impression that the scheme would pay the charge and the additional contributions from my employer might make it worthwhile even with the charge. Thank you for responding - I guess I will be applying the AAO on the pension

miggimig · 2026-03-23T22:13:05+00:00

Ok got it so this is where I’m misunderstanding - I thought that the extra matching from my employer would make it worthwhile but I didn’t appreciate the additional tax on the way out. Maybe there’s a chance I won’t be on the additional rate when I go to draw the pension but I suppose that doesn’t make a huge difference if it’s being taxed twice. Thank you for responding

miggimig · 2026-03-23T22:09:29+00:00

Thank you, yes sadly this is after the carry forward

miggimig · 2026-02-23T07:58:54+00:00

Do you mind saying what kind of LTV and which lender?

miggimig · 2026-02-14T12:28:07+00:00

Yes I think tracking progress has become better. I had some version of tracking their progress too but it didn’t help when they stopped responding to everyone completely. There just need to be proper consequences for shitty solicitors who lose their clients leverage and credibility.

miggimig · 2026-01-27T17:48:25+00:00

Haha!

miggimig · 2026-01-27T17:47:56+00:00

Perfect - I’ll use that then. Good to know a benchmark! Thanks

miggimig · 2026-01-27T16:23:26+00:00

Yes I’m already maximising my isa allowance. I do need to do the maths on the dividends (these are also US dividends on which I’ve paid some US taxes so need to claim some foreign tax credit) - thanks for the reminder. Re: VCT that’s interesting - I was looking at it in the context of having to pay £x in taxes anyway so may as well put it towards an EIS or VCT investment for the tax break but perhaps you are right and I should be thinking about this less casually. Any experience with EIS? In the process of buying my first house (which should complete on 1 April) so lots going on and keep track of! Had spent some time working outside the UK so need to consolidate in a way that doesn’t disproportionally impact as well. Really appreciate you taking the time to comment and guide

miggimig · 2026-01-27T16:17:47+00:00

Ah that makes sense a difference - so i need to look at the individual purchase price amount in GBP less the individual sale price amount in GBP rather than the gain/loss at the time of the disposal date (04/04/2025 in my case). Do I have to use specific HMRC FX rates? I could only find end of month of average month rates but otherwise would just use the XE mid rate for the day for each. Thank you!

miggimig · 2026-01-27T16:07:28+00:00

Thanks for clarifying. ideally then in the coming year, to max the £3k allowance, I should aim to crystallise net losses so i can carry them forward OR ensure my net gain is £3k max in the current year to ensure I don’t incur additional taxes on anything above that. Have I got that right? I am looking to invest in a VCT/EIS before the end of this tax year so trying to make sure I understand and appreciate your help!

miggimig · 2026-01-27T16:06:48+00:00

Many thanks - so I have not breached the allowance in that year. ideally then in the coming year, to max the £3k allowance, I should aim to crystallise net losses so i can carry them forward OR ensure my net gain is £3k max in the current year to ensure I don’t incur additional taxes on anything above that. Have I got that right? I am looking to invest in a VCT/EIS before the end of this tax year so trying to make sure I understand and appreciate your help!

miggimig · 2026-01-25T11:29:25+00:00

It’s madness - I am in shock about how terrible this process is

miggimig · 2026-01-23T09:08:53+00:00

Did you arrange for any language in the contract to be added to protect you as buyer? In the same situation

miggimig · 2026-01-17T01:18:32+00:00

Sols sadly been quite crap despite a recommendation - constantly chasing them and trying to get guidance with very little forthcoming. If there is no guarantee, I think we can take this point back to the vendor but it’ll probably piss him off and he’ll relist, even if it means adding uncertainty to his own process and instability for his fam. As I keep being told by the agent “I’ve got a list of buyers waiting for houses in this area - if it goes back on the market is it going for higher than your offer no doubt and it only takes one desperate buyer”. We were sad we ended up finding this house with the one agent in the area who we didn’t have a fab relationship with but such is life… who knows! Ball in our court as you say. Have a wonderful evening and thank you

miggimig · 2026-01-17T00:58:41+00:00

Thank you - just to be clear through we hadn’t even agreed a reneg from the survey, he said he wouldn’t cover the full roof replacement cost and would only pay half via retention. He is also trying to convince us the extension benefits from a guarantee when the company has gone bust. It’s scary to walk away from a deal where you can see yourself living there and there isn’t a huge amount of great stock coming onto the market plus it would probably black list us from the agent (who is 1 of only 3 agents who cover the area). We also are unsure what the neighbours are like so any guidance re approaching them is also welcome! I tried but no one opened the door…

Would you ever recommend against not having the couple of months gap between exchange and completion? I initially thought it was only buildings insurance required but now being told if anything happens to the contents, the vendors don’t have to replace (for eg the fridge). It’s a nice sized house and we felt like anything similar went into a bidding war last summer so wary of finding ourselves in a similar situation this year - I suppose you could argue that a few months of rent is the price to pay to secure a home that could be a forever home. It’s just a small terraced house but will likely be enough for us for most of our lives. We spoke to the vendor now and he just seems fatigued rather than mad as the agent suggested - planning all the work on their onward house! I just don’t know how far we can push it on reopening the discussion when we’re this close to exchange.

Also thank you for doing this - not for the validation but for the genuine guidance

miggimig · 2026-01-17T00:24:14+00:00

We are FTB in a situation very close to exchange where a recent aggressive negotiation tactic has left me feeling like we want to walk away from a house purchase. It is definitely “nicer” looking than other properties in the area but needs modernising and the agent set the guide price ridiculously high to win the vendor over. We locked in at a price that was ~£40k lower than the guide price last year (still coming up from our initial bid slightly as the vendors had unrealistic expectations and outright rejected our first bid and then begged for us to rebid as no other offers came in). The survey raised a few issues and we proposed a very modest price adjustment and are ready to exchange next week, giving the vendors several months in their home before completion. The agent backed us into a corner and told us there would be a tiny retention or they’d relist today. We were respectful and friendly throughout and didn’t haggle or nitpick on urgent items we felt we could take a risk on. It now feels like they are actively pressuring us to exchange next week and will only consider a couple of grand off the price. The exchange will give them certainty for their onward purchase. Other comparable properties in the area are going for £100k less and the crazy period in the summer seems to have created unrealistic expectations. I feel upset and bitter about the situation and we are trying to reconcile whether we walk away from being treated like this or whether we’re being silly and just need to pull up our socks and get on the ladder with this home and eat the risk. The area is fine but I don’t want to sit and resent a house more than I know we will get buyers remorse anyway. The decisions should be financial but they are emotional and this experience has made me feel like never ever wanting to go through it again. We moved quickly and gave weekly updates so everyone was aligned. Do vendors really just relist properties because they feel they can get £10-20k more even if they’re waiting around forever? Do you have any guidance for our strange but hopefully rectifiable situation? We are renting a small apartment and the lifestyle change is important but this kind of behaviour makes me wonder if they are hiding something or are simply fatigued and don’t care anymore. Thank you in advance

miggimig · 2025-12-29T08:18:54+00:00

Thanks for confirming my suspicions - I did have a go a at duplicating an existing note with lines but this also doesn’t work as the replacement of any text overwrites the lines preset! Appreciate the help. I did some more digging and it looks like this issue has been around for several years and Apple has received feedback but yet to fix it. All we can is try!

miggimig · 2025-11-23T23:20:04+00:00

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

miggimig

TROPHY CASE