Areas in Bedfordshire
Discussion
The Markyate one was a bit too small and needed too much work, the h&r one we liked the house but not sure on the road. My wife has a thing about roads where she sees cars rotting on driveways and this one had a few. If we're not sure then it's not worth the gamble is we would like to raise our kids in this next house.
Looking to get in to one in LB tomorrow in woodman mews, we'll also see what comes on rightmove tomorrow.
Looking to get in to one in LB tomorrow in woodman mews, we'll also see what comes on rightmove tomorrow.
Going to try to see one in Toddington tonight, it's probably our preferred location as it's close to the m1 and a5, has good schools and has a nice feel to it. House looks in good order but would need a few improvements, decorating to our taste rather than a ground up job, garden is big, garage. Bonus of no onward chain.
Fingers crossed.
Fingers crossed.
NickGibbs said:
We like LB - decent schools, high st has improved even in the year we've been here, access to lots of great kids activities nearby (Rushmere park is excellent). Plus there's a mighty fine pub in the Black Lion on the high st. Nice having the canal as well
Friends of mine took over running the Golden Bell in January so I usually go there or the Stag. Do enjoy the beer selection in the Black Lion though (I wouldn't recommend the 15%+ one though)We lived in Markyate temporarily while our house was being extended. It's nice enough but there is literally nothing there - a Nisa, a bakers and two pubs - my wife found it quite lonely. You also get the take-offs and landings into LLA going directly over.
My parents live in Caddington which is a bigger village than Markyate and perfectly pleasant - still a bit of aircraft noise but not as bad but easy links to main road network plus close enough to Harpenden and St Albans to enjoy the prettier parts of Northern Herts.
My parents live in Caddington which is a bigger village than Markyate and perfectly pleasant - still a bit of aircraft noise but not as bad but easy links to main road network plus close enough to Harpenden and St Albans to enjoy the prettier parts of Northern Herts.
My parents live in Toddington and I know the village pretty well - few decent pubs and curry house! Only downside is lack of train station (although Harlington is close) and large supermarket but, as you mention, other transport links are very good and you can get to everything you need quickly. Let me know if you've any questions on the village and i'll try and help 
We liked the Toddington one, slight compromise in that it's not the prettiest road, the back of the garden and garage back on to it as do all the others in the row but tge front of the house looks on to a green and beyond that all open fields. The downstairs has a brand new kitchen, decent size front room and dining room, oddly a wet room as well but it's nicely finished. Upstairs needs gutting but nothing too major for the bedrooms, bathroom needs a complete overhaul but the wet room makes up for that.
If we end up chasing the dream house we may not find anything, we like Toddington, the house has plenty of space, big garden, good schools. We could always move again later on when we are earning a bit more.
Offer is in, will be qualified with our broker tomorrow and then we'll wait.
If we end up chasing the dream house we may not find anything, we like Toddington, the house has plenty of space, big garden, good schools. We could always move again later on when we are earning a bit more.
Offer is in, will be qualified with our broker tomorrow and then we'll wait.
Won't know until Monday, viewings are still happening over the weekend. Rather than just waiting we're going to look at a couple of others tomorrow just in case.
Property 1 in SW Dunstable, nice road, way under budget but needs work. We would have a nice sum to throw at it due to the lower purchase price but it would need a complete gutting. I can get it painted, laminate floors in and some fresh carpet in a week, ikea kitchen for a reasonable price that we can 0% finance if we want to hold on to some cashflow for other bits and retain cash to cover the shortfall when my wife is on maternity, if we were to move there's potentially a very good amount of equity to be pulled out for another move.
Property 2, in LB, newer, nothing needs doing, price well within budget but less to be made if we were to move.
The way the market is I'm not sure we could get a house we would stay in for a long time, say 20 years, a year or so ago maybe but not now.
Property 1 in SW Dunstable, nice road, way under budget but needs work. We would have a nice sum to throw at it due to the lower purchase price but it would need a complete gutting. I can get it painted, laminate floors in and some fresh carpet in a week, ikea kitchen for a reasonable price that we can 0% finance if we want to hold on to some cashflow for other bits and retain cash to cover the shortfall when my wife is on maternity, if we were to move there's potentially a very good amount of equity to be pulled out for another move.
Property 2, in LB, newer, nothing needs doing, price well within budget but less to be made if we were to move.
The way the market is I'm not sure we could get a house we would stay in for a long time, say 20 years, a year or so ago maybe but not now.
neilsie said:
Have you considered two miles to the west or south of LB? This gets you into Bucks - and a much better potential of education for your child.
Kids from Leighton Buzzard can go to Aylesbury Grammar, if that's what you mean. There are even plans to bring an 'annexe' of the grammar school to LB, despite it being in Beds (not popular with local schools!)http://www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk/news/educat...
After expecting the worst and arranging some other viewings we got a call this morning, the people selling the house decided to go with our offer and cancel all the viewings scheduled for today. It will need a bit of work upstairs but the rest of it is good to go, brand new kitchen, new heating system. No onward chain as it's a probate sale and ready to progress quickly.
We'll need to do the bathroom but there are a few threads in here for inspiration and advice. I may keep a little log on here for progress.
We'll need to do the bathroom but there are a few threads in here for inspiration and advice. I may keep a little log on here for progress.
Brief update, we lost our buyer yesterday afternoon. This is the third time now and to say it's wearing thin is an understatement. Viewings on our house start again tonight, if it doesn't go in 2 weeks then we'll just remortgage and shelve the idea of moving for a while.
If cigarettes weren't so expensive I think I would be back on them by now. I hate moving.
If cigarettes weren't so expensive I think I would be back on them by now. I hate moving.
Small update, found buyer number 4 and things seem to be progressing quite nicely. We decided to pull out of our purchase after the referendum result, didn't feel comfortable buying at the peak of the market and somewhere we had some comprises with, just wasn't worth the risk.
We have found an alternative and had an offer accepted today, it's considerably less than the previous one and requires a bit of work but will be less of a risk, we can add value, it has a 2 car drive and garage. We've done some estimations of how much will need to be thrown at it, this is based on me doing most of the work and calling in a few favours. I've been cautious and allowed for some overrun but I reckon we can do it for under £9k, there is also some money over to cover any extra costs and that figure includes about £1k for all the extra tools and bits that all add up.
It's a bit of a ground up job with the decor and floors, bathroom will need to be straight away, kitchen will follow. I think we'll be moving in to my aunts house so we can get our sale closed out, she's living elsewhere so we'll have somewhere to stay while I get the bulk of the work done, hopefully a couple of weeks before we can fully move in.
Providing everything finally works out I may well start another thread up for the refurb.
We have found an alternative and had an offer accepted today, it's considerably less than the previous one and requires a bit of work but will be less of a risk, we can add value, it has a 2 car drive and garage. We've done some estimations of how much will need to be thrown at it, this is based on me doing most of the work and calling in a few favours. I've been cautious and allowed for some overrun but I reckon we can do it for under £9k, there is also some money over to cover any extra costs and that figure includes about £1k for all the extra tools and bits that all add up.
It's a bit of a ground up job with the decor and floors, bathroom will need to be straight away, kitchen will follow. I think we'll be moving in to my aunts house so we can get our sale closed out, she's living elsewhere so we'll have somewhere to stay while I get the bulk of the work done, hopefully a couple of weeks before we can fully move in.
Providing everything finally works out I may well start another thread up for the refurb.
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