Buying your first flat...... how much do I need !!
Buying your first flat...... how much do I need !!
Author
Discussion

chris_freebie

Original Poster:

957 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Hello,

I am considering buy my first flat. (awwww bless you all say)

I have the money for the deposit, how much would you recommend spare for legal fees and the like.

I have a measley £2,000 remaining after paying the deposit and 1% stamp duty.

Some people are saying I need £600, some say £3,000 ???

It's as consistent as a UK speed limit , help!

lunarscope

2,901 posts

264 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
About 1% of the purchase price should be plenty for legal fees.

chris_freebie

Original Poster:

957 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
lunarscope said:
About 1% of the purchase price should be plenty for legal fees.




you're lying like a hairy carpet aren't you ?

I need 20% ?

lunarscope

2,901 posts

264 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
What ?
20% for legal fees ?

alexkp

16,484 posts

266 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Chris,

Use these people - I have used them twice and they are excellent. Fixed fee, and if it falls through for any reason you don't pay a penny.

www.shoosmithssolicitors.co.uk/

You can also get to speak to them anytime (which is a rarity), and they are totally on the ball.

I have had some bad experiences buying property in the past - but not with these guys.

Hope that helps.

S Works

10,166 posts

272 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Budget about £3k for a place under 200grand for all conveyancing fees and stamp duty.

Ring round your local solcs and see who charges what for what. If possible go with a recommendation from someone who has used a firm before. I've had one hopeless one and one extremely good one.

Get it right and the process is less painful - get it wrong and you'll want to kill them within a week.

alfaman

6,416 posts

256 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Have you considered waiting 6-9 months or so - you may save 10 - 15 % in price perhaps - the market is getting softer.

Edit to add : I mean on the purchase price of the flat , not the fees and stuff.

>> Edited by alfaman on Tuesday 4th January 17:51

chris_freebie

Original Poster:

957 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]


That is brilliant, even works out with a few pennies left over for a decent sofa !!

Websites like that are definetley the way to go !

Still struggling finding the best mortgage, rates are high at the mo, found a website that searches through them all but only saved a few pounds on the quote I've had from the Bank.

chris_freebie

Original Poster:

957 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
alfaman said:
Have you considered waiting 6-9 months or so - you may save 10 - 15 % in price perhaps - the market is getting softer.


And live at home longer than you have to LOL ! suppose I am only 22... erm... erm.... erm... no ! can't wait lol !

richie_few

642 posts

258 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Im in the middle of buying my first place and legal fees, survey, search, and land registry fees should come to about a 1000 to 1200. Dont forget your mortgage arangement fee.

Im about 3 weeks away from completion and im as stressed as ive ever been.

Good luck mate.

little me

544 posts

258 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
I think when I bought our first place it was between £800 - £1000 for the solicitor.

Jane x

BliarOut

72,863 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Have you considered buying a house instead? Get a decent lodger and you will be quids in later on. I did and I'm sitting pretty now.

alfaman

6,416 posts

256 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
chris_freebie said:

alfaman said:
Have you considered waiting 6-9 months or so - you may save 10 - 15 % in price perhaps - the market is getting softer.



And live at home longer than you have to LOL ! suppose I am only 22... erm... erm.... erm... no ! can't wait lol !


you could always rent a place on your own and then see what happens to the market .

Lobbs

248 posts

255 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Think I paid £1600 for various fees (Lender valuation Fee, Arrangement Fee, Booking Fee, Broker Fee, Legal Fees and Land Registry Fee). My solicitor wasn't the cheapest but he was recommended and did a top job.
Then obviously 10% deposit and 1% stamp.

I also took advantage of all these places that offer 0% finance when kitting it out (tvs, sofas etc).

chris_freebie

Original Poster:

957 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Renting sounds like waste of dosh,

2 bedroom means living somewhere really skanky on my budget lol !!

But yes I like the idea or renting a room out !

trooperiziz

9,457 posts

274 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]


I used these guys for my last sale and purchase and it went extremely well, as my purchase turned out to be a little troublesome and they handled it without a problem.

pmanson

13,388 posts

275 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
richie_few said:
Im in the middle of buying my first place and legal fees, survey, search, and land registry fees should come to about a 1000 to 1200. Dont forget your mortgage arangement fee.

Im about 3 weeks away from completion and im as stressed as ive ever been.

Good luck mate.



Richie where are you looking at buying?

I don't stand a chance of buying in Wendover or maybe even Aylesbury when I finish uni!

White_van_man

3,848 posts

271 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
freebie you can have a look at all my crap from when i moved if you want, not sure if my solicitor is the cheepist aroud but he was very good

chris_freebie

Original Poster:

957 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
Gazboy said:
Chris, have you sorted out a Soliciter yet? Chap in Maidenhead (John Brett of Browns) is bloody good, and bloody cheap.


Cheers mate

chris_freebie

Original Poster:

957 posts

261 months

Tuesday 4th January 2005
quotequote all
White_van_man said:
freebie you can have a look at all my crap from when i moved if you want, not sure if my solicitor is the cheepist aroud but he was very good


"Cheap is good............." said Freebie...