first home....can't decide which one of these!

[irish boy]

hey guys....this seems strange as i'm usually starting or reading a which car thread not a which house! anyway...i'm getting married in august and have been renting/saving for the last 8 years since uni and feel I would like to have somewhere to call 'ours' to start our married life. I'm only realising now how big a decision it is....make the wrong choice with a car and pop it back on autotrader/pistonheads and go again. can't do this with a house!

So after much looking and viewing, first and probably sensible choice... http://www.propertynews.com/brochure.php?r=1&c...

Lovely turn key finish, marble floors, 2 ensuits as well a master bathroom, garage, 7 miles from work, on the shore of the lough which is great for watersport/bad for may flies. Builder will do 175 turnkey rather than 185 which I think is a good deal but like anything is a risk in todays market.

Second choice is duneight mill... http://www.propertynews.com/developmentBrochure.ph...

Finished to a stunning standard, very private, 10 miles from work, great gardens and just a bit different, Downsides, and it is a fairly big one for me, no garage. There is electric gates into the mill so not worried from a security point more being able to to small jobs on the car. meeting the builder tomorrow to see what he will do.

so, any opinions?

Edited by irish boy on Sunday 14th February 11:13

Edited by irish boy on Sunday 14th February 11:13

[Spudler]

Both very nice. First choice for me purely from the resale point of view...and its got a garage of course.

[Vron]

First one - detached with garage and cheaper than the other one (and a beautiful looking house imo)

[Puggit]

Crikey - house prices are cheap in N.Ireland!

[irish boy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

cheers!

1. I wish i knew what prices are going to do, but things seem drop a lot in 08 then settle last year and have now started to sell at those levels. point taken tho as i'm in a stunning house for £500pm.

2. The mill site is finished and is almost better than it reads. stunning walkways, bridges, river and gardens. The house site may at some stage be built on to the left or right but not between it and the lake as it is literally on the shore. The mill is probably the better location for resale as it's closer to lisburn/belfast where the house is a bit more out of the way (18 miles from the city) but I like the peace and quiet and its close to my work.

3. Yeah you can get a lot for you're money at the minute. As said the builder will give me the show house for 175 with a fitted kitchen, carpets, curtains etc. He's sold the whole development in 2 months bar the show house and 1 other. Good going.

4. Good point. I'll ask about that tomorrow.

5. All good advice, cheers for the food for thought.

[irish boy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I have friends who bought during the madness, 2 bed terrace's being bid to 50+k over. 1 guy declared himself bankrupt last year, others are struggling. Not nice. Im glad i stuck to the cars for the last few years.

[Chris_w666]

Based on nothing but the pictures and descriptions I would go for the house.

[Simpo Two]

Number 2 looks like a prison.

Plus - do you need to spend so much on your first house? You'll be paying for it for 25 years - how about taking on a smaller mortgage and having more money to spend or save?

[CatherineJ]

My first reaction was to go for the first house, but I also like homes that are that little bit different/quirky.

Problem is not everyone else will like different/quirky.

I think if you could run to House No2 and you can live without the garage, then I'd choose No 2.

Edited by CatherineJ on Sunday 14th February 12:28

[Zeemax_Mini]

I looked at the mill first and really liked it, but then I saw the house with the garage! The mill looks like it'd have more character and probably a nicer setting, but the house being detached and with an integral garage would probably be my choice - though as said before thats just going on the pics/descriptions!

Dom

Edited by Zeemax_Mini on Sunday 14th February 15:04

[Simpo Two]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

But they might well get much more expensive. History shows us how people max themselves up to the eyeballs, then interest rates go up, and/or they lose their job, and it all goes horribly wrong.

[richyb]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I lived in rural Fermanagh for a few years and the fluctuation in prices was ridiculous. We saw 40% growth in a year then around 25% the following. It fell hard when the st hit the fan.

[Jasandjules]

For me it's the detached. It has it's own driveway and garage, which means of a weekend you can be washing and polishing your car etc. without the neighbours all staring at you. If you want loud music on, you put it on etc.

Plus as a new build I assume it has a 10yr NHBC etc? That's quite a plus for your first house I'd have thought.

The Mill, whilst I would love such an interesting property, do you have to pay charges? Will repairs be charged to all owners? It only takes one a***hole owner in the whole block to make life miserable for the rest of you - parks his car in the way etc.. or is constantly organising things...

Personally I prefer my own space and a detached house (I really didn't like living in a semi and hearing next door's kids running up and down the stairs) with it's own garage and driveway etc.. is to me the better deal.

Plus, if you can afford the other one, then you could afford to overpay your mortage on the detached? That will save a f***ng fortune long term...... and will help when you wish to upgrade...

[irish boy]

cheers for the advice and views guys. all good food for thought. have another viewing on both tomorrow morning so will get a better feel for both and ask a few questions!

[MiniMan64]

Go with Number one, better with the garage and the market back home is all over the place at the moment and it looks the safer bet for a first buy. To be honest Northern Ireland has taken a massive hit on house prices over the last year or two but then it did have the furthest to fall.