T-11 days and counting

[greyarea]

We have a date. Jan 20th (so nearly a cool date - 20/1/2010, just missing that extra zero - but it's probably a bit much to ask Ali to hold on another 9 months just to get to 20/10/2010). 8am we're booked in for, clearly they weren't thinking about daddy when this booking was made. I'm glad it's early though; otherwise we'd sit and worry all day -

Comments

[friend_of_tofu]

Can you buy a place in a location where there's a shortage of local authority properties? They're usually short of family homes. If so, then if things got desperate while you were job-hunting, you could potentially rent your house out to the council, which would at least keep the mortgage covered while you guys crammed in somewhere else (with family?) temporarily.

Just a thought.

The other obvious one is to get a spare room for any possible lodger/s.

[greyarea]

That's a good idea; I'll have to look into it.

It's not affording the place which is a problem; I'm more worried about not being kept on in September. If that happens then there's no reason to stay here, so we'll up and move back to the West Country. So my concern is being saddled with a place in Hitchin which we no longer need. And, of course, our funds being tied up here when we will need them over there.

However, being able to rent it out would at least give us an income to use over there until we could sell. I think I need to crunch some numbers!

[friend_of_tofu]

But, since a lot of the work is in greater London, wouldn't it make sense to stick it out in the area for a bit before upping sticks? I mean, you may not kept on at the current place (hope that doesn't happen) but you might find somewhere else in reasonable commuting distance.

Def try and have a look into your LA, look at its housing needs.If it's well-stocked, this may not be an option. But if there's an obvious shortage, it might be worthwhile. Maybe talk to someone from the Housing Dept?

[friend_of_tofu]

Also, talk to estate agents in the area? If other people are commanding £1600 a month for their homes, presumably you could too? What's the private rental market like round there?

[nicnac]

Blimey. We're renting our 4 bed out at £850 per month and it only takes 45 mins on the train to Euston (station 10 mins away by car).

Will be thinking of you on the 20th, hope all goes well.

[greyarea]

I know, it's daft. To be fair I've discounted places without gardens and in the more ropey parts of Hitchin. The problem is that there's quite a lot of bigger old houses in Hitchin; the move to 4 beds is normally a move to a a detached place with a big garden, 3 reception rooms etc.

Hitchin seems to command a bit of a premium when it comes to renting; it's on the fast line to Kings X (30 mins). There's a lot of people earning London weighted salaries who can afford to skew the rental market.

[greyarea]

PS - cheers for the positive thoughts for the 20th!

[nicnac]

Yeah, being that much further in does make all the difference. However, the house is detached and has a pretty big garden and a garage with 2 reception rooms and an en suite to the master bedroom. I regard it as slightly nuts that rents are higher in MK than in the surrounding villages - who would want to live there??

[crossbonesdj]

Wow....that is a price jump. I hope things work out.

And my love to Ali - I can't believe a new baby is on it's way! And it's close to my birthday, which makes me very happy.