Moving back with the parents to save up for a deposit

There is really no way around it, if you are planning to buy a home you will need to have enough for a 10% deposit.

The way things go, you will need to save at least 20k to 30k before you can dream of getting a place you can call your own.

Now the tricky part, unless you have a good “parents bank” to back you up, this sum may take years and years to put together.

In the meantime, you need to live somewhere and as we all know, rents can be quite hefty. Continue reading Moving back with the parents to save up for a deposit

Can’t afford to buy a home? What about Shared ownership?

If you are thinking about buying a home, the first thing you need to do is to put together enough money for a deposit – typically 10% of the selling price and them be able to demonstrate that you can pay your mortgage.

Easier said than done; it may take many years of savings to come up with enough money for a deposit…and as property prices continue to raise the chances to borrow the amount you need may get slimmer and slimmer.

Here is an idea: What about Shared ownership?

Continue reading Can’t afford to buy a home? What about Shared ownership?

Buying a home with a friend

High property prices and hefty deposits meant, for many first-time buyers, putting off the dream of owning their first home. But here is an idea – why not to join forces with a friend or two to get your foot on the property ladder?

That’s exactly what more and more young professionals are doing.

Soaring property prices and stagnant wages meant that just over a quarter of those aged between their mid-twenties and mid-thirties can manage to own their own places. Continue reading Buying a home with a friend

Where do you want to live? Suburbs or city center?

Do you like it Green and quiet or you are rather in the middle of the action?

Suburbs or city center, close to the park or the shopping center: Before choosing to buy a property, you need to choose the right location.

Families are drawn to the outskirts or suburbs

On the outskirts and in suburbs are the typical development areas with charming terraced houses, as well as detached houses of developers. Continue reading Where do you want to live? Suburbs or city center?

Houses for kids – Get your little ones excited about real estate

We are buying, restoring and selling real estate for the last 8 years now. We have two girls, 5 and 3 years old. Going to the DIY shop has been part of the weekly routine all their life. No wonder our girls are full of ideas about having their own little building projects.

Of course they have their own little space in the garden with the traditional sand pit where they can unleash their creativity. I already watched them assembling stones to built ways and building houses for little bugs they collected. Sometimes they use little sticks to pretend they are drilling holes or using it as a screwdriver.

Continue reading Houses for kids – Get your little ones excited about real estate

Buying a house in the USA – A step by step guide

Buying a house in the USA could be the first step toward the American dream.

Buying real estate abroad is now common practice for more and more investors and the USA is definitely one of the most sought after places to buy investment properties. Continue reading Buying a house in the USA – A step by step guide

Buying a house in the UK – A step by step guide

Buying a house, particularly in another country, can be daunting.

If you are interested in buying a house in the UK, then the first thing you will want to know is, if as a foreigner, you can actually buy a property. The answer is yes.

Now how does it actually work? Continue reading Buying a house in the UK – A step by step guide

Rent or Buy a house? Renting vs. buying

Deciding if you rent or buy a house can be a difficult choice, probably the largest financial decision you will ever make.

First you need to be clear on your goals, will this just be a place for you to live or you want this also as an investment? Rent or buy a house: Both have advantages and disadvantages. The answer largely depends on your situation and preferences. Continue reading Rent or Buy a house? Renting vs. buying

Sell your House Privately

It is possible to sell your house privately without hiring the services of a real estate agent.

To sell your house privately could potentially save thousands of pounds for you that otherwise go as estate agent fee.

It is easier to sell your house privately if you already know someone interested in buying it or it happens to be a seller’s market with an abundance of homebuyers. Continue reading Sell your House Privately

House with garden: How outdoor space adds value to your property

If you want to sell your house with garden, don´t under-estimate the impact your outdoor-space can make on possible buyers.

The house is set in a beautiful well-maintained garden on a lush summer evening. A hammock is inviting you to relax in the shadow of some trees, surrounded by some bushes with flowers, the BBQ all prepared for a group of friends to have dinner… Continue reading House with garden: How outdoor space adds value to your property