Originally Posted by not2old

does it matter for investment purposes as long as it cash flows, or are you saying there are restrictions on BTL on leasehold properties?

The two links I listed are of the same property - cash flow investment BTL....hey, why not.

I suppose a savvy investor could take the 35,000 cash they have, buy one with 5O% down - BTL it at 375/mth, take the net profit to pay the mortgage on the second property (repeat of the first one) as a BTL, same price, same down payment.

Originally Posted by Stormer999

Good point but I have always been wary of Leasehold and hidden agendas. The other big factor of Cog lane is when the council bought a good few as empty run down Compulsory Purchase Order properties there must have been a reason why they were empty, and now that the local council is proposing a permanent travellers site nearby I do not think investing cash would be wise.

Originally Posted by dunroving

Just wanted to post a Web site for people considering where to live when they return to the UK. I'll post it in all three "location" type threads, as it applies to all and it might get lost otherwise. Hope that's not breaking any site rules by too much!

I recently discovered Mumsnet, just by chance (no I wasn't searching for mums, quit your cackling).

http://www.mumsnet.com/

It has a forum like this one (click on the "Talk" at top left of the home page). There are often threads like "moving to the Coventry area - any suggestions of where to live?". I have read a few of these threads and they are really insightful, from people who actually live in these areas. Details of public transport, shopping, crime, accessibility to countryside, house prices, etc. throughout. They also talk about schools, nurseries, etc., as you'd expect from a mum's site but I just ignore those bits!

Originally Posted by dunroving

I was really giving £150k as an upper limit (which is below average house price in the UK; £165k). The "and less" was the key ... I'm perfectly happy to spend less than £150k.

Originally Posted by not2old

on the basis that you have a 60% LTV £100,000 mortgage and enough years left in your life, would you opt for the 'interest only' or the 'repayment mortgage - assuming 4% interest rate average across 25 years?

The repayment mortgage is approx £200/mth more than an interest only mortgage.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mor...culator#result

Originally Posted by dunroving

Intrest only, all the way. Spend the exttra,or save/invest it, added flexibility.

What point is owning a house outright when you're dead?

Originally Posted by Bud the Wiser

London !!!!!!.............. surely not.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ont-money.html

Originally Posted by dunroving

Having watched more than my fair share of "property porn" TV shows during my time off work (the leg is coming along fine now, hopefully back at work by end of January!), I thought I'd post a slightly different "Where to live?" thread.

Quite a few returnees seem to come back either with limited resources, or from countries where property was much cheaper than the UK. As a result, we're not all able to choose from anywhere in the UK to live and have to watch the pennies when it comes to housing.

So ... as we seem to have quite a few property-watchers who know about these things, I was wondering if anyone has recommendations of places where the property market isn't quite as silly as the general country market, but are not bad places to live?

"Homes Under the Hammer" is one program I have been watching every morning (it's become quite a ritual; I don't know how I'll wean myself off it!). I like it much better than most of the property shows, because many of the houses they show are actually what I would call affordable (closer to £100k than £200k). The North Midlands and Northeast are areas that often seem to come up as affordable, but I don't know the towns they mention very well.

Any suggestions from our property porn experts of communities that are liveable but won't blow the budget?

Originally Posted by transatlantic

Ive been looking into Consett in county Durham, 20 mins to Newcastle or Durham and right amongst some really lovely countryside. http://www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/29170638

Originally Posted by Editha

I don't know the area at all. But, that looks like a lovely house, an absolute bargain, and Newcastle is a fine city.

Originally Posted by not2old

A good find indeed

I've been to Consett & thought at the time is was quite remote. The house looks good with a reasonable price. Peterlee is also another close by nice area

Originally Posted by dunroving

Intrest only, all the way. Spend the exttra,or save/invest it, added fleibility.

What point is owning a house outright when you're dead?