tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post9068249879604838283..comments2024-03-29T14:49:22.410+00:00Comments on Shadows & Light: Real-Estate Tycoons?Steve Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11684120060438252945noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-57279305588688201002017-08-07T18:48:41.602+01:002017-08-07T18:48:41.602+01:00Mike & I have always rented (out of necessity,...Mike & I have always rented (out of necessity, mostly, because we had no nest egg). I have mostly enjoyed it, but I worry about our landlords deciding that they need to sell the place & us not being able to afford it & having to move. That's really the only uncertainty for us. Well, and I guess they could raise the rent out of our price range too! <br /><br />But I HATE moving! I would gladly stay somewhere forever, even if it didn't quite meet my needs :)The Bughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07509037206264761261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-91665841799866447182017-08-07T05:07:15.642+01:002017-08-07T05:07:15.642+01:00Buy if you find the perfect place. Otherwise that ...Buy if you find the perfect place. Otherwise that back garden is pretty hard to beat. I bet Olga agrees. 37paddingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12400464105403622384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-1785155953985276552017-08-06T21:32:26.325+01:002017-08-06T21:32:26.325+01:00This is a subject of ongoing discussion at our hou...This is a subject of ongoing discussion at our house. We're currently living in a 40 foot RV, which we move north for the summer and south for the winter. But we're getting up there in age and we can't do this forever. We're thinking we'll buy, but then the question is where. We're high centered on where. Given how nice your garden is, that would be tough to leave.Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02475433199308666648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-25640169792523239852017-08-06T19:45:30.458+01:002017-08-06T19:45:30.458+01:00I thought the butterfly was a blossom until I read...I thought the butterfly was a blossom until I read otherwise! Very pretty thing.<br /><br />In the rent vs buy equation, have you considered a different rental, one where the management would be more responsive to requests? The company looking after your flat seems to be a bit difficult, judging from past issues you have written about, plus the ones in this post. <br /><br />I remember my first apartment after university; in direct contrast to your experience, I was permitted to paint whatever I wanted. Management supplied the paint and was very responsive to any other issues I had. The only negatives were that it was a third floor walk up and located next to a huge old church that rang the bells right outside my window at 10:45 every Sunday morning! It launched me a foot in the air the first Sunday I was there ... because I was a late sleeper on weekends ...<br /><br />Good luck with the decision; as you said, it's not a one-and-done conversation by any means.jenny_ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15475480579733466963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-90268234276146998812017-08-06T18:55:09.713+01:002017-08-06T18:55:09.713+01:00Your dilemma is well understood, though fifty is ...Your dilemma is well understood, though fifty is still young enough to buy a place to make your own. The prices in London are horrific, renting would be wiser if you are to stay there. Maybe , with Brexit, and Grenfell tower horror , the wealthy absentee owners being addressed somewhat...MAYBE it will all settle into more affordable housing. One never knows there are never any guarantees , are there. Since your flat is comfortable and OLGA likes it why rock the boat? Your garden would be very difficult to leave! Your neighborhood is so nice, that would be difficult to leave as well, as you say, location is perfect! I have used car polish on old tubs, it requires some elbow grease but makes a world of difference, Linda Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03070050388987072100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-81779329681288674452017-08-06T18:09:23.039+01:002017-08-06T18:09:23.039+01:00Wow, that gives you lots and lots to think about. ...Wow, that gives you lots and lots to think about. These days, I feel like there are so many uncertainties in the world that making a major decision right now is quite difficult. I guess I tend to agree with Ms Moon too. I sold my house just weeks before the housing market went crazy. If I had waited a mere 45 days, I could have doubled me asking price. Consequently, trying to find a new place became impossible because prices had gone sky high and even though my real estate person told me I could get financing without any problem, my gut told me I couldn't afford that price range. So, I rented a place and enjoyed living there for many years. While all of this was going on, I had three different friends who lost houses because of the 2008 crash. I guess I'm not much of a gambler because I've been renting ever since. Sharonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645915869786296771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-9497775555626085932017-08-06T17:08:43.524+01:002017-08-06T17:08:43.524+01:00I think you are in a better position by continuing...I think you are in a better position by continuing to rent. I agree with all of Ms. Moons' reasons. <br />Who knows what will happen to real estate post-Brexit. <br />Continue to enjoy your lovely garden and the convenience of where you live. It is so much time out of your life to have a long commute to work.Cheryl Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00669462404986779573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-28211159397755944412017-08-06T16:30:56.801+01:002017-08-06T16:30:56.801+01:00Well, I fall on the rental side of the question. T...Well, I fall on the rental side of the question. That money you spend on rent is NOT going down the drain. You are paying for services and for shelter and for that lovely garden and convenience and location AND yes, freedom. Home owning has done us well over the years- we've been lucky in that everything we've bought has gone up dramatically in price before we sold BUT, that's not always the case. Plus, there's so much work involved in home-owning. <br />However, those are just my thoughts and I am not you nor am I Dave. We all have our own needs and that's what makes life interesting. <br />Ms. Moonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09776404747858099919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-79661153895332015482017-08-06T16:00:07.427+01:002017-08-06T16:00:07.427+01:00If you are saving money while you are renting, the...If you are saving money while you are renting, then it's probably a good idea to stay. I agree with YP's suggestions. Housing prices are pretty crazy here in California. I'm not sure what's going on with housing economics anymore, but I worry about the next crash. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-40868684879410047982017-08-06T15:59:39.294+01:002017-08-06T15:59:39.294+01:00My Grandson lives in a flat in Bow in London, he w...My Grandson lives in a flat in Bow in London, he works as an A&R man for Universal and so has to be right there. He would love to buy but as you say the property is so expensive, and old. He was saying that he would have to move out of the area and he so loves it there with Victoria Park just around the corner.<br />We have rented our maisonette for 52 years and while others have bought and been spending money on repairs etc we have had to spend nothing. <br />Its only in this country it seems that buying is thought to be such a good idea, on the continent renting is the norm.<br />Your garden is worth everything, I know what I would do.<br />Briony<br />xcrafty cat cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06251582085392890533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-28029605813844333742017-08-06T15:40:51.226+01:002017-08-06T15:40:51.226+01:00does management not allow you to paint the walls o...does management not allow you to paint the walls or hang pictures? would rearranging the furniture satisfy Dave's need for change? that's what my son-in-law does. the kids would go to school and come home to find all the furniture rearranged (he worked nights).ellen abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00535475792150335186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-3087843981208107082017-08-06T15:14:56.216+01:002017-08-06T15:14:56.216+01:00Housing prices in some areas have become out of ra...Housing prices in some areas have become out of range for most people. As you pointed out , a down payment is big enough to take all savings. If housing prices were less I would know what to tell you in a heart beat. You have certainly done your homework on this one.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-3243598134397154362017-08-06T10:03:14.756+01:002017-08-06T10:03:14.756+01:00Wow...I too see your dilemma...I think YP has a go...Wow...I too see your dilemma...I think YP has a good suggestion...Good luck.ehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11376645220662546020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123631695572626256.post-65864813813445436112017-08-06T09:06:24.463+01:002017-08-06T09:06:24.463+01:00I understand your dilemma. London prices are absur...I understand your dilemma. London prices are absurd and I also worry about the Brexit effect - especially as my daughter and her boyfriend have just had an offer accepted on a two bedroom flat in Wood Green - £412,000. In Sheffield you could buy a four bedroom detached house with driveway and big garden for that.<br /><br />There are companies that re-enamel baths. We had ours done a few years back and it's still great. Couldn't you take photos of the bath, send them to the management company and say you will arrange the re-enamelling and deduct the cost from the next month's rent? Just a thought.Yorkshire Puddinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06019673884543913089noreply@blogger.com