A No Nonsense Guide To Buying Your Dream UK Home

Leave Nothing To CHANCE - A lot of people don't plan their house purchase properly. They do not know where they wish to live, they do not come up with a plan and they leave a LOT to fate. Make sure you do not make the same mistake - it is important that you FOCUS because at the end of the day, this is the biggest & most expensive decision you're going to make. If you do not yet know where you're going to buy, then I urge you to put in a lot of TIME for your house hunting.

Investigating The AREA You're Moving Into - You must remember that there can be huge differences that exist just 10 minutes away within an area. That's why you have to be prepared to research your potential property and neighbourhood thoroughly before making the decision to make an offer for the house. Here are some things you should keep in mind:

How Much Can You AFFORD? Be realistic and specific. What are your income & savings? Can you swing enough for the deposit & monthly mortgage without falling on hardship down the line?

Once you have identified some potential neighbourhoods (www.findaproperty.com is a great free place to start wherever you wish to buy) you would be interested in living in, get your family to actually stroll down the streets and local area and try and get a feel for things. You can also research an area by looking on the internet for the areas you've decided upon. And what about public transport? Are there buses and trains that will take you to the places you need to go

What about the main street and shopping facilities? Does it have a feel good factor with prosperous people and shops or is there a feeling of depression about the place? What feeling do you get from the residents - do they seem friendly and welcoming or does it seem the opposite? Is there graffiti or litter strewn about the place? All of this will help you decide exactly how nice the area actually is - all too often it's easy to fall for an obviously charming property even if it is on the very doorstep of hell! There is nothing wrong with talking to a few local people and asking them what they feel about the area - pick up some local newspapers and trawl through the local events and news. Upbeat news such as a local fair is far better on the front page than news of another gruesome murder.

Finally have a look at the performance of the local council - how much value for money are you getting for your taxes? Check the crime rates, school performances and so on - this info is readily available at local libraries or even on the internet

Some HOT SITES To Help You Research:www.lganet.gov.uk - contains internet sites for every local authority in England & Wales. If you're considering a move to Scotland you can view the same information at www.cosla.gov.uk School Performance - www.dfes.gov.uk & www.ofsted.gov.uk Public Bodies - www.ukonline.gov.uk General (pollution & possible negative things about your area) www.environment-agency.gov.ukwww.homecheckuk.com - This is a paid site but if you have the cash this company will hire a private investigator to check out your potential area for problems including neighbour problems, traffic, flight paths, pollution & other problems.

Spot An Emerging Hot Property Area - There are some great ways of spotting up and coming areas that very few people actually know how to do. Factors such as employment change, new transport links, and huge price rises in certain areas can all force people into other once unfashionable areas which quickly become prosperous and enjoy a huge capital value growth. One example is the whole Canary Wharf area - once a downtrodden and unfancied area which has seen several high power investment banks move in over the past 2 decades leading to massive growth in the area as well as handsome property price increases. Also, surrounding areas have also enjoyed prosperity as a result. Can you think of a place that is similar right now? Here are the factors that could help you identify the next high growth area:

Strong transport links & plans to improve these further. Some areas are priced very low because the transport links are very poor and so these places are difficult to get to & from. Sometimes, when new transport links (eg train or tube) are introduced it can lead to an immediate increase in the areas value, both perceived and realised. Did you know that in London, a property near to a tube station can be sold at a 20% premium to those without in the same broader area? Check out the London LA Website to keep an eye on new transport links that are planned and being developed.

Types of properties (such as Georgian or Victorian) that are classic and sought after can really help enhance an areas popularity. It's also worth remembering that features such as a fireplace, tiles & other novelty decorations can increase your property value considerably.

Signs of higher standards of living - keep your eyes peeled for a higher standard of shops opening up.

There are of course several other factors to consider when you decide to take the plunge and purchase a new home. For more free information, tips and strategies pop over to http://www.my-online-powerpack.com/subscribersite.htm . I wish you the best of luck in finding and purchasing your dream home! Looking to buy, sell, or rent your home? Get subscribed for free to the Property Powerpack Newsletter and discover the biggest property secrets in the UK (a £49 value). Simply send me a mail to Tukshad@global-ebooks.com to subscribe and gain immediate access. Looking for bargain UK properties? You need the 30,000 Dirt Cheap UK Properties at: http://www.global-ebooks.com/Property_Auction_Bargains.htm

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