jedisco:


Off plan is a bit different as it should be discounted. You could still negotiate the price + additions but also importantly should know your safeguards. E.g how big is the developer and whats their trackrecord, who's the site manager and what's his/her track record. There are also risk of delays, bankruptcy e.t.c. Your solicitor should be able to giude you on the worst case scenario and what you stand to lose should that occur.


I know a colleague who bought off plan in 19/20. His was one of the first to be built on the site and the devs were keen to get things going. It also helps them with marketing if other customers turn up at a new site and they inform them x number of properties have already been sold.
He went for a choice plot among the options available, they gave a little discount. By the time it was build complete, similar houses were already 20k above what he paid. Covid then happened and the aftermath house boom added another 50k to his property.

Thanks a lot.

deept:


If you don't ask you don't get. Worst that can happen they'll say no.

Thank you very much.

jedisco:


There are a number of considerations.


2. A trick I learned from trading. When bidding, I tend to go between whole numbers. I believe most buyers and developers would have a minimum or maximum. If another bids 200 and you bid 201, all things being equal, you're more likely to be accepted. Same also, a dev set not to go below 250 might accept 247 as it doesn't make sense to lose such a sale for 3k


I'd give an example with my purchase. Was in the market last year. Settled for a 3 ved detached and later new build. Surveyed new builds in my area. Many were the usual monotonous and clumped up but one stood out. It was by a local dev, smaller site, well built and spaced but came at a good price prenium. Property type I had in mind was on the market for £395k. I wanted certain other essentials e.g flat garden which wasn't north facing e.t.c. and narrowed down on 3. 1st quarter of last yr, all other devs reduced their prices but these folks didn't. The max I could go was 350 and I felt it was worth that after (had been searching for over a yr). When I came, it was clear they weren't selling as much as a good number were almost build complete. They cut price down to 375k (+ 10k cash deposit contribution). Around same time, BOE raised rates by 0.5 (highest jump over the last hike period) and panic hit the market.
I put a bid of 350k. They declined offering 372. Within a week of the reduction, 2 out of 3 houses I had my eye on had been snapped up. I thought of a 355 bid but due to point 2, decided to make it 358 and requested they add a certain select flooring plan and garden turf. Made it sound like it was my final offer. It was accepted.
It's worth nothing that after a while, they finally reduced the selling price of same to 350k but that was for a few left with some 'issues' e g separate garage, next to HA/Council properties e.t.c. I would have paid the prenium to be in my current place even if I had known.

Hi Jedisco, do you mean you can bid on a new build that is off plan?

Raalsalghul:


The leave to remain in this case is as a result of her circumstance (death of the main applicant) and not because she had a child in the U.K.

I was asking the Op about the person he knows who got a leave to remain because she had a child while studying and got a job after school. I just wanted a bit more clarity from the Op.

elengine:
It is a very simple case. If she is a dependant,all she needs to do is to engage a lawyer and apply for LR and she will continue to renew it. I have people that got LR just because she got job after school but has no dependant and she gave birth to a son during study. Those guys largely considers what they would lose if you leave too, so far you have a job and not a liability, then you can get any visa to extend your stay

Hello Elengine, could you please explain further? Having a child in the UK can get you a leave to remain? Wow... I know plenty people who are interested in this info oo.

Thank you.

Viruses:
Been waiting to share this, wanted to have my keys first.

So after exactly 2 years in the UK, I got a house on a mortgage, new build.

Process took 2 months from when I identified and decided on the building, could have taken less but I intentionally delayed it because I needed the next salary to complete the deposit and I applied for the mortgage like a month before the 2 years would actually complete.

I don't know how to write plenty, I'll just drop whatever information I think is useful so if you have any questions, ask.

You need like 2 years residence history to stand a chance of mortgage approval.

Mortgage Advisors play a role, one advisor said Barclays can only give me for 40yrs duration, another advisor gave me the same Barclays for 30yrs.

It's difficult to decide on 2 or 5 yrs fixed term so do your research, I went for 5 yrs but at a point, I was thinking of changing to 2 yrs but I guess we've passed that step now.

If you are planning on bringing in huge funds for the purchase, bring it well before hand to avoid plenty explanation, six months statement is usually required but sometimes, while you're explaining an inflow, you may be required to bring statements dating further back.

It's OK to negotiate rates, sometimes if the lender does not hear back from you on time, they will contact you and reduce the rate without you asking, perhaps they thought you have not responded because of the rate.

For new builds, beside the decision on whether to do 2 or 5 yrs and the choice of house, I don't think there are any special skills or knowledge required, advisors will be doing their thing and giving you update, solicitors will be doing their thing and giving updates, if they require any information they will reach out. Your own is to read and sign documents and ask questions as they arise.

While your income play a role in how much you can borrow, your outgoing play a role in your affordability. The lender complained about my outgoing and the mortgage advisor advised that I reduce my son's days in school to reduce the fees. So I just told them to remove the school fees entirely and explained that he will stay with his aunty, whether I implement that does not matter again. Other options will be to pay off car insurance for the year to reduce the monthly outgoing or pay part of the car loan to reduce the monthly payments.

If you haven't, start your moneybox journey, I got 4k free from moneybox. Me 2k, wife 2k.

If it's a new build, you can buy towards the time when most of the houses are sold, as the houses are getting sold, they begin to introduce discounts and cashback. I was lucky to buy the show home (isn't this rare?) although the furnitures were removed, some other items like curtains and decor were left. The catch here is if it takes long to sell, prices and rates would have changed (this may be good or bad depending on whether it goes up or down) and the particular house you are waiting for may not be waiting for you.

There are lots of schemes available especially for new builds including first home schemes and shared ownership, depending on your money, you can explore these. I didn't use any scheme because I could raise the deposit.

Credit score matters but credit history matters more. Credit history does not mean using credit up and down, it simply means don't miss credit payments.

There's hardly a right time to start the process, just get an idea of the area and cost of the building you want, raise some money and approach a mortgage advisor and things will begin to unfold and become clear.

My appreciation goes to everyone who have contributed to mortgage issues on this thread, I learnt alot and the information gained were useful.

Congratulations

Solumtoya:
Finally Completed, Keys in my hands.

Found the property in September and reserved. Completed in December.

Barclays 2 year fixed at 5.53%, 12% deposit and 2-year residence in UK.

God has been very kind.

Thanks to all for the beautiful contributions here and especially to Lexus and Ticha for reminding us this is doable and should be done.

Will share my lessons learnt ASAP.

Congratulations.

dupyshoo:
Yes. Nurses, doctors and others apart from care workers can bring their dependants. They targeted only care workers.

Thanks for the clarification. I was beginning to think only nhs workers can bring in dependants.

Goke7:


dependents can still come in but on care/support after April no dependant.

Hi Goke this is confusing tbh. so only care workers have the restrictions when bringing in dependants? Other occupations under healthcare shortage occupation aren't affected?

Zahra29:


Hi Glorious, both really - if one parent is British then the child is automatically British by birth and the non citizen parent can apply for leave to remain on the basis of their British child. It is a 10 year route though, so it's mainly used if the non citizen parent is not able to qualify for another type of residence permit.

Also if a child is born in the UK to non citizen or settled parents, and lives here until they are 10 years old, then the child can register as a British citizen, and his parents can apply for leave to remain as the parents of a British child. Once again it's a 10 yr route to settlement.

Thank you

Zahra29:


Sponsorship is also not the only pathway to settlement in the UK.

For example, in the UK you can apply for leave to remain on the basis of having a British child- as soon as the child is born, unlike the US where the parent of an American citizen has to wait till the child grows up and is able to file for them.

So there are swings and roundabouts both ways.

Hi Zahra29, by British child do you mean a child born here in the UK or with one parent already a British citizen?

Zahra29:


Yes that would be fine

Is it classed as NHS medical role? If so, then also exempt from the new salary threshold

Yes it is..the occupation code is 2219.

Zahra29:


Defo lol. Nurses, doctors and other medical personnel are the only immigrant group to come out unscathed from today's announcement.

Filipino nurses even got a special mention in parliament

Hi Zahra, can dental therapists (it's under the shortage occupation list) bring in dependants?

ukay2:
FINALLY....

Completed today with Halifax at 5.3% 2 years fixed with a 15% deposit...Kent, SE England...

....keys in my hand....

To God be the glory....

Thank you everyone for the journey...1st August 2023 to 27th October 2023....

@Lexusgs430, thank you for reminding me that..... RENT MONEY is DEAD Money.....

We all shall get into the property ladder sooner than we think....just keep working daily...

Hello, congratulations 🎊.
Please can I ask how many years of residency in The UK you have?

Thanks 😊

eniola1010:


No u dont need naric again
Ur uk msc serves as a english proficiency certificate bexause u were taught in english in uk

Abi na spanish dem use teach u?

😄 na King's English oo.
Thanks a lot.

eniola1010:


Yes u need,
Also if u have bsc from nigeria there is this platform they are called eccit formerly naric, they will aggregate your bsc and give you a certificate to show that you know english and you were taught in english so with that certificate there will be no need of you doing ielts again

Hi! what if you have an Msc from the UK, would you still need IELTS or naric to evaluate your certificate?

Thank you 🙏🏾

Solumtoya:


Thanks. I learnt so much in the Mortgage process that I will definitely share here someday. So much has changed in how Visa holder's applications are being handled that we need to be aware of early enough.

Hi Solumtoya,

Kindly share these tips 🙏🏾

deept:


So students are not allowed to visit the UK? She just has to prove she is a student and she is coming back to continue her studies. Her family in the UK Is sponsoring her and they are in correct status and not depending on the government for anything. I am assuming in this new application her parents who I presume is in Nigeria will write a supporting letter telling them she will come back to Nigeria to continue her application.
Plus someone close to home same situation, brother and sister in the UK, I am her family too in the UK, is a student was refused initially, same reason not sure she is a student. Sister reapplied for her immediately countering the HOs reason for denial, girl is in the UK as we speak. Only difference in case is the 500k this one had. The one I am talking about had significantly less but the account was active and inflow and outflow was typical of what a Nigerian student will have.

Hi Candidiva, you could just submit your own statement of account and state that ok are sponsoring our sister's trip. My first UK visa, I used my father's statement of account. I was in bed school and in my early twenties and I was granted the visa.

HTH.

wonlasewonimi:
Can someone help confirm if the uni has to send you a link before you can apply for a post study visa? If yes, do they wait till less than a month to visa expiry to provide the link? I am trying to confirm a lamba. Thanks.

Hi,

My school sent the link immediately I got the mail for my grad (3months before tier 4 visa expiry)

HTH.

Hello @ Everyone, please can a dependant apply for ihs refund? Or does it have to be the main applicant only?
N.b. The dependant is the one working in the care industry.
Thank you.

Hello everyone. Please for those who use lemonade finance, I'm having difficulty proceeding with my transaction. Once I input the UK bank account details I want to be credited, the CONTINUE button is not highlighted so I can't click on it to proceed. Please does anyone know what I might be doing wrong?
Thanks

donald197:
You can apply on your portal, but you must have paid your annual license fee till date and building levy.

Building levy😯

Thank you.

giselle237:
contact mdcn by email or phone number. Their contact numbers are working please.

Thank you giselle🙏

bigtt76:
Renewing your license (if you haven't) is one way to be in good standing though

Lol...I'm about to renew my license actually but GDC is asking for letter of good standing from my professional body which is MDCN.

Lexusgs430:


I don't think you can .......


Have had a dialogue/letter with your medical officer/chief registrar...........

Do you mean I should get a letter from my Consultant/ Senior registrar?

Hello Doctors and Dentists in the house, please how can I get a letter of good standing from MDCN? I have logged into my account but all I see is license renewal fee. Can someone please advice me?

Thank you

Lexusgs430:


The heat coming from my boiler....... Simply use the thermostat or turn on/off, manually at intervals........

Thanks Oga Lexusgs430

Lexusgs430:



This thing dey chop electricity, like tinubu dey chop all our naira..........

Hello Chief, please which one would you recommend.

Amarathripple0:

Theory 4 in 1 App. Use the Free Pass Guarantee option to practice
https://www.drivingtestsuccess.com/product/driving-theory-test-4-1-app

Thanks a lot.

Please can someone recommend an app to help me pass my theory Test?

Thank you.

mizGene:

Someone on tier 4 should really be aspiring for more, band 2 is not great start for a post grad degree holder. He should not have a closed mind to the other many opportunities out there.

Thank you.

rayralph:


Yes, unless he’s an exception with clinical skills( Venepuncture, Cannulation etc.) and also favored by the line manager.

Oh OK. Thanks for the clarification.