Focus: Getting on the property ladder

From: Dunggate Sent: 16/07/2008 20:37
Thank you Jessie and Gilly for your input still looking into things and as you both expressed everything so difficult for anyone wanting to get on the property ladder and seems the only way forward is a share prospect for the young ones.
Elaine

From: Gilly Sent: 13/07/2008 22:41
This is a huge problem both nationally and globally...affordable housing...especially for youngsters wanting to get on the housing ladder.

Most local Authorities are committed to building affordable homes and have many local newbuild schemes where young employed couples can have supported mortgages to help them afford to get on to the property ladder.

Housing Associations and Local Authority social housing are unable to cope with the demand for rented homes with thousands on their waiting lists.
Hopefully in the near future many new social rented sector homes will be built, but these will not be like the old 'council' estates of the past where many mistakes were made and lessons learned.
Instead new intergrated communities are being built with privately owned affordable homes and private and socially rented living side by side in their communities.

My advice for those wishing to obtain their first home would be to approach their local authority and ask if there are any supported mortgage homes available or affordable housing soon to built and seek their advice. Also visit the many and various housing associations in their area and think about renting or maybe taking up the 'right to buy' offer after the statutory three years of renting.

Private rentals, unless done through reputable agencies can leave you with no assurance of tenure and all too frequently unscrupulous landlords who are absent fail to provide suitable living accommodation for their tenants....and it can work out a lot dearer paying extortionate rents. than negotiating a mortgage.

Years ago young couples tended to live with the inlaws whilst saving to afford their first home....I'm not sure if this is recommended now with the structure of family life and broken relations all around us, but I do know of one young couple who are living in a mobile home on the parents land until they can afford a mortgage deposit.
I feel deeply for youngsters with such financial burdens with the cost of owning and maintaining their first home.
For all it's good points it seems to me that the right to buy scheme introduced by Margaret Thatcher has depleted our social housing stock and many local authorities over the years were not forward thinking enough to re-investing the money into building more.

Hope This is of some help but what a dilemma.
Prayer and asking God's guidance and provision and His timing are powerful tools.
Blessings and love
Gilly

From: Jessie¡ Sent: 13/06/2008 10:52
i've just read this and it may already have been sorted ..but if you are on a low wage it is better not to go in for a lot of debt ie: a house ..although if you want to go that way you could take in a lodger who may be in the same spot as you and then the cost would be shared .....there are housing associations..like swansea housing who would give you a flat ..if you then run into trouble the social would pay your rent for you ....this is in the uk of course...it is very expensive to rent privately...so i would give that a miss....if you are a christian then be assured that God will supply all your need ...also get people to pray for you ..and above all dont lose heart you have a big God ... jessie

From: Dunggate Sent: 17/01/2008 21:48
Just a thought to get this discussion off to a start.

Who said "the law is an ass"?

The way the system works today if you should get pregnant then you become a priority case for housing and usually due to the circumstances your rent may well be paid for by the benefits if your unemployed.
Please note :I mean no ill to those who find themselves in this situation and need.

But a responsible person who is wanting to get on property ladder or even council housing list these days, is an almost impossible situation unless the first course of action is taken into account which is really not the way to go.....This is not God honouring.

Due to less accomodation becoming available or even affordable.

I haven't a clue how I would answer this Focus to be perfectly honest in a practical way.

Other than to say contact your local council who will advise you if a discount can be given due to low wages.

I believe there is a system that works on your reasonable living allowance? If anyone knows of information on this would be great help to anyone in this situation.

Anyone else got advice or spiritual help in this.?

Elaine.

This question involves a case study. If you have useful practical ideas please share them. We want to be able to bounce ideas off each other and see if we can find a way to help this young christian man.

Points for consideration:

1) A young man has been looking into buying himself a house. At the moment it seems even his cheapest option is a run down house that will leave him with a 30 year mortgage and no money to live out of his wage packet after mortgage, bills and travel to work taken into account.

2) Housing prices in the UK have increased at an alarming rate that makes it near impossible for a young person/family to get on the property ladder.

3) His family is prepared to help him out with groceries etc, but this is little life for a young man in the UK today; and potentially not the best way to handle finances within the family as it can sometimes lead to resentment and obligation instead of love and support. They all live nearby.

4) Alternatively he can wait on the Lord for provision, but with house prices rising and no alternative job prospects on the horizon currently would this be trusting God or shooting the breeze?

5) Currently this young man is living at home in a rented accommodation with a relatively unwell mother. Should anything happen to her he will be homeless.

6) The price of rent is comparitive to the mortgage and other bills.

7) Biblically we are cautioned to 'count the cost' (Luke 14:28)

Luke 14:28 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?"

Any thoughts will be appreciated. We have included as many details as we think prudent to help anyone with any ideas give an imformed opinion.

Although this is based on one particular case and we are interested in helping out this young man other advice for alternative situations will be appreciated also.
this is a problem that many young people are encountering.

If you live overseas and there is a different system there that you feel may be relevant please feel free to share it - one never knows what may spark a thought or solution from another person.