AS house prices soar to record-breaking highs as buyers lock horns in bidding wars, finding a house within budget has never been harder.
Property prices jumped by a whopping £7,000 in just four weeks to an all-time high of £327,797 in April, according to Rightmove.
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The surge was fuelled by a shortage of homes on the market coupled with opportunistic Brits looking to make a big saving on the stamp duty holiday.
With this tax relief due to end at the end of this month, the frenzy for homes has only continued to heighten.
Because of this, you may find you’re struggling to find homes that are within your price range.
But we’ve found homes listed on Zoopla that are being sold for a tenth of these sky-high prices, with some even going for under £30,000.
Although saving enough for a deposit is still tough, you’ll only need around £3,000 for a 10% deposit to secure most of these homes on the list.
However, most of them are in the North of England, so if you don’t live here already, you’ll have to be prepared to move the distance.
Most of the homes on this list need a lot of TLC as well – so if you’re up for the challenge or know DIY-savvy friends or family, it could be worth investing and doing it up.
A home survey will establish the condition of a property
A SURVEY gives a detailed inspection into the condition of a property, highlighting any major repair work that’s needed.
It can also help you decide whether or not you’re paying the right amount for your home.
The reports are carried out by qualified surveyors and costs vary from company to company. There are also different types of surveys depending on the depth of the report that you want and your budget.
These are the different types of surveys and their typical prices, according to the Homeowners Alliance:
Condition report, £300 or more
This gives a traffic light report to indicate the conditions of various states of the property – green for okay, orange for cause for concern.
The report provides you with a sumary of defects and possible risks but won’t provide any advice or valuations.
HomeBuyers report, £450 or more
On top of everything you get in the condition report, you’ll also get a valuation and an insurance reinstatement value – which is an estimate of how much you’ll receive if the building were to burn down.
Home Condition survey, £400 to £900
These are carried out by the Residential Property Surveyors Association (RPSA) rather than the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and includes information on broadband speeds, a damp assessment and boundary issues to consider. The price depends on the valuation of the property.
Building survey, £500 or more
These are extensive reports where the surveyor will go into places such as the attic, check behind walls and look between floors and above ceilings. It will also provide advice on repairs, estimated costs and timings, and what will happen if you don’t carry out the repairs. Prices depend on the size of the property.
Before splashing out, you should pay to have a survey carried out.
This is especially important for homes that need work, and they will come at an additional cost to the survey your mortgage lender will carry out.
Here’s a look at the 10 cheapest homes on the market:
1. Two-bed house, North East: £29,950
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This two-bed home in Hartlepool, Durham, is the cheapest house on the market, according to Zoopla.
It also has one bathroom, a lounge, and a kitchen.
It’s in need of renovation though – there is no boiler, there are several radiators missing, and the kitchen could do with being replaced.
It comes with a back garden though, perfect for barbecuing in during the hot weather.
You’ll be thirsty after moving in, so make sure to take a trip down to local boozer The Nursery Inn, which celebrated Christmas in May this year after lockdown meant many pubs across the country had to shut.
You’ll need to have £2,995 in the bank to put down a 10% deposit.
2. Two bed house, North East: £31,500
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In Durham, £31,500 will get you this two-bed house, which also comes with a bathroom, lounge, and kitchen.
But like the other homes, you’ll need to factor in extra cash to put in some essential repair and renovation works.
A new kitchen and bathroom needs to be put in and the walls need sprucing up.
You’ll need to save £3,150 for a 10% deposit.
It’s not the only house going for a bargain in Durham.
This two-bed bungalow is just £1 – but as it’s going up for auction, it could sell for a lot more.
3. Three-bed house, Scotland: £32,500
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This three-bed house in Muirkirk, East Ayrshire, is on the market for offers over £32,500.
It also comes with a lounge, kitchen and bathroom.
There’s a spacious garden at the back, so it might be a good option if you have kids.
But you’ll need cash spare to strip the kitchen and do up the bathroom.
If you’ve got £3,250 saved up already, you could put down a 10% deposit.
4. Three-bed house, North East: £34,955
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This three-bed home in Chester Le Street, near Sunderland, is on sale for £34,995.
But you won’t be able to move straight in – it needs a lot of work.
There’s two big holes in the front-door and two windows are missing at the front of the house.
Plus, the kitchen and bathroom look like they’ve seen better days.
What help is out there for first-time buyers?
GETTING on the property ladder can feel like a daunting task but there are schemes out there to help first-time buyers have their own home.
Help to Buy Isa – It’s a tax-free savings account where for every £200 you save, the Government will add an extra £50. But there’s a maximum limit of £3,000 which is paid to your solicitor when you move. These accounts have now closed to new applicants but those who already hold one have until November 2029 to use it.
Help to Buy equity loan – The Government will lend you up to 20% of the home’s value – or 40% in London – after you’ve put down a 5% deposit. The loan is on top of a normal mortgage but it can only be used to buy a new build property.
Lifetime Isa – This is another Government scheme that gives anyone aged 18 to 39 the chance to save tax-free and get a bonus of up to £32,000 towards their first home. You can save up to £4,000 a year and the Government will add 25% on top.
Shared ownership – Co-owning with a housing association means you can buy a part of the property and pay rent on the remaining amount. You can buy anything from 25% to 75% of the property but you’re restricted to specific ones.
Mortgage guarantee scheme – The scheme opens to new 95% mortgages from April 19 2021. Applicants can buy their first home with a 5% deposit, it’s eligible for homes up to £600,000.
But if you’re prepared to put the graft in, it could be a great investment – and you’ll only need £3,495 for a 10% deposit.
You might bump into Greg Barnett, 47, who also lives in Chester Le Street and bought his late dad’s police car off eBay, painstakingly restoring it to its former glory.
5. Two-bed house, North East: £39,950
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This two-bed terraced house in rural Durham could make for a great home after it’s had a makeover.
It comes with a lounge, dining room, kitchen and bathroom too.
It also comes with a gorgeous garden which is fenced off from the neighbours.
But you’ll need to strip the carpet, and the rooms in general are in need of modernising.
Keen to put an offer in? You’ll need £3,995 already tucked away for a 10% deposit.
6. Three bed house, North East: £39,950
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For £39,950, this red brick beauty in Bishop Auckland, Durham, could make for a great family home.
There’s a lovely red and white brick design on the outside of the house, and comes with a lounge, kitchen and dining room, and a bathroom on the ground floor.
But as you might have guessed, extra money is needed to bring it up to scratch.
The wallpaper is peeling off the walls in some of the rooms, and you might want to think about extending the kitchen as it looks a little pokey.
If you have £3,995, you could secure it with a 10% deposit.
You might want to take a look at another nearby home in Bishop Auckland that has recently had a bargain £35 makeover for inspiration.
The home was completely kitted out with furniture and decorations from British Heart Foundation charity shops.
7. Two bed house, North East: £40,000
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Head to Peterlee, Durham, for this £40,000 two-bed house.
It also comes with a lounge, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom.
It looks like it’s in better condition compared to some of the other homes on the list, so might not need as much work.
But make sure to get a survey done to inspect the house – and you’ll want to have spare cash to decorate it to your taste.
For £40,000, you’ll need £4,000 for a 10% deposit.
8. Two-bed house, North East: £40,000
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If you’re happy to move to Peterlee, Durham, then this two-bed house could be yours for £40,000.
It has a lounge, dining room, kitchen and bathroom.
Judging from the pictures, it’s open plan – so if you like that style, it might be worth a viewing.
You’ll need £4,000 for a 10% deposit.
9. Three bed house, Middlesbrough: £40,000
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This three-bed house in Middlesbrough is on the market for £40,000.
However, it needs a lot of work – several windows are missing or broken, and the front door needs replacing.
You might want to update some of the rooms as well.
It could be yours if you have at least £4,000, which is enough for a 10% deposit.
10. Two bed house, North East, £40,000
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Last on the list and yet another home in Durham is this two-bed house in Peterlee for £40,000.
It comes with a bathroom, reception room and kitchen too.
You might want to give the walls a lick of paint if red isn’t your colour, and replace the carpets too.
You would need £4,000 for a 10% deposit.
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