[ellied]

Sounds great, and I agree you need more land to do all that - but then I think the one rule is buy as much as you can get when you move in, later on it will always be harder and cost more to add to what you have and any excess can always be let out   I've 10 and wish I still had the extra 20 I used to lease or even just a few more attached or within walking distance of where I am.

[henchard]

Have read this thread with interest as we live very close. Hope it comes to fruition for you.

However I would just add that if you are going to be reliant on earning an income in the area; it is a fairly 'low wage' area and the ability to speak Welsh would be a distinct advantage.

[john and helen]

Not totally reliant... but a couple of days a week will make life easier...if i need to travel, then so be it...still be a lovely place to drive home too.... I also want to start another little business that will provide a little income, but more about that later....

spoke to the farmer last night, he did tell us , as did rural scene, that there was another viewing,yesterday,  lets just say, he would prefer us to have it as we would fit in, ( his words ) he also said if we struggle to find the money for the land, he would keep hold of it (take it off the market) for 12 months, and we could still use it...

I know he has been ill and is down sizing, yet at the same time , wants to stay active..
he also said he would teach me all about sheep and get us started

I do agree with you Henchard, its always good to speak a little of the language, even though half my welsh friends don't  not even the farmer  but i always believe, if you treat people right, what ever their origin, they will treat you right...and its always fun learning something new

I get the distinct feeling, we arn't just buying a smallholding, but a way into a community

[doganjo]

I hope you hear soon it's getting really uncomfortable crossing everything    

[stufe35]

Good luck this sounds like its the one,  chase it hard.  7 years ago we had that moment where you know your looking at the right place.  We worked damn hard to get it, lost it, but 3 months later it came back to us.

The last 7 years have been tough, so much to do.  This week I'm off work, to spend time on jobs,  at the end of day 2 I sit here absolutely exhausted, but with 90 percent of a new roof on the garage.  I have a huge grin on my face as I sit and look out at our little piece of the world.  We will never own it we are just it's keepers for a short time,  but it great to do so many positive things.

Chase your dream.

[lachlanandmarcus]

if in time i can get the permission..... a holiday let that will be disable friendly.... 

If you do, let us know. I'm always on the look out for disabled friendly holiday lets and we love Wales.

that goes without saying MGM..... its one of my biggest aims....
as i have said before my sister has cerebal palsy, on more than one occasion, i have seen how animals can get a response to certain people.... also all the pathways , entrances , showers etc etc will be wheelchair friendly

One good thing is new places now have to be so much more geared up, we recently got PP to renovate and extend a lot a wee ruined cottage at our place and we had decided on single storey anyway, but was impressed by all the requirements for wheelchair accessible ramp from parking, corridors, bathrooms etc, it also makes sense for if dependants live there who have mobility issues. I think it's great, will cost more but if building new it makes sense. Not that we have the €€ to do it at the moment but at least it will increase the accessible stock when we do (and we may do holiday lets too !)

[Lesley Silvester]

I get the distinct feeling, we arn't just buying a smallholding, but a way into a community

You are. 

[john and helen]

Having a real crap time at the moment.... no one will give a small mortgage on a barn conversion.... the loan route is twice as expensive.... bridging loan has been offered... but mental rates ..... still trying though

[ferretkeeper]

I can't remember who we tried when looking for a self build mortgage, not that it would be relevant now, that was about 5 years ago - I do remember there being a table of mortgage lenders in the back of Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine - I just sat down and phoned all of them until someone said yes!

The Ecology BS might be a good move if you're doing a bit of eco stuff in the renovation, and we are with Leeds BS, who were surprisingly amenable to a self build mortgage at the time, so much so that we went back to them when we bought this place...

Forgive me if this is not new info for you but curiosity got the better of me:

http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/beginners/finance/current-mortgage-rates

This is the table of lenders, Buildstore was the other one I spoke to.

There are some really useful articles on here, I can see me not getting much done this afternoon now!

And in another little article it says you get a reduced rate of VAT on conversions, good news eh?

 

[doganjo]

Having a real crap time at the moment.... no one will give a small mortgage on a barn conversion.... the loan route is twice as expensive.... bridging loan has been offered... but mental rates ..... still trying though

Work out the exact cost of the bridging loan - yes, the rates are high, but if it is only for a short time the actual amount may be relatively low.

[john and helen]

Wow!!! thanks ferret keeper, didn't even know that lot existed 

i'm off to have a good read

[ferretkeeper]

Oh good  I do hope you have better luck with these lot, they are all specialist lenders although even they were tightening the belts as the recession hit, hence we didn't self build, but I have spoken to Buildstore since and they were pretty good.

[Lesley Silvester]

Hope you find something.

[john and helen]

just a quick update..we have had a good offer on our house...and i have found a group that does offer a mortgage to buy a unconverted barn .......

[Lesley Silvester]

Great news. Looks like it's all coming together.