i'm beginning to feel like an absolute non-entity...

DH & i have been looking for a house.

we went to speak with an independent mortgage advisor last week. we told him what each of us makes (both in decent jobs--just started my new, permanent, "real" job last week after temping throughout the summer), we went through our budget with him, and we explained how much (not very) we have in savings. he was sure he could find a 100% mortgage to suit our needs, until he realised that i do not yet have ILR. (i've been here since may of this year). since he's never actually dealt with an american ex-pat seeking a mortgage before, he now has to call his contacts at several banks to see if they'd even consider an application from us.

i'm starting to get seriously frustrated, and i'm really beginning to fret. our little one bed flat is not going to get us by for too much longer. we're growing out of it already, and if/when little ones come, we need a house. renting just feels like throwing away money that could be used as equity in a house we buy. on top of all that, i'm 32 and getting older every day. clock's ticking, you know? i seriously cannot see raising a kid in a flat--it's not fair to the kid.

my credit history in the states counts for bugger all, which blows because it's pretty decent. i'm not technically a british citizen yet, but i'm positive i will be. all of our ducks are in a row on that angle. what burns me badly is that the banks must see me as a flight risk. but why would i go through all of the time, trouble and expense of obtaining my spousal visa & moving over if i wasn't planning to stay? i've made a commitment to this, and to my husband. i'm here for good. but they don't seem to take that into consideration.

the mortgage advisor is supposed to call today to give us an answer. i don't feel very hopeful.

have you been in this boat...anyone? 

i didn't have a ILR and i got a mortgage on my own.  now i realize every person's situation is different but my hunch is that the advisor is just encountering something new and doesn't quite know what to do...

i couldn't get a mortgage when i only had (2) months left on my FLR.  however, i got it renewed and once i had a shiny.... 2 year valid FLR mortgages were not an issue. (i went with abbey in the end but not b/c visa issues, becuase they had the best deal at the moment, and they were willing to get a survey done within the week)

so you have 18 months left on your FLR.  you should be fine... if this mortgage advisor can't help you out.. find one who can... they are out there!

thanks for sharing your experience, meggles.

we have another appointment with a different advisor on saturday.

maybe i'm just being a drama queen.

Hi Niku2,

For your particular legal situation (Visa's and eligibility) I suggest you do speak to a qualified lawyer and find out exactly where and how you stand, in conjuction with of course as much research as you can on the web.

As an aside, nip into WHSmiths and pickup a copy of 'A Place In the Sun' magazine, yes it's about Brits who want to buy abroad, but it has useful links at the back to allsorts of lawyers, mortgage specialists, lenders, developers, money exchange and worldwide transfers people located here in the UK. Do you have any assets you could sell off in the US and use towards putting in a deposit for a property here in the UK? if you can raise a deposit of usually around 20%, a mortgage becomes easier to obtain. My cousins who've only been here 4 years have bought 2 apartments/flats with no UK credit history and being Indian and NOT UK nationals (the first property was within a year of them arriving)

There's probably other instances and possibilities available, just need to see if they fit with your personal situation or not - see if any of the links in that magazine can offer advice/possibilities for you to investigate.

Hope this helps a bit

Cheers! Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

PS - yep, these property prices are just completley ludicrous & insane!

bring it on drama-queen... i'll give you a run for your money.

on top of all that, i'm 32 and getting older every day. clock's ticking, you know? i seriously cannot see raising a kid in a flat--it's not fair to the kid.
have you been in this boat...anyone? 

Many people cannot afford ANY property here at all.

I'm 35, have two young children, and - fair or not - we live in a flat.

Many people grow up in flats, both in the UK and the world over, w/no lasting damage done.

Lenders like the safest bets possible.  Statistically, a person who's here on a limited visa may be more likely to walk away from a financial commitment here, so it may be more problematic to get a mortgage for someone on FLR, although not impossible.

Best of luck!

Many people cannot afford ANY property here at all.

I'm 35, have two young children, and - fair or not - we live in a flat.

Many people grow up in flats, both in the UK and the world over, w/no lasting damage done.

Yeah I must say, I was on the same page as far as thinking 'no way would I ever raise a family in an apartment!'  But that was before I moved here and saw how it could be done.  I don't know for sure but I think we'll be living in a flat with children as well.  It's sort of an American 'thing' to have a negative connotation around living in a flat with a family - for not a very good reason, in my opinion!

We are looking to buy after Christmas.  For the properties we are looking at, we can put down a decent down payment, and when we tentatively approached our bank, they told us no just because of my visa.  I like my banker, but I was so angry leaving his office.  If you find a solution, please let me know! 

Many people cannot afford ANY property here at all.

I'm 35, have two young children, and - fair or not - we live in a flat.

Many people grow up in flats, both in the UK and the world over, w/no lasting damage done.

I've got two kids as well, and since they've been born we've lived in all sorts of circumstances...from a little tiny cabin where the three of us had to share one bedroom, to a three bedroom house, to apartments with people on all sides of us.  We've lived in fairly good sized cities (Edinburgh and Boise) and in remote areas where we had to drive 90 miles to the grocery store.  They managed to thrive pretty much everywhere I've plunked them.  Kids are really pretty darned adaptable...it's us adults who have issues with living in little tiny spaces with children! :-)

Modified to add - I hope you don't think I'm trying to minimize your feelings about getting your mortgage.  It's natural to want a)a bigger place; and b)a place of your own.  Just trying to point out that it's not the end of the world if you end up starting your family while you're still living in a flat!

On the same topic, has anyone had a situation in which a girl and a boy had to share a room beyond childhood and into their preteen/ teen days? There are so many 2 BR flats and houses here. In the US, it is just not done if you can help it. I am wondering if it is common and do-able for a boy and a girl to share a room as they get older, or if there will really be as many problems as you hear about. My kids are only 2 and 5, but I am wondering if when it is time to buy a house if we absolutely have to have 3 bedrooms, and if we would totally regret buying a 2BR.

Any thoughts?

It's not really the done thing.  My brother and I shared until we were about 9 I think, and I know that as teenagers we certainly would not have wanted to share.  There are too many issues, not least of all privacy.

Vicky

back to the original post....i bought my house without a british spouse, on my own, without ILR!!! don't take his word on that, check around. i'm here on a work permit, was here less than 2 years on a 5 year permit, and changing jobs with the move.

good luck, it's so nice to have your own flat/house....even if it's the size of a shoe box!!!

just to add, as a mom to 3 grown kids...i agree that if you are happy, they will be happy wherever you put them!!!

DH (the Brit) and I bought (mortgage approved, etc) our house while I was still on my LLR (first spousal visa).

Btw, here is a good resource for researching UK mortgages:

http://mortgages.charcolonline.co.uk/default.aspx

Honestly, how can you not understand why banks would have a difficult time wanting to lend to you?  You just came to this country and have no credit rating.  Can you imagine trying to get a mortgage in America like that?

I do understand how you feel (we just went through the same thing and I couldn't get on the mortgage, so it was my husband only), but you should understand why.  You are a risk.  You say you are here for good, but if they lend to you and you leave, they can't do anything about it.  You don't have citizenship or even ILR.

We got our mortgage with me here on a work permit, on maternity leave and moving from London to the Highlands.  No questions asked.  When we remortgaged last year, I just had to write a quick letter stating that I was intending to stay in the UK, that I would, at some point, be applying for FLR and that was it.


It can be done.  I would suggest another advisor. Hope things work out for you.