Motorway Observations

[andyBeaker]

Thus land will always rise in price

Until,the price of land and property in general,takes a dive.

which it will have done many times your lifetime.

I would, however, agree that over a long timeframe it SHOULD be one of the more stable investments available.

My adage of ‘take a profit while it’s there’ is being applied to my building plot.

Just got to try and find another now

 

[derek kelly]

The last field we bought was a two acre field for £37,000, it was at an auction, as we were leaving we were asked if we’d sell it for £40,000, (why didn’t they bid?) houses in the surrounding area sell for a minimum of £550,000, there is dual access to the field so should we decide to apply for planning permission & get it we could probably sell for over £250,000

 

[andyBeaker]

The last field we bought was a two acre field for £37,000, it was at an auction, as we were leaving we were asked if we’d sell it for £40,000, (why didn’t they bid?) houses in the surrounding area sell for a minimum of £550,000, there is dual access to the field so should we decide to apply for planning permission & get it we could probably sell for over £250,000

As a **rough** guide for a developer the land cost on a new build is usually around 40%, 40% build cost and 20% profit. If there are adjoining properties in a decent sized community (I think it is seven ‘close,proximity’ properties from memory but don’t rely on it) even if it is green belt you should be in with a decent chance, despite most people thinking green belt is sacrosanct. Councils are under massive pressure to build new homes….. When I visit our friends in Wales I haven’t the heart to tell them that the field they overlook might as well have a bulls eye painted on it in planning terms despite being (they think, but hey why bother checking when you spend half a million quid) greenbelt.

Don’t try and do it yourself (with repect!) use a planning consultant who should have all the answers to the questions, and inevitable objections, before they are asked. Going for full planning isn’t really worth it unless building for yourself as a developer/purchaser will inevitably put in new plans..outline permission adds the same value as full permission.


One of the biggest hurdles to overcome is access…not in terms of ‘there’s a gate over there’ but in terms of local infrastructure. My son’s in laws have a beautiful property in Hampshire set in six acres,,we have explored the possibility of putting an additional four ‘trophy’ properties on site, easy access from the country lane they are on but the access to the first main road is a terrible junction -it really is an accident waiting to happen - and would cost an absolute fortune to be made safe and usable for increased traffic and construction equipment, not least as it would mean purchasing some additional land.


I would tell you about the the site I bought with existing Planning Permission, got new Planning Permission,cleared the site and have just sold.

But I won’t.

 

[derek kelly]

I thought about seeking permission to build two or three properties in our garden but we are struggling to get someone to build us an extension, they don’t seem to want the work.

 

[Squag1]

I thought about seeking permission to build two or three properties in our garden but we are struggling to get someone to build us an extension, they don’t seem to want the work.

Get permission, sell it.

A guy who worked with me was left a house on a double site. He's a quantity surveyor. He was showing me the drawing of the site as they were preparing to sell the house.
I suggested getting permission for another house and sell separately.

He hadn't thought of that.
I was amazed for a guy in construction that he hadn't. So he did. Still awaiting my %.

 

[ogr1]

I am a mere boy compared with the majority of grumpy old gits like Squag on here....

I believe you're partial to young men, Jerkoff Jacket. Wanna come over and see the contents of my sporran.. ?

Being of jockanese descent...It's probably empty.

 

[andyBeaker]

Get permission, sell it.

A guy who worked with me was left a house on a double site. He's a quantity surveyor. He was showing me the drawing of the site as they were preparing to sell the house.
I suggested getting permission for another house and sell separately.

He hadn't thought of that.
I was amazed for a guy in construction that he hadn't. So he did. Still awaiting my %.

I agree. Take a profit and leave the hard and scary stuff to others. ‘Back filling’ ie building in gardens has historically been frowned upon by councils but they seem more possible with the increased pressure on councils to hit new build targets.

The danger is if you want to keep living in the existing property you are vulnerable to the new owners putting in for Planning that you don’t like. Exactly what happened to a friend where we used to live, sold part of their plot with planning for a bungalow, developer bought it on an option and got permission to cram two rabbit hutch four bedroom two storey houses on it that we’re a blight on our friends property. They sold up and moved on, never part of the plan.

 

[Malone]

Can’t you put a covenant into the sale to prevent that?

 

[Duck n Dive]

Can’t you put a covenant into the sale to prevent that?

Think you can also put an uplift clause in a sale

 

[T.C]

No it most definitely isn't! The ill fated and ill judged x type shared some components with the Mondeo and it was utter crap.

Sorry, but if you are saying that the X-Type is utter crap, then I have just 2 words to say to you. Total bollocks

I have had mine from new in 2009, and it has been brilliant and still drives like new 120,000 miles down the line.

However the couple of Beemers I have had have been total disasters, and of course going back to a previous life, drivers of German cars were/are targeted more as they are occupied by some of the worst drivers on the planet who seem to think they are superior They seem to think that driving a so called superior car makes them a good driver

The only good BMW I can recall was my first traffic car a 1979 530i. Mechanically it was brilliant but at 600,000 miles (I refused to relinquish it in favour of a new SD1 Rover) the back started to overtake the front at about 135 on a shout to a major crash on the M4. The chassis cracked due to the weight carried over the years. It ended up back at BMW's headquarters and was rebuilt and is still there as far as I know.

But back to the X-Type, don't knock them if you have not tried one. I had a brand new Mondeo in 2008 and I was so glad to get rid of that and get the Jag, The Ford was crap, and whilst the Jag did share some common bits and pieces (bearing in mind that Jaguar were owned by Ford at the time) there is no comparison.

I looked at buying a new XE a whilst ago and whilst the new car is very nice, the only real difference was that the XE had a lot more toys and gadgets that could go wrong. I stuck with what I've got....

 

[andyBeaker]

Can’t you put a covenant into the sale to prevent that?

nothing 100% solid - in theory a covenant can be added if the buyer agrees but in practice they can be removed.
Problem is you have to let it go…if you try and tie it up to suit what you want buyers will be put off And value will be affected, possibly substantially. You would need to,find a buyer who wants exactly what you want on the land.

There is a property for sale near me with a plot with permission to build attached - the seller is being ridiculously demanding in terms of conditions of sale (which is his prerogative); like most places good plots are rarely available,round here…and it’s been on the market for none months now, despite what is otherwise a pretty sensible asking price….at least it would be, without all the baggage.

Think you can also put an uplift clause in a sale

you absolutely can, usually time limited

 

[andyBeaker]

Sorry, but if you are saying that the X-Type is utter crap, then I have just 2 words to say to you. Total bollocks

I have had mine from new in 2009, and it has been brilliant and still drives like new 120,000 miles down the line.

However the couple of Beemers I have had have been total disasters, and of course going back to a previous life, drivers of German cars were/are targeted more as they are occupied by some of the worst drivers on the planet who seem to think they are superior They seem to think that driving a so called superior car makes them a good driver

The only good BMW I can recall was my first traffic car a 1979 530i. Mechanically it was brilliant but at 600,000 miles (I refused to relinquish it in favour of a new SD1 Rover) the back started to overtake the front at about 135 on a shout to a major crash on the M4. The chassis cracked due to the weight carried over the years. It ended up back at BMW's headquarters and was rebuilt and is still there as far as I know.

But back to the X-Type, don't knock them if you have not tried one. I had a brand new Mondeo in 2008 and I was so glad to get rid of that and get the Jag, The Ford was crap, and whilst the Jag did share some common bits and pieces (bearing in mind that Jaguar were owned by Ford at the time) there is no comparison.

I looked at buying a new XE a whilst ago and whilst the new car is very nice, the only real difference was that the XE had a lot more toys and gadgets that could go wrong. I stuck with what I've got....

My old neighbour had a 4wd X Type estate and he loved it. Then again he traded it in for a Rover 75……

 

[Duck n Dive]

Personally I do think they did a good job with the x type. Melded the best bits if mondeo with jaguar interior and in doing so produced something to appeal to the more general market but recognisably jaguar.

That's where I think they've now gone wrong.

The F-type seems to maintain that link but the rest of the range has lost it.

 

[Oldandbald]

Sorry, but if you are saying that the X-Type is utter crap, then I have just 2 words to say to you. Total bollocks

I have had mine from new in 2009, and it has been brilliant and still drives like new 120,000 miles down the line.

However the couple of Beemers I have had have been total disasters, and of course going back to a previous life, drivers of German cars were/are targeted more as they are occupied by some of the worst drivers on the planet who seem to think they are superior They seem to think that driving a so called superior car makes them a good driver

The only good BMW I can recall was my first traffic car a 1979 530i. Mechanically it was brilliant but at 600,000 miles (I refused to relinquish it in favour of a new SD1 Rover) the back started to overtake the front at about 135 on a shout to a major crash on the M4. The chassis cracked due to the weight carried over the years. It ended up back at BMW's headquarters and was rebuilt and is still there as far as I know.

But back to the X-Type, don't knock them if you have not tried one. I had a brand new Mondeo in 2008 and I was so glad to get rid of that and get the Jag, The Ford was crap, and whilst the Jag did share some common bits and pieces (bearing in mind that Jaguar were owned by Ford at the time) there is no comparison.

I looked at buying a new XE a whilst ago and whilst the new car is very nice, the only real difference was that the XE had a lot more toys and gadgets that could go wrong. I stuck with what I've got....

Yes maybe I should quantify that statement. It was a bit of a generalisation. I've owned two x-types. The first was a 2 litre v6 petrol with a manual box. The engine was very good. The second was a 2.2 litre diesel auto. The gearbox wasn't very good.

The main issue I had was with the chassis. They were both front wheel drive and I didn't like the handling on either of them. They both rode like a Mondeo and not like a Jaguar. Which is what I'd expect if you choose to drive the wrong wheels.
Having said that I didn't own a 4 wheel drive version and they may well have been better.

I am currently on my second XF and it does everything exactly as you would expect a Jaguar to do.

The x-type wasn't a bad car if you compare it to, say, a Dacia. It just wasn't a proper Jaguar.

 

[T.C]

Yes maybe I should quantify that statement. It was a bit of a generalisation. I've owned two x-types. The first was a 2 litre v6 petrol with a manual box. The engine was very good. The second was a 2.2 litre diesel auto. The gearbox wasn't very good.

The main issue I had was with the chassis. They were both front wheel drive and I didn't like the handling on either of them. They both rode like a Mondeo and not like a Jaguar. Which is what I'd expect if you choose to drive the wrong wheels.
Having said that I didn't own a 4 wheel drive version and they may well have been better.

.

It is all very subjective and down to personal opinion isn't it?

Mine still handles as if it is on rails, remains very flat and very stable (2WD) and the only issue I have had was the clutch was replaced under warranty due to leakage and contamination from a slave cylinder.

Brake discs and pads were changed at 80,000 and that was really my only criticism is that the discs wore too quickly due to a softish metal, but that apart it drives like a jag, has jag quality and still makes me smile.

And I can compare having driven most Jags throughout my driving life having started with a series 1 XJ in the Police right through to the latest XJ (which I did not like)

I did consider the XF, but these days too big for my needs and requirements

 

[andyBeaker]

It is all very subjective and down to personal opinion isn't it?

Mine still handles as if it is on rails, remains very flat and very stable (2WD) and the only issue I have had was the clutch was replaced under warranty due to leakage and contamination from a slave cylinder.

Brake discs and pads were changed at 80,000 and that was really my only criticism is that the discs wore too quickly due to a softish metal, but that apart it drives like a jag, has jag quality and still makes me smile.

And I can compare having driven most Jags throughout my driving life having started with a series 1 XJ in the Police right through to the latest XJ (which I did not like)

I did consider the XF, but these days too big for my needs and requirements

I totally get fEd being unpleasant if pushing on, but for the average driver not driving like a loon it’s fine.

I always enjoyed my V6 Mondeos, can’t imagine that the X Type would be significantly different other than it has a nicer interior and smells better.

Not many liked the S Type, another ‘poor mans Jag’ apparently……I always thought they looked great although have never been in one.

 

[andyBeaker]

It is all very subjective and down to personal opinion isn't it?

Mine still handles as if it is on rails, remains very flat and very stable (2WD) and the only issue I have had was the clutch was replaced under warranty due to leakage and contamination from a slave cylinder.

Brake discs and pads were changed at 80,000 and that was really my only criticism is that the discs wore too quickly due to a softish metal, but that apart it drives like a jag, has jag quality and still makes me smile.

And I can compare having driven most Jags throughout my driving life having started with a series 1 XJ in the Police right through to the latest XJ (which I did not like)

I did consider the XF, but these days too big for my needs and requirements

I totally get FWD being unpleasant if pushing on, but for the average driver not driving like a loon it’s fine.

I always enjoyed my V6 Mondeos, can’t imagine that the X Type would be significantly different other than it has a nicer interior and smells better.

Not many liked the S Type, another ‘poor mans Jag’ apparently……I always thought they looked great although have never been in one.

 

[Oldandbald]

We heard you the first time.

 

[andyBeaker]

We heard you the first time.

 

[Malone]

Pardon?