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Off Topic Thread 3.0

Zzippy

All things non-rugby related here.

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awec

Interested Observer wrote: »

Thanks both. We've talked to a bank already and I don't think we're going to have huge trouble getting the funds but can't shake the feeling the bank would tell up anything under the sun in their own interest. Hence was thinking of a broker as someone independent. If it's not worth it then fair enough.

Banks don't care if you use a broker or not.

Unless you have low salaries, only 1 income, are self employed or debts that you're worried about you will be fine. It's really straightforward, it's about 30 minutes of effort on your part to gather the information you need.

Buer

awec wrote: »

Banks don't care if you use a broker or not.

Unless you have low salaries, only 1 income, are self employed or debts that you're worried about you will be fine. It's really straightforward, it's about 30 minutes of effort on your part to gather the information you need.

And if you have mates like mine, they know you're applying for a mortgage and will need to provide all of your bank statements so they start making insignificant transfers to your account with payment references like "COKE AND HOOKERS" or "REVENUE COMMISSIONERS DEBT COLLECTION".

molloyjh

awec wrote: »

Banks don't care if you use a broker or not.

Unless you have low salaries, only 1 income, are self employed or debts that you're worried about you will be fine. It's really straightforward, it's about 30 minutes of effort on your part to gather the information you need.

The effort part comes in when looking at deciding which bank to go with. What are the rates like, what is the lending criteria like and what are the incentives etc. A broker will always have an easier time finding what the best deal is because they already know most of that info.

[Deleted User]

awec wrote: »

Banks don't care if you use a broker or not.

Unless you have low salaries, only 1 income, are self employed or debts that you're worried about you will be fine. It's really straightforward, it's about 30 minutes of effort on your part to gather the information you need.

I'm not concerned about the actually process, I'm sure I can gather my bank statements and fill in the forms. It's getting the best deal, making sure there's nothing nasty in the small print etc etc that I'm concerned with.

[Deleted User]

Interested Observer wrote: »

I'm not concerned about the actually process, I'm sure I can gather my bank statements and fill in the forms. It's getting the best deal, making sure there's nothing nasty in the small print etc etc that I'm concerned with.

Provided you go with a large well recognised bank and use a Solicitor for closing there won't be any nasty surprises.

In terms of the best deal this will come down to a few factors including your risk, loan to value ratio and deposit amongst other factors. You can negotiate here between banks (I'd go to at least 2 and compare the interest rate they offer and then tell the lowest one that the other bank is offering you lower. Once you've gotten a lower % again go back to the other bank for the first time with this lower % in writing and see what they will underscore with - this is probably the best you will get).

For the record you can also revisit the deal you have on your mortgage. A few years after the wife and I bought the values in the area had gone up a fair bit and we went back with our new albeit estimated loan to value and got a pretty exceptional fixed % deal for 5 years saving me over 100 per month.

pickarooney

Uch, not looking forward to going through all this again in a couple of months.

prawnsambo

Frightening statistic: The shooting in Texas yesterday is the 307th mass shooting in the US this year. A mass shooting is one where more than two people are shot.

[Deleted User]

prawnsambo wrote: »

Frightening statistic: The shooting in Texas yesterday is the 307th mass shooting in the US this year. A mass shooting is one where more than two people are shot.

Need more guns to stay safe.

swiwi_

Interested Observer wrote: »

Thanks both. We've talked to a bank already and I don't think we're going to have huge trouble getting the funds but can't shake the feeling the bank would tell up anything under the sun in their own interest. Hence was thinking of a broker as someone independent. If it's not worth it then fair enough.

Don't need a broker IMO. What you do need is to do some research beforehand. There isn't a right answer for a mortgage, but there a few options. Banks like to sell fixed-rate mortgages, but these can reduce your flexibility for example. Ask yourself what happens if you have more or less income etc. If your relationship breaks up. If mortgage rates go up or down. Etc.

Do not expect the bank to provide advice. They are there to get the best result for the bank, and will often not have your best interests at heart.

irishbucsfan

Swiwi I get the impression you know what a tracker mortgage is

TT rainbows

molloyjh wrote: »

The effort part comes in when looking at deciding which bank to go with. What are the rates like, what is the lending criteria like and what are the incentives etc. A broker will always have an easier time finding what the best deal is because they already know most of that info.

Went to a broker at the start. Couldnt really see what he could do that I couldnt do myself. Then I saw some office stuff from one bank like writing pads and so on. So not really sure how 'independent' he was. Seems many get paid by finding new customers so in their interest to push you to a particular bank.
In the end used comparision sites like bonkers.ie and worked out costs long term.
Went as far as getting two mortgages fully approved before deciding. One bank was much more friendly and better customer service than the other but cost more. Over the life of the mortgage this was a lot of $$$ to pay for friendlier customer service.
Brokers could be useful if you dont have time to find out all the details yourself and you can trust someone to make the right decisions for you and help with the process.

molloyjh

swiwi_ wrote: »

Don't need a broker IMO. What you do need is to do some research beforehand. There isn't a right answer for a mortgage, but there a few options. Banks like to sell fixed-rate mortgages, but these can reduce your flexibility for example. Ask yourself what happens if you have more or less income etc. If your relationship breaks up. If mortgage rates go up or down. Etc.

Do not expect the bank to provide advice. They are there to get the best result for the bank, and will often not have your best interests at heart.

AFAIK banks are no longer allowed to advise on which product to select. They can only give you the info and let you decide for yourself.

TT rainbows wrote: »

Brokers could be useful if you dont have time to find out all the details yourself and you can trust someone to make the right decisions for you and help with the process.

Yeah, we had a connection to the broker so trust wasn't an issue. I'd be surprised if they were being incentivised though. It would be fairly easy to spot that and have a valid complaint.

[Deleted User]

I remember people here have bought good headphones. I use them for work any suggestions on a really good pair?

swiwi_

My sister (who lives in NZ) has started watching an Irish series called "Acceptable Risk" that she discovered by chance. Is it any good?

molloyjh

swiwi_ wrote: »

My sister (who lives in NZ) has started watching an Irish series called "Acceptable Risk" that she discovered by chance. Is it any good?

The OH was watching it. It’s okay in places and awful in others from what I saw. Some of the acting is appalling in places. The main villain in it is possibly one of the worst actors I’ve ever seen. Yet there are some actors and characters that are pretty decent. Not one of RTEs best.

b.gud

connemara man wrote: »

I remember people here have bought good headphones. I use them for work any suggestions on a really good pair?

Audio Technica ATH-M50x or M40x. There's about €40 in the price difference between them, unless you're a crazy audiophile the M50s probably aren't worth the extra money

Neil3030

Swiwi, you can keep Switzerland. Christ that is one frustrating country to drive in. This morning I got from Modena to the border at Como in ~2hr20mins, but it then took me nearly 4 hours to cover the same distance across Switzerland to Basel. I don't mind conservative speed limits, but ffs pick a limit and stick with it for more than 5 minutes. Also, a few lights or reflective doodads wouldn't go amiss - felt like I was driving through a cave after sundown.

In other news, my rented auris estate hybrid got me approx 35 mpg. What's the f'ing point of that technology??

prawnsambo

Neil3030 wrote: »

In other news, my rented auris estate hybrid got me approx 35 mpg. What's the f'ing point of that technology??

To make you feel smug.

Neil3030

prawnsambo wrote: »

To make you feel smug.

I feel more like a mug, tbh. Trading off the overtaking power of a 1.0L Micra, for fuel efficiency that would finish mid table in the hatchback range. Just don't see the point.

irishbucsfan

I can't imagine the life choices that lead someone to being put in a position where they're choosing between an Auris and a Micra to drive across Europe. Who have you wronged?

prawnsambo

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I can't imagine the life choices that lead someone to being put in a position where they're choosing between an Auris and a Micra to drive across Europe. Who have you wronged?

Hmmm... The smug is spreading. :pac:

Neil3030

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I can't imagine the life choices that lead someone to being put in a position where they're choosing between an Auris and a Micra to drive across Europe. Who have you wronged?

The bastards wanted a 2k deposit for a Passat, so I went with what I thought would be a Focus (300 deposit), ended up being the Auris. And I haven't been in a Micra since my teenage years, thankfully - just giving a reference point for the dreadful acceleration on those hybrids.

Podge_irl

Never noticed particularly conservative speed limits in Switzerland. Agree on the lack of cats eyes though, find it quite frustrating when driving in the evening. Couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong at first, just realised it was way harder driving on the motorway then i was used to.

Neil3030

Podge_irl wrote: »

Never noticed particularly conservative speed limits in Switzerland. Agree on the lack of cats eyes though, find it quite frustrating when driving in the evening. Couldn’t quite figure out what was wrong at first, just realised it was way harder driving on the motorway then i was used to.

Well they (120) are the lowest out of all surrounding countries - France (140), Italy (130), Germany (the speed of sound). But like I said, I can live with a top speed of 120, even 100 or 110, the frustrating part is that it was always changing, and with camera's all over the shop, I was on edge the whole time.

Side note, but the border between Switzerland, France and Italy seems fairly relaxed. I entered Basel airport on the French side, walked through completely unimpeded to the Swiss side to pick up my car, and then drove down through Switzerland and into Italy without so much as a cop in sight at the Italian/Swiss border (imagine a 2 lane barierless toll booth). Coming back up, there were a few cops at the Italian/Swiss border, but they were barely looking at the cars, dropped the car back to the Swiss side of Basel airport and again walked through the airport back to the French side.

Could be a model to follow for Ireland/UK?

swiwi_

Neil3030 wrote: »

Swiwi, you can keep Switzerland. Christ that is one frustrating country to drive in. This morning I got from Modena to the border at Como in ~2hr20mins, but it then took me nearly 4 hours to cover the same distance across Switzerland to Basel. I don't mind conservative speed limits, but ffs pick a limit and stick with it for more than 5 minutes. Also, a few lights or reflective doodads wouldn't go amiss - felt like I was driving through a cave after sundown.

In other news, my rented auris estate hybrid got me approx 35 mpg. What's the f'ing point of that technology??

I'm not even going to argue with you on this one. Went to Germany the other day, and was cruising at 150 with a few bursts at 170. Twas fun.

My canton (Valais) doesn't really do speed cameras and there are fewer people, so driving is fine, but the German parts of Switzerland, especially round Zurich can be a nightmare.

Switzerland is probably best done by public transport, especially trains.

pickarooney

130 max in France

Synode

We drove through Mount Blanc from Switzerland to Italy years ago. The scenery is something else. Toll price was extortionate. I don't remember there being any border checks at all

Bazzo

Neil3030 wrote: »

Could be a model to follow for Ireland/UK?

Switzerland has agreed to free movement of people in return for access to the single market, something which the UK is apparently unwilling to do. If they made the same agreement there would be no need for a border at all.

Podge_irl

Switzerland isn't in the customs union though. There is free movement for people but not goods. They do random (and very sporadic) spot checks on people to make sure they aren't bringing through more then their allowance without paying duty. That said, everyone shops in France here and I know of only one or two occasions were someone was actually stopped. Movement of goods would be a lot more controlled.

I cross the border multiple times just going for a run at lunch though.

swiwi_

Podge_irl wrote: »

Switzerland isn't in the customs union though. There is free movement for people but not goods. They do random (and very sporadic) spot checks on people to make sure they aren't bringing through more then their allowance without paying duty. That said, everyone shops in France here and I know of only one or two occasions were someone was actually stopped. Movement of goods would be a lot more controlled.

I cross the border multiple times just going for a run at lunch though.

What is frickin annoying is buying goods outside of Switzerland. Once you go above a fairly token amount, bang you get import duties to pay. My inlaws have a postbox in Germany for deliveries which sorts out that issue.

You do have to be somewhat careful about bringing too much stuff across the border, my collegue has in-laws in Italy, and returning after Xmas with a heap of salami, cheeses, wine etc that the mother-in-law had given them, they got stung for a couple of hundred franks of taxes.

Salaries are decent in Switzerland, but everything is expensive.