House Issue

sportsfan90 · 09-07-2019 06:25PM

the_pen_turner wrote: »

i do live in the country side , thats no secret.
we dont know if any nice houses have been sugested only that they havnt met the ops very strict set of criteria

You're talking as if the OP's requirements (house in good condition, location, public transport etc) are only for her and selfishly won't be of any benefit to anyone else. Her partner and any future children they might have will also benefit from these.

I'm sure she has other things on her list of desirables for a property that she has to compromise on like half an acre garden out the back but that's simply not realistic, and neither is a garage if they hope to buy in a city and stay within their budget (of which she's providing the bulk of).

I too am from the countryside where several of my neighbours have garages but frankly there's no point in comparing what money can get you compared to in Dublin.

LegacyUser · 09-07-2019 06:35PM

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

But the thing is, the garage isn't a small thing. You are looking at this through the lens of someone who has a workshop and doesn't live in Dublin. You probably were lucky enough to be able to build/buy what you wanted. That luxury is no longer afforded to housing stock in Dublin. Garages are a "nice to have" rather than something that are tacked into houses without a second thought But if you want our OP to go live in a rough area or one nowhere near public transport, double their commute or balloon their mortgage repayments, go right ahead.

I'm not willing to sacrifice the location. Of course I'm well aware that I could have a much bigger house with a garage outside of Dublin. However, neither of us wants to have a long, awkward commute to work. Both of us need to get to the city centre relatively easily, our jobs are likely to be always here.

Few people asked why BF is not really using the garage. He does not have much time during the year as he's finishing his masters atm while working full time. However, during summer months when he has the time, he's not going there anyway. He has a car project on the go for the last few years (even before he started masters). I think he just wants the finish product but does not want to do the job of restoring it. No - he will not sell it and buy the exact same car so please do not suggest that (he wouldn't be able to customise it the way he wants).

What drives me MAD is this. I've been looking at houses with garages - typical pebble dash 1930s houses with garages. I sent him good few for review. He comes back saying that: GARAGE IS NOT BIG ENOUGH!!! He wants a garage big enough so that he can work on the car, go around it etc. Also, he wants space behind the garage so that he could knock down the wall and possibly extend it into the garden. Some garages have a utility or kitchen behind the garage so it's not always possible. I did notice that 1930s houses have small garages, obviously back then cars were smaller and most modern cars would hardly fit into it. His argument is that there is no point having a garage if it's not big enough.

I need to think about how to discuss all above with him. I also continue saving as much as possible atm in case I have to buy on my own as it is clear that we are on very different: maturity levels, attitudes towards money, priorities in life.

the_pen_turner · 09-07-2019 06:37PM

sportsfan90 wrote: »

You're talking as if the OP's requirements (house in good condition, location, public transport etc) are only for her and selfishly won't be of any benefit to anyone else. Her partner and any future children they might have will also benefit from these.

I'm sure she has other things on her list of desirables for a property that she has to compromise on like half an acre garden out the back but that's simply not realistic, and neither is a garage if they hope to buy in a city and stay within their budget (of which she's providing the bulk of).

I too am from the countryside where several of my neighbours have garages but frankly there's no point in comparing what money can get you compared to in Dublin.

of course the whole family would benifit from having the house. but they would still benifit from a more basic house or one that needs minor refurbing.
also they would also benifit from a garage
they would benifit more by having a garage than going from a decent bathroom to a new one

Corruptedmorals · 09-07-2019 07:14PM

What is the point of posting about how a garage is a small thing and a minor compromise when you have already admitted that you have no idea about the Dublin property market?

We have bought recently. Never saw any garages on any ads. I just looked back at daft to see how many I could find that were houses in a certain area under 400k. Out of 173 ads, 4 had garages. 3 of those houses were 380k and above which is a significant price for the area. The one that was 275k needed significant work. Many showed evidence of converted garages. My home house came with a garage in the 70s. I'd say less than 5% of the houses haven't converted it since.

A good quarter of the ads on daft showed houses that had no driveway and no real front garden at all. All of those were still commanding prices over 300k unless they were a 2 bed. Only one house showed enough room to build a garage to the front/side.

This is the reality of buying in Dublin without a mad budget and looking for something that's genuinely rare. It's really pointless to act like the OP is being unreasonable or dictatorial in any way.

joe40 · 09-07-2019 07:20PM

I don't know much about the Dublin housing market but a garage looks like pipedream in the city. In the country no problem but, but too many sacrifices in terms of house quality or location to own a garage in the city.
Is it possible for car enthusiast to rent garage/shed.
Sort of like an allotment idea. Just a thought, maybe a business opportunity there for someone.

SozBbz · 09-07-2019 07:34PM

joe40 wrote: »

I don't know much about the Dublin housing market but a garage looks like pipedream in the city. In the country no problem but, but too many sacrifices in terms of house quality or location to own a garage in the city.
Is it possible for car enthusiast to rent garage/shed.
Sort of like an allotment idea. Just a thought, maybe a business opportunity there for someone.

The OPs boyfriend currently had a rented garage off site which he rarely uses!

Yet according to some, that ought to be indulged despite it making absolutely no sense.

SozBbz · 09-07-2019 07:41PM

the_pen_turner wrote: »

im just talking construction costs

Christ on a bike.

Where do you propose this garage is built then? In the front garden? That’s if there even is one. On the neighbours flat roof? In thin air?

Most Dublin houses are built to maximise the plot. The days of houses being built which wide passages to the side are long gone. Most people build entire separate homes if they happen to have one like that (older stock)

My friend recently viewed one such property in Stillorgan. Not modernised at all, going at €600k and the garden wasn’t even included in the sale! The owners were planning on keeping it to build on themselves!

Such properties are rare and those who have them to sell know their worth.

Also if you bothered to read the OP you’d see that they’ve been looking to buy for a year and not managed to find this illusive garage.

the_pen_turner · 09-07-2019 07:48PM

loads of properties on daft
dont know if they are in the good enough areas or not

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/balbriggan/10-ardgillen-road-balbriggan-dublin-2162132/
75k below budget with a small garage

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/clondalkin/93-yellow-meadows-grove-clondalkin-dublin-2154305/
180k below budget. but needs a lot of decorative modernising. has decent garage and is near luas

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/lucan/94-earlsfort-road-lucan-dublin-2141113/
190k below budget and room at the back to knock old sheds and build garage. needs money spent on it but 190k would do a lovely job to it

SozBbz · 09-07-2019 08:19PM

the_pen_turner wrote: »

loads of properties on daft
dont know if they are in the good enough areas or not

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/balbriggan/10-ardgillen-road-balbriggan-dublin-2162132/
75k below budget with a small garage

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/clondalkin/93-yellow-meadows-grove-clondalkin-dublin-2154305/
180k below budget. but needs a lot of decorative modernising. has decent garage and is near luas

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/lucan/94-earlsfort-road-lucan-dublin-2141113/
190k below budget and room at the back to knock old sheds and build garage. needs money spent on it but 190k would do a lovely job to it

All outside the M50. If the OP is used to living in nice, central area with nice facilities and amenities, then that’s a huge lifestyle downgrade.

woodchuck · 09-07-2019 08:25PM

OP for the issue at hand, I agree with you that the garage is essentially a pipe dream. Anyone who is familiar with the realities of buying in Dublin will know this. It would be madness to compromise on the basics for a garage that he's unlikely to use very often. If finishing the project is so important to him, let him do it in the rented space.

However, its clear from the following part of your latest post that the house issue is really just symptomatic of much bigger issues in your relationship:

it is clear that we are on very different: maturity levels, attitudes towards money, priorities in life.

I think you need to ask yourself is this is really someone that you want to spend your life with? Because let's face it, buying property together is much more of a commitment than marriage these days. Even if you manage to find the elusive perfect property in Dublin, he's not going to change as a person. It sounds like he'll always be less mature than you and always have a different attitude towards money. Is that what you want in a life partner?

LegacyUser · 09-07-2019 08:28PM

the_pen_turner wrote: »

loads of properties on daft
dont know if they are in the good enough areas or not

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/balbriggan/10-ardgillen-road-balbriggan-dublin-2162132/
75k below budget with a small garage

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/clondalkin/93-yellow-meadows-grove-clondalkin-dublin-2154305/
180k below budget. but needs a lot of decorative modernising. has decent garage and is near luas

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/lucan/94-earlsfort-road-lucan-dublin-2141113/
190k below budget and room at the back to knock old sheds and build garage. needs money spent on it but 190k would do a lovely job to it

Thank you for your post but imo they are not good areas. As I mentioned good schools, nice village, established areas would be on my radar for new house or nicely refurbished 2nd hand (willing to do some freshening up at this stage): Drumcondra, Glasnevin, Raheny, Killester, Castleknock, Portmarnock, Skerries (the furthest I could go, wonderful village). Not too mad on Dublin South as it is very expensive for us and I lived there before and unless you are on the Luas line you're looking at very long bus commute.

wiggle16 · 09-07-2019 10:16PM

OP I agree with woodchuck. I think this is a sign of something that could become a bigger issue down the line. His expectations are unrealistic and he is reluctant to compromise even when he's being shown that what he is pushing for is demonstrably unreasonable - the real issue there is that he sounds like he's unable to prioritise properly. For him right now, his 15k is getting him a house, and he's pushing for a garage over and above everything else - to the point where it has to be the right garage. One big enough for his needs. Nah, he needs to grow up, big time.

The areas you are looking at would be pretty "highly sought after", as estate agents say, and I know the exact kind of house you are talking about when you say 1930's-to-50's-pebbledash-with-a-garage-on-the-side. I would kill for the chance to live in one of those. But he thinks their garages are too small. FFS he is NOT going to find anything bigger than that on the Northside unless you head outside of the M50. End of.

If I'm honest I do think you could compromise on the traveling/seeing the world if it would make the difference, but that's just me. I'm sure he's great in other ways but he really needs to cop on about this. Right now, you are looking for a house. He is just looking for a garage.

I think you need to sit down properly and talk about this very, very honestly. Otherwise one of you is going to end up very sore. If he still won't compromise with you, ie, for a "small" garage in a house that might need a bit of love and care to cheer it up, but still within your budget and desired areas, then if I were you I would have to have a think about whether or not I could go the distance with him, long term.

qwerty13 · 09-07-2019 11:39PM

100% what Wiggle said.

I don’t have a hobby that needs a ‘space’ so I guess I’ll never understand properly how he feels. But compromising on really important things like commute time, transport links, quality of the area, general happiness with the location, and a house needing significant time/money investment - well it just seems completely bonkers to me. To compromise on so many aspects of day to day living, for a hobby.

Yes, I know his hobby is important to him. But day to day living should be more important to him. For his general happiness, and the OPs. Sure we’d all have wishlists re house purchase, but at some point reality has to kick in. I simply cannot understand how someone can’t see that with an inflated market, with limited stock for sale, he can’t have everything.

And if he can’t see that he can’t have everything, or wants to compromise quality of his and the OPs life for a hobby, then I too question whether he’s ready to buy a house at all. And, not to be too dramatic about it, is he going to have similar idealistic/unreasonable attitudes about other grown-up decisions

SozBbz · 10-07-2019 10:51AM

Wow OP, I can see how you're driven demented.

On one hand you say you won't compromise on location but then you just listed about half of north Dublin - so that sounds pretty open minded to me. IMO Skerries is pretty far out but its a long way

Has he managed to show you any properties with a garage to his liking? It sounds to me like he's looking for an absolute unicorn.

The only houses with garrages in Dublin (discounting mansions as your budget isn't unlimited) are those that were built at a time when cars were smaller.... so therefore the garages are going to be smaller.... it really doesn't take a genius to figure out that he's being unreasonable. Thats part of the reason why most people convert their garages, as they're not much use anymore given the size of modern cars.

What does he want you to do, buy a commercial premises/former Kwikfit and live in the office space attached? He wants a garage with a house attached, while you (quite rightly IMO) want a house and if it comes with a garage, then great.

The tail is in danger of wagging the dog here.

LegacyUser · 10-07-2019 08:09PM

SozBbz wrote: »

Wow OP, I can see how you're driven demented.

On one hand you say you won't compromise on location but then you just listed about half of north Dublin - so that sounds pretty open minded to me. IMO Skerries is pretty far out but its a long way

Has he managed to show you any properties with a garage to his liking? It sounds to me like he's looking for an absolute unicorn.

The only houses with garrages in Dublin (discounting mansions as your budget isn't unlimited) are those that were built at a time when cars were smaller.... so therefore the garages are going to be smaller.... it really doesn't take a genius to figure out that he's being unreasonable. Thats part of the reason why most people convert their garages, as they're not much use anymore given the size of modern cars.

What does he want you to do, buy a commercial premises/former Kwikfit and live in the office space attached? He wants a garage with a house attached, while you (quite rightly IMO) want a house and if it comes with a garage, then great.

The tail is in danger of wagging the dog here.

He's looking for a house:
- with a big enough garage so that he and a car can fit into it (can work on it) OR
- side access wide enough so that he can build a garage OR
- rear vehicular access so that he can build a garage at the end of the garden someday.

11-07-2019 10:47AM

He should take up motorcycle restoration instead. No need for a big garage or wide side passage, a small shed out the back is sufficient for space or even work outside and keep it covered when not using it.

It's also cheaper - you can pick up bikes for less than a grand and he probably already has the tools - and sell them and make a profit or at least break even. Also easier than car restoration (depends on how far you want to go - engine rebuilds etc are not so easy).

I do it in a 1970s semi d with postage stamp gardens front and back, currently have 2 bikes on the go.

Our youngest is a teenager though. If you plan to have kids the hobbies should take a massive back seat.

On the financial inputs, this is really what marriage is for. That and stability for kids. 50/50 throughout life just isn't going to happen, especially if you have kids. There will be times when he will support you 100% and you support him 100% and everything in between. You are both young, healthy and employed now but this won't always be the case. As a previous poster said, I wouldn't buy a house with someone unless

A. It was a financial investment with a business partner I was not romantically involved with or friendly or related to in any way and everything was locked up in watertight contracts or

B. I was married to that person.

He sounds emotionally very immature to me.

SozBbz · 11-07-2019 11:28AM

Peonie83 wrote: »

He's looking for a house:
- with a big enough garage so that he and a car can fit into it (can work on it) OR
- side access wide enough so that he can build a garage OR
- rear vehicular access so that he can build a garage at the end of the garden someday.

And has he been able to show you one such property that meets the above requirements that is;
- is in any of the locations you've listed (pretty broad search area IMO)
- on budget
- still on budget once repairs/modernisation is factored in

I've no issue with people having wishlists but if you've been looking for a year and havent found it, then the lack of willingness to compromise in the face of reality is worrying.

wiggle16 · 11-07-2019 01:07PM

SozBbz wrote: »

And has he been able to show you one such property that meets the above requirements that is;
- is in any of the locations you've listed (pretty broad search area IMO)
- on budget
- still on budget once repairs/modernisation is factored in

I've no issue with people having wishlists but if you've been looking for a year and havent found it, then the lack of willingness to compromise in the face of reality is worrying.

This is the crux of it.

You've been looking for ages for a house and in fairness you've tried to find one with a garage that suits him. You haven't and the truth is you're very unlikely to.

For him to hold out like this is very self-involved. He needs to accept that you can't always get what you want. If he can't then you have a bigger decision to make.

TheBlock · 11-07-2019 01:26PM

OP My other Half grew up around here nice area handy for town etc and the Garage can easily fit a car and workshop.

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/glasnevin/212-hillcrest-park-glasnevin-dublin-2038410/

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/glasnevin/12-hillcrest-park-glasnevin-dublin-2101743/

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/houses-for-sale/glasnevin/65-hillcrest-park-glasnevin-dublin-2138056/

Your additional funds would get these up to a good spec...

zapper55 · 11-07-2019 01:53PM

The final price on those would easily be 50k plus and more. I'm doing up a huge that only needed minor refurb and I've spent 30k. For a house that had a ber rating of E or F there'd be no spare change from 100k and they are good size jobs. The very type the op doesn't want.

TheBlock · 11-07-2019 02:16PM

zapper55 wrote: »

The final price on those would easily be 50k plus and more. I'm doing up a huge that only needed minor refurb and I've spent 30k. For a house that had a ber rating of E or F there'd be no spare change from 100k and they are good size jobs. The very type the op doesn't want.

They are going under €400K I know this for fact. Budget OP has is €500K pleanty there to do the work and it ticks the Garage Box.

Just a suggestion, I've no horse in the race.

zapper55 · 11-07-2019 02:24PM

Peonie83 wrote: »

I am tired from my past experience and I would like a house that does not require a lot of work other than decorating.

But the OP doesnt want to have to do work on it.

Blazer · 11-07-2019 02:32PM

Op needs to dump her boyfriend.
After a year of looking he’s refused to compromise. As she has already admitted they’re at different levels of maturity and a few other things.
She knows this relationship is at an end.
She just needs people to confirm it really or reassure her.
My partner bought a house with her boyfriend back a few years and they then split up. She has paid the bulk of the deposit and when they both lost their jobs and got redundancy she put hers towards the mortgage while he squandered his.
Afterwards they split up, both their faults not just his or hers.
He refused to leave the house as he has a share in it and she ended up having to leave it as she had a child with me.
He’s still living there and probably will be for the rest of his life and she will get squat for it even though her name is also on the deeds.
So be warned op.

SozBbz · 11-07-2019 02:36PM

TheBlock wrote: »

They are going under €400K I know this for fact. Budget OP has is €500K pleanty there to do the work and it ticks the Garage Box.

Just a suggestion, I've no horse in the race.

The OP has also stated that her BF has ruled our similar houses because garages of that era are too small. I get that the garage being slight back from the house gives some scope to make it wider technically but at what cost.

You'd be talking losing some of what is already a modest looking back garden. If the garage comes across are you then blocking light from the back of the house? Let alone the actual cost. Also, by making the garage weirdly big and blocking light from the back of the house as it stands, then you're spending money wihtout adding value to the house. You might actually devalue it.

And finally, this thread is not about doing down certain areas or insulting anyone but personally (and I suspect the OP also) wouldnt love that area. Theres none of the village feel that she spoke about in the likes of Drumcondra or Raheny. I know they'll all say Glasnevin but IMO its more like the south side of Finglas. Its ages away from the nicer parts of Glasnevin (around the Met Office, Bon Secours hospital etc). I remmber that area, I did my driving test around there and its very much single era suburban sprawl.

LegacyUser · 11-07-2019 02:36PM

Some of the advice given about how to compromise here just isn't realistic.

Buying an older house to renovate is not an easy or cheap task. A relative of mine inherited an older house in Dublin and it still hasn't been renovated due to major issues finding architects and builders with availability, and getting sky hight quotes for the work that don't add as much value to the market price. Eg one quote was 200k for a double story extension that would add 100k to the house value due to its location.

It's not as easy to just say buy this old house and pump your savings into renovation when you will struggle to find the traders!

airportgirl83 · 11-07-2019 03:47PM

Housesearch wrote: »

Some of the advice given about how to compromise here just isn't realistic.

Buying an older house to renovate is not an easy or cheap task. A relative of mine inherited an older house in Dublin and it still hasn't been renovated due to major issues finding architects and builders with availability, and getting sky hight quotes for the work that don't add as much value to the market price. Eg one quote was 200k for a double story extension that would add 100k to the house value due to its location.

It's not as easy to just say buy this old house and pump your savings into renovation when you will struggle to find the traders!

Also, for the total price that you end up paying (purchase price plus renovation) you might just as well get a brand new house without garage but with excellent energy rating, everything fresh, new, hassle free. You might have to expand on the location but could find sth along the coast - few nice villages there.

suicide_circus · 11-07-2019 05:56PM

Blazer wrote: »

Op needs to dump her boyfriend.
After a year of looking he’s refused to compromise. As she has already admitted they’re at different levels of maturity and a few other things.

+1 plenty more fish in the sea

Ursus Horribilis · 11-07-2019 07:10PM

I wouldn't be springing for the Dump Him button just yet. This is a long-term, serious relationship we're talking about here. I assume that in many other ways, the boyfriend has a lot going for him. There is more to him than than just this garage. And to be fair, it is hard to give up on a dream when you feel it's within touching distance. There also seems to be a bit of "hurler on the ditch" going on with him and maybe a tendency to daydream a bit. Having said that, I think re-evaluating the relationship isn't a bad thing to do. Money is one of the main reasons why couples split so differering outlooks on finances is something that needs heeding. This stubborness might also have implications for other big decisions that they'll need to make in the future. Only our OP knows if he's normally this trenchant.

suicide_circus · 12-07-2019 08:41AM

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

I wouldn't be springing for the Dump Him button just yet. This is a long-term, serious relationship we're talking about here. I assume that in many other ways, the boyfriend has a lot going for him. There is more to him than than just this garage. And to be fair, it is hard to give up on a dream when you feel it's within touching distance. There also seems to be a bit of "hurler on the ditch" going on with him and maybe a tendency to daydream a bit. Having said that, I think re-evaluating the relationship isn't a bad thing to do. Money is one of the main reasons why couples split so differering outlooks on finances is something that needs heeding. This stubborness might also have implications for other big decisions that they'll need to make in the future. Only our OP knows if he's normally this trenchant.

ah look i wouldnt usually be one for hitting the eject button but as you say money is the make or break issue for a lot of couples, the OP is clearly not 100% comfortable with being the one supplying the bulk of the capital for the house and likely being the main breadwinner into the future. its unlikely these feelings will change.

osarusan · 12-07-2019 10:50AM

Sounds like the OP has a pretty clear idea of what they want. A modern house in a decent area that doesn't require a lot of time and money - leaving you time and money to travel and see the world.

It also sounds like has a pretty clear idea of what he wants - a place with a garage so he can enjoy his passion for cars.

OP, you want to travel - does your partner actually want to do that? Maybe he's just happy in a less perfect house tinkering away with his motors.

Genuinely sounds like you have quite different ideas/priorities about the way you'll spend your free time and money as a couple.

House Issue

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