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Wanted: one family home, detached period (no low beams), preferably Georgian, within a village setting or rural, quite road, no traffic noise and that is realistically priced … stop there, and there’s the rub – the ‘realistically priced’ tag.
I’m house hunting and getting a little dispirited to say the least. I decided to dedicate the last three weeks to finding a house, moving out of London and into Kent. We know exactly what we want and both of us have owned over the years a number of properties in Kent. We think we know the market a little.
Dealing with the agents is frustrating. There are two types of estate agents – the fly-by-night boys, with their aggressive sales arm with the barrow boy attitude and ill-fitting suits to match who take to using your first name rather than affording you the courtesy of attaching your title and surname and have no interest in your requirements, but to hit their sales targets. Then there is the old-fashioned, courteous, land agent, qualified surveyor, whose company has been around for donkey’s years and survive on their reputation and knowledge. Although, one of the latter-type of agents did call me the other day and asked, 'Perchance, would this be Mrs. Atkinson?' (really!). I am told by the grown-up agents in Kent that there is little stock, but what is on the market is vastly over-priced with sellers having a very over-inflated view of what their properties are worth. Coupled with that their competitors are overvaluing and undercutting fees and this seems to be the norm outside of the London property bubble.
Wanted: one family home, detached period (no low beams), preferably Georgian, within a village setting or rural, quite road, no traffic noise and is realistically priced
I asked the same question to a couple of grown-up agents, why are the properties not selling and why are they over-priced? They both said that vendors are frightened of interest rates rising because they have overstretched themselves financially by borrowing more for new kitchens, cars, holidays and, in some cases, school fees. This confirmed my view and since 2004 I have written extensively about this - the middle-classes are like frightened rabbits waiting for the bubble to burst.
Before I spoke to these two agents I had viewed a number of properties and none of the stories of why the vendors were moving added up. It also seemed very odd that there were very few chains.
Too many were ‘downsizing’, or ‘looking to move into rented accommodation before we decide what we want’ (they all had numerous kids or grannies in tow, so that was an unlikely truth), hence no chains. The truth was that they had spent vast sums on getting the properties to look like a feature from House and Garden or Channel 4’s Grand Designs and had unrealistic ideas about the price tag.
One woman had a son at a grammar school quite a few miles north but had two little ones who attended a very local prep school. Her excuse for moving was that they wanted to be nearer the grammar school. As the boy got the bus and she drove the other two the story was very unlikely.
Overvaluing and undercutting fees seems to be the norm outside of the London property bubble
No, she just wanted someone to pay her inflated price so that she could cash in on what she thought was a continuing property boom and she could ‘downsize’ on others' willingness to pay the price. It won’t happen.
Some have annexes or small detached cottages. Usually they have installed the granny who has sold her own home to move in with the offspring. The reality is that it is cheaper than a nursing home and the kids can get their hands on the inherited cash quicker and avoiding capital gains tax.
The grannies were all a bit bewildered as I am sure they all thought they would be, living in the annexes until their demise. Not so. The other problem for us was that our teenage children might want to move back in or elderly relatives might come to stay for the weekend and not leave. My husband shies away from annexes.
Many looked like the interiors of five star hotels with mood lighting, fires, music and shutters controlled by remote controls. These controls were by the bed, in the kitchen and sitting rooms, God know what would happen if they lost the damned things, presumably they would be forced to live in darkness with the piped music forever set on Robbie Williams? The carpets were so rich, cream and deep piled that levitation was the best option so as not to spoil them. If the bedroom furniture was fitted it had been ordered from the back of the up-market Sunday supplements and truly horrid. Three had installed hot tubs and when I asked would they be taking them with them I was met with pitying looks that said why didn’t I want to spend my time getting wrinkly in a smelly tub and feeling sick with the jet propelled bubble system. And it’s very naff.
One agent had sneaked in an extra viewing on a very delightful 16thc low-beamed cottage. I said no low beams. Again the cottage had been ‘Farrow and Balled’ in every room with mushroom deep pile carpets galore. My husband is 6’ 1” and would bang his head ten times a day and develop a hump but the owner gaily said oh, my husband’s 6’ 3”. I wondered whether they lived in separate houses or had bashed his head so many times that he was gaga.
Then there are the descriptions. One had described the house as ‘New England style’. Untrue – it was a sloppily built, timber framed, weather boarded house that were thrown up in north Kent during the 1920s. Several houses had set the dining room or kitchen tables for formal dining, including linen napkins, silver napkin rings, polished glass and silverware. It’s not real life or they have got too much time on their hands.
One barn conversion had a Persil white Range Rover and matching white Porsche outside – very ‘My Fat Gypsy Wedding’ and the owners matched the cars. All very fit, pumped up with black and white photographs of them all around the house. He opened a cupboard that contained a few novels – ‘we don’t like to have our books on display’. Quite – all Jackie Collins and body-pumping stuff, and ‘books create dust’! The house was all black, white, brown, chrome and …. cold. Think boutique hotel, very clinical and spotless. His pride and joy was the gym which was better fitted than my local David Lloyd, again with matching pictures of pumped and primped him and her. I left him saying ‘...and the garage can get me Bentley in too, no trouble love’. Another one bites the dust.
Many have spent vast sums on getting the properties to look like a feature from House and Garden or Channel 4's Grand Designs and had unrealistic ideas about the price tag
Then there are the retiring couples in their 70s who genuinely want to downsize. And if they were just doing that, there wouldn’t be a problem. Two openly admitted that they would be using some of the money to give to their thirty year old children ‘to help them out’. Again, the purchaser is expected to fund the lifestyles of the kids that are in debt or just haven’t made it yet. And this attitude is partly fuelling the over-priced property boom in London.
Some are marketed as having lakes (or very big, man-made ponds) in the garden. Some have little Japanese bridges over them (naff) and large Japanese koi and sturgeon (equally naff). They are horrid, the great things come up to the surface opening their wide, silent, toothless jaws and it’s all very eerie and clinical. I like the idea of water with fishes and lily pads and frogs. But unfortunately my husband thinks that fish comes in 4 ways ... in batter, as sashimi, in a pie or in a tank.
I do wonder at these grand design projects. Looking at the cream carpets I thought about my naughty Burmese cats bringing in the local wildlife and depositing blood and guts over all that cream.
We currently rent in London and are looking to move back out to Kent within a few miles of either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International stations so if you know of a property that is detached, period (no low beams), preferably Georgian, within a village setting, quite road, no traffic noise and is realistically priced, get in touch, even if you’ve got cream carpets or hot tubs.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Divorce woman wins house-move fight - MSN UK News
The High Court has overturned a ban on a woman currently divorcing from moving house
A woman embroiled in a divorce fight is celebrating after overturning a court ban which prevented her from moving house.
The woman, who has two children, was ordered to live at a specified address nearly two years ago by a district judge overseeing divorce proceedings.
But a High Court judge lifted the restriction after ruling that the woman should be allowed to find work and support her children as she wished.
The woman compared the restriction to being under "house arrest" and complained that it limited her chances of finding work, hampered her children's relationship with relatives, and left her struggling to pay bills.
Mr Justice Charles disagreed with the "house arrest" comparison but told a High Court hearing: "It seems to me that she should have the opportunity to seek employment, and therefore to support herself and her children, as she wishes."
He heard that the restriction was part of a "prohibitive steps order" made by a district judge in 2010. The woman's estranged husband lived near the specified address and the arrangement allowed him to have regular contact with the children, the judge was told.
The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, challenged the restriction at a private hearing in the family division of the High Court in London. Mr Justice Charles gave permission for a journalist to attend the hearing and for parts of the proceedings to be reported after an application by the Press Association, which argued that coverage would be in the public interest.
The judge said the woman and her children had to remain in England or Wales - within the jurisdiction of the High Court - while legal proceedings continued. A further High Court hearing related to the divorce fight is scheduled to take place later this year.
Mr Justice Charles said he had to decide whether to continue the restriction to ease contact arrangements or allow the woman to move. He said the balance lay in allowing the woman to move. The estranged husband had argued the woman's "true agenda" in wanting to move home was to "frustrate" contact arrangements. Mr Justice Charles said the estranged husband had a right to regular contact and the woman had to comply with the provisions of a separate court order relating to access visits, regardless of where she lived.
"I'd tried to get the restriction discharged before but failed," said the woman, who was not represented by a lawyer at the High Court hearing. "I was a bit overwhelmed when it was actually lifted." She added: "It was a sledgehammer to crack a nut. I hope Mr Justice Charles' decision helps other people in similar situations."
Source: news.uk.msn.com
Katie Price blames ex Alex Reid's greed for lengthy divorce - The Sun
As she was quizzed on Loose Women about whether she would soon marry her Argentinian fiancé Leandro Penna, the 33-year-old revealed she couldn't wed yet because she's still not divorced.
She told panel members Carol Vorderman, Lisa Maxwell, Janet Street-Porter and Jane McDonald: "Well I'm not divorced yet, that sounds really awful doesn't it?"
In March Katie and Alex, 38, were granted a decree nisi at the High Court in London.
The divorce should have been finalised by a decree absolute just a few weeks later, but Katie suggested today that the process was still being held up by her ex.
She said: "Well it would have been quicker, but obviously someone's after some more money so that's why these things take time."
Katie wed cagefighter Alex in February 2010. They split just 11 months later.
Before Alex, who is now engaged to Chantelle Houghton, former glamour model Katie was married to singer Peter Andre for three-and-a-half years.
And today Katie revealed she is going to take things more slowly when it comes to her third marriage.
She declared: "This time I am being very careful and grown up that there's no rush and I'm going to do everything properly, there's no rush.
"I don't want to keep getting married and married."
Asked what she meant by properly, she replied: "Well the last time was the rebound I have to say, it's true, but he was the rebound really from Pete.
"When I was with Pete I never thought we'd ever split, I always thought it was forever.
"We did split, I met Alex, and now I've met Leo and hopefully it will stay that way."
Katie was forced to wear curlers in her hair as she was introduced on the lunchtime ITV1 show after turning up at the studios late.
Sitting backstage with fellow guest Carrie Underwood she explained away her appearance by telling the Loose Women: "I'm always late."
Carol told her: "Well try and get them out before you come on later."
And Sun columnist Katie did, joining the ladies towards the end of the show looking as glammed up as ever, with her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders.
Speaking about her initial problems communicating with Spanish-speaking toyboy Leandro, 26, she told the ladies: "He couldn't speak English, I couldn't speak Spanish, it was all google translate.
"Well at least you couldn't argue could you."
But she said things had now improved after Leandro learnt English.
She said: "He's had proper lessons in English, he speaks English now."
Katie also confirmed that she WILL be joining Leandro as his partner on dancing show Bailando Por Un Sueno.
She said: "I'll be doing it as well, they've asked me to do it, so I'll be doing it next month."
Leandro is currently taking part in Argentina's raunchier version of Strictly Come Dancing.
He performed his first dance with partner, Macarena Rinaldi, last Friday.
But his stiff disco routine was panned by the show's judges who scored them just 20 points.
Katie said she couldn't have joined Leandro on the show earlier as she is currently promoting new book In The Name Of Love.
Leandro previously said his wife-to-be was worried about him appearing on the steamy dancing show.
Contestants have been known to strip down to just their knickers and simulate sex acts in the past.
But she has since said Leandro can do what he likes, because no other woman would have a chance with her hunk.
She said last week: “She can be all sexy all over him. I’m not bothered. It doesn’t interest me.
“I have no problem with any woman going near Leo because I know he loves me."
Katie told the Loose Women: "He's dancing with a girl now, and I don't have a problem with that, but normally in these programmes they end up together don't they?"
Calls to Alex Reid's management went unanswered today.
Source: www.thesun.co.uk
Kim Kardashian ties Kris Humphries' ex into feud as divorce trial looms - Metro.co.uk
The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has roped Sinanaj into the divorce proceedings in a bid to prove Kris is not quite the innocent victim he is claiming to be, TMZ has reported.
Kris has tried to keep the fact that he and Myla had been an item since January under wraps - to the point his people lied about the relationship - over fears it would have an detrimental effect on the divorce case.
Kris has demanded £4.5 million from Kim, claiming she devastated him by filing divorce papers, and yet it seem two months after their split he was dating again.
Sources say Kim's lawyer is keen to find out whether Kris said anything to Myla in relation to his claim that the 72-day marriage was a fraud.
Myla's lawyer Joe Tacopina has accepted service on her behalf.
The divorce trial is reportedly set to begin next week in Humphries' home state of Minnesota.
A source told Hollywood Life: 'Depositions are starting this week. It's in motion.'
Kardashian recently opened up about her divorce in an interview with Oprah, claiming she had no ill feelings towards Humphries and that he would always have a place in her heart.
However, Kris's people have said this was purely a bid to win over the public.
The insider said: 'They haven't spoken since she visited him in Minnesota, so it's hard to believe she loves somebody and cares about him when she's never reached out and apologised in private.'
Kim has been dating rapper extraordinaire Kanye West since April.
BLOG: Kim Kardashian took the pill at 14 and told the world about it. Good for her
Source: www.metro.co.uk
Divorce Rings Are the New Bling: How to Select Jewelry for a New Beginning - Huffington Post
A wedding or engagement ring is the ultimate symbol of love, so what do you do when you want to discard it and move past the relationship that the diamond is tied to? (See under: I'd throw this ring off of a cliff if it wasn't worth so much money).
Keeping emotions in check is key, according to an article by CNN's Liane Yvkoff. Yvkoff stressed that winning the ring is half the battle. In the state of California, a woman has the right to keep the ring if her fiance broke off the engagement. If she breaks the engagement, he can ask for it back. Even once you win ownership, you are at an even tougher crossroads: what to wear instead?
Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to simply getting rid of it. Here are some ideas:
Sell bad memories for a finer piece of jewelry
Parting can be such sweet sorrow when selling back a wedding or engagement ring that once symbolized true love. It could be argued that no one knows the sentiment of bittersweet selling than engagement ring buyer Eric Smith, who shared his tale of love and loss to GeekOSystem reporter Eric Limer. After buying his girlfriend the dream ring, Smith found out that his girlfriend was cheating on him. Not one to be defeated, he sold it on eBay. In Smith's case, he bought a full-scale suit of armor modeled after Master Chief from Halo, but your purchase doesn't have to be anything even nearly as outlandish.
Of course, not everyone wants to get rid of their ring. For them, recycling might be the best option.
Rock the ring in a different form
Sometimes it's hard to separate yourself from a beautiful piece of jewelry. Rocking the ring on a different finger and being asked about it isn't very appealing, so why not think outside the ring box? By melting the gold or taking the diamond and centering it into a necklace, bracelet, or other piece of jewelry, the old becomes the new without any separation on your part. A jeweler can take components of your ring and do wonders, including making cost effective pendants out of a gold chain with your diamond attached.
For those who want to start from scratch, there are plenty of options for brand new jewelry, including a new trend -- divorce rings.
Turn the old into the new with a divorce ring
Divorce rings might be in vogue right now, but they have actually been around since the 20th century, according to Abazias Diamonds blogger Christina. Divorce rings can take the shape of traditional rings or can be clearly focused on separation. From quality to size, divorce rings vary as much as engagement and wedding rings. Christina shares her experience with the types of divorce rings she has seen:
"Divorce rings vary in style. Some rings, for example, are quite clear about the message they send," Christina said. "They may feature a design that is cut in half -- clearly indicating a recent divorce. Other divorce rings are designed with more of a hopeful message. The materials used in the rings also tend to vary, much like engagement rings. Some, for example, are cast in gold while others feature platinum or silver."
What will you choose?
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Kent State Vs. South Carolina, 2012 CWS: Upset-Minded Golden Flashes Hope To Avoid Elimination - SB Nation
Without question two of the most intriguing teams remaining in the 2012 College World Series, the Kent State Golden Flashes and South Carolina Gamecocks will clash on Wednesday night for an all-important elimination game.
One of college baseball's dominant forces lately, South Carolina's 22-game postseason win streak came to an abrupt halt against Arkansas over the weekend, forcing USC into its first must-win situation in two years. Polar opposites as the resident Cinderella of the field, the Golden Flashes will be looking to oust their 3rd SEC opponent of the tournament if they can pull off yet another upset after already having dispensed of Florida and Kentucky.
With so much media focus on the game, South Carolina coach Ray Tanner is well aware of Kent State's propensity to leave elite-caliber squads scratching their heads. "They're very good," Tanner said. "I got a chance to watch them in the Super Regional against Oregon. They had a hard-fought game [Sunday] and they were able to hang on and win."
The two teams will get underway at 8:00 p.m ET on Wednesday with a trip to college baseball's version of the Final Four on the line. The game can be seen on television at ESPN or online through the Watch ESPN app.
Read more about the College World Series and Kent State's quest for a national championship at our StoryStream and SB Nation Cleveland.
Source: cleveland.sbnation.com
Soundfs like somebody's soured by the futility of looking for a house at a knock-down price!
- Marie, England, 20/6/2012 18:36
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