Mortgage/General Life Predicament!

[TomJackUK]

Hi all,

I would appreciate peoples objective thoughts on my situation, as my girlfriend and I are in a bit of a muddle as to what is the best route forward for us.

In short...

I have lived and worked in the Midlands for the last 4 years now. My girlfriend moved down here a year ago but she starts a 2-3 year contract in Sheffield in September. After she has finished this she plans on moving back down to the midlands for us to 'settle down'. This means that we will be living apart for that period of time. I have been saving money for a deposit over the last 4 years, and have enough now to buy a flat in the midlands. She also has money for a deposit. Does it make any sense for one/both of us to buy a flat in our respective locations for the 2-3 years we will be living apart, and then sell them and buy our 'family home' together when she moves back to the midlands. Or, should we both just rent for the 2-3 years and then we will have cash to use as deposit on the 'family home'?(Or a combination of the two... maybe one of us buy a flat and the other rent?)

Any thoughts/comments would be great as this is causing us quite a lot of troubled discussion at the moment and some impartial advice could be very helpful!

[cashmax]

Buy in both areas. The market is only going one way in the next few years (all be it slowly in the places u mention) don't get left behind.

[bogie]

I would buy your own...you never know how things will turn out in life. Keep it simple to start with and own your own pad for a while

you can always rent one out later,...it gives you the option to live in either location if work dictates

I had a similar situation in my own circumstances about 15 years ago as I decided where to live for work and if to move with the GF ...in the end i rented my place out for a few years and lived with her as a lodger (not on the mortgage). Then work circumstances changed, sold my place put both our funds together and bought the dream pad together somewhere different again....

[BoRED S2upid]

How much rent will you each be paying if you don't buy? £10 -20k? If you can both afford to buy do so and pay money off your own mortgage rather than a landlords.