Pennod 5 Ar Werth

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-From luxurious mansions...

-..to one bedroom flats...

-..there are many houses

-for sale in Wales.

-The agents do their best

-to sell them.

-That's good.

-They've gone up to 126,000.

-Buying and selling isn't easy these

-days. Sometimes you need patience.

-I've had enough. I've been trying

-to sell for over four years.

-People of all ages are looking

-for their ideal home.

-Reality has hit me hard.

-How am I going to afford this now

-and in the future?

-During one of the industry's

-most challenging periods...

-..we follow Wales's foremost

-estate agents.

-This is one of the most important

-signs in the business.

-We'll share all the emotion

-and the drama...

-..as some of these Welsh houses

-go up for sale.

-Buying a house for the first time

-is one of life's milestones.

-It's an exciting time, but it can

-also be a time of uncertainty...

-..especially for young people

-who live in the capital city.

-One who is well aware of this

-is Catrin Tomos.

-She's been renting a house

-in Cardiff for three years.

-She's 24 years old and is hoping

-to buy her first home.

-The search has been a challenge

-from the start.

-If you like pink,

-this is the perfect room.

-She's realistic enough to realize

-that it isn't going to be easy.

-This is going to be a long

-and difficult process.

-I'll have to persevere

-and not get disheartened...

-..if I don't find something I like

-straightaway.

-But, although, Catrin accepts that

-she needs to be patient...

-..she didn't expect what happened

-a few weeks later.

-Unfortunately, my car was stolen

-and that was really stressful.

-I've got the car back now.

-But, I also had to move out of my

-flat because the contract was up.

-I had to leave, and so I haven't had

-time to search for properties.

-Now I'm in a new place

-and I'm starting the search again.

-But I have another problem now.

-I have to sell the car.

-I've been talking to the bank

-about a mortgage.

-They won't lend me the money

-because I'm still paying for my car.

-I'll have to get rid of it.

-This is another hurdle

-that I have to get over...

-..before I can get the money

-to buy a house.

-I know that I can afford

-the monthly payments...

-..for the mortgage and the car...

-..and the bank themselves have said

-that it's cheaper than paying rent.

-It's so frustrating.

-I don't know how people like me

-are meant to buy a house.

-It's one thing after another.

-It's all too much sometimes.

-But I have to do it

-to get the house I want.

-In the village of Bethel

-near Caernarfon...

-..there's a young couple

-who managed to buy their first home.

-But now, they're ready to take

-the next step.

-Kelvin and Saran Edwards's house

-has gone on the market...

-..for just under 130,000.

-We've lived at Granville

-for about five years.

-It was our first house.

-We put in an offer

-on the day we viewed it.

-We'd seen about ten

-or twelve houses.

-Too many!

-We knew as soon as we walked in.

-We knew as soon as we walked in.

-

-Yes.

-We're looking for a house

-for about 200,000.

-But we're finding it difficult

-to see...

-..what extras you get for the money.

-You might get a bigger garden,

-but is it worth spending that much?

-Sometimes the kitchens

-are not as large as ours.

-Sometimes the bedrooms are smaller

-than ours.

-It's been very difficult for us

-to find somewhere...

-..that compares with here.

-But, Kelvin and Saran have one thing

-in their favour.

-If they do sell, there's no hurry

-for them to find somewhere else.

-We're lucky because if we sell,

-we can live with Kelvin's parents.

-It gives us time to find

-the ideal place, we hope.

-It will be nice to go home

-to Mam and Dad...

-..to have tea on the table

-when we get in from work.

-She's already promised us that.

-I think she'll enjoy

-having us there.

-Hopefully, my clothes

-will be washed.

-And the dogs will be walked too.

-She doesn't know about that yet.

-Well, she knows now, Kelvin!

-In Cardiff, Tom Lloyd,

-the enthusiastic estate agent...

-..loves helping people who are

-looking for their ideal home.

-Tom has just bought his own place.

-So he can sympathize with people

-like Catrin Tomos...

-..who hope to buy for the first time

-in the capital.

-She has 90,000 to spend on a house.

-Up to now, she hasn't seen anything

-she likes.

-Just go through.

-This is the kitchen/dining room.

-It's a fitted kitchen.

-It's cosy, isn't it?

-It is cosy in here.

-How is the search going?

-How is the search going?

-

-It's been really stressful.

-It was the same for me.

-I've just bought a place.

-People think that if you're an

-estate agent, it's easy...

-..you know what's going to happen,

-but no, ignorance is bliss.

-The sale fell through four times.

-The sale fell through four times.

-

-Oh my God!

-It shows that it's a stressful time

-for everyone...

-..especially in this city,

-with so many people looking.

-Prices are that much higher too.

-Prices reflect the location.

-Shall we look at the bedrooms?

-Today, they're viewing a two bedroom

-flat in the Splott area of Cardiff.

-The price is 125,000.

-Is there central heating?

-No, it's electric heating.

-The heating and the water rates

-are included in the service charge.

-There's no gas.

-It looks promising.

-Catrin seems to like the flat.

-But, there's so much to consider

-when buying any property.

-Is there a maintenance charge?

-Yes, it's about 900 per year.

-It's not too expensive compared

-to some in the city centre.

-It's nice and clean, isn't it?

-Yes, it's really clean

-and it's not pink. It's white.

-Only 35% of young people between

-the age of 25 and 34...

-..can afford to buy a house

-these days.

-Tom is very aware of that.

-It can be difficult

-for first time buyers.

-The only thing I can tell people

-is to expand their search area.

-Some of their first choice areas...

-..will be where most other people

-are looking.

-They need to open up their search.

-As we've seen today, some less

-popular areas have hidden gems.

-They are safe, clean and new

-and the price is low.

-On average, a flat in Cardiff

-costs at least 147,000.

-But although this flat is priced

-below average...

-..is it right for Catrin?

-I really like this flat, but it's in

-an area I hadn't considered.

-But it's OK.

-I feel quite safe here.

-The car park is gated

-so you can park your car safely.

-But even so, it's still a bit too

-expensive for me.

-I think I'll have to keep looking.

-In Caernarfon, Sophie Williams

-of Dafydd Hardy Estate Agents...

-..is all fired up to help young

-couples find their new home.

-She is responsible for selling

-Kelvin and Saran's house in Bethel.

-It looks as if she's found a buyer.

-I've got to know Darren and Ceri

-quite well now...

-..because they've viewed

-a lot of houses with us.

-It's such an important step in their

-lives and I want the best for them.

-I don't want them to make a mistake.

-I hope they'll like this house.

-Hi! How are you?

-Hi! How are you?

-

-Fine, thanks.

-It's a second viewing today.

-It's exciting.

-Are you looking forward to it?

-You must have liked it if you're

-coming back for a second visit.

-Come on, let's go in.

-Darren Doroshenko-Nuttall

-and Ceri Wyn Thomas...

-..are looking for their first house.

-They've returned for another look

-at Kelvin and Saran's house.

-It's really nice.

-We've been looking

-for about three months.

-This is the one we've liked best.

-We wanted to come again

-to make sure.

-Taking on a mortgage

-is a major decision.

-Yes, managing a mortgage

-is quite a responsibility.

-But, there are other

-responsibilities on the horizon.

-We'll have to get a fireguard

-when the baby starts crawling.

-I'm expecting a baby in February...

-..so it would be nice if we could

-be settled by then.

-So we can be prepared.

-This is the one for us.

-There isn't much that I would change

-about this house.

-It ticks almost every box.

-It's a cosy house

-and looks cute from the outside.

-Yes, we're very happy.

-Our bed is smaller

-and will fit in here.

-Yes, that's a big bed.

-I'd change the colour in here.

-Purple isn't my colour.

-After seeing it

-for the second time...

-..I think we should put in an offer.

-Yes, I think so.

-I think we should sleep on it first.

-We need to give ourselves

-a bit more time to consider.

-This would be the baby's room.

-It's a good size.

-On the one hand, I'm quite excited

-about the situation...

-..but on the other hand,

-I'm quite nervous as well.

-A mortgage is a burden

-on your shoulders for a long time.

-It's a huge decision, isn't it?

-It's a huge decision, isn't it?

-

-Yes.

-Yes, they have to weigh things up

-carefully.

-What will Darren and Ceri decide?

-We'll find out soon whether they're

-ready to take the plunge.

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-In Cardiff, first time buyer,

-Catrin Tomos...

-..is still searching

-for an affordable home.

-So far, the experience has been

-frustrating and unsuccessful.

-My feelings at the moment

-about buying a house...

-..are that it's really difficult.

-I can't find anything I want

-or that's big enough for the price.

-Some places require too much work.

-I'm looking for something I can

-move into and live in immediately.

-I'm starting to struggle now.

-I'm thinking perhaps

-I should look outside Cardiff.

-Also, perhaps, look into the

-Help to Buy - Wales scheme...

-..and see what they can offer.

-But I will have to look at new

-houses in order to get that help.

-Help to Buy - Wales is a scheme

-to help young people...

-..buy a newly built house

-at a slightly reduced price.

-The government advance a loan of up

-to 20% of the price to the buyer.

-The buyer pays a deposit of 5% and

-takes out a mortgage for the rest.

-Reality has hit me hard.

-How am I going to afford this now

-and in the future?

-But it's something I have to do.

-I'm determined to make sure...

-..that I get somewhere

-I can call my own.

-In Bethel near Caernarfon,

-a week has gone by...

-..since Sophie showed the house

-to Darren and Ceri.

-The house is on the market

-for just under 130,000.

-Back at the office,

-there's a new development.

-Good afternoon, Dafydd Hardy,

-Sophie speaking.

-Hi Darren, how are you?

-After their original offer was

-rejected, Darren is back in touch.

-Brill! I'll talk to Saran and Kelvin

-and get back to you in five minutes.

-Thank you! Ta-ra!

-That's good.

-They've gone up to 126,000.

-I'm crossing my fingers that

-the owners will be happy with that.

-It all now depends on Kelvin

-and Saran's reaction.

-Are they prepared to accept

-the new offer?

-Hi Kelvin,

-I'm phoning to let you know...

-..that Darren's revised

-his offer to 126,000.

-OK. Brilliant.

-OK, Kelvin. Thank you! Ta-ra!

-Kelvin is going to talk to Saran.

-He sounded quite chuffed

-with 126,000.

-So it's more than likely

-they'll accept.

-But he wants to talk to Saran first,

-to confirm it with the boss!

-Flower power!

-A few miles away,

-exciting plans are afoot...

-..at the old school in Nebo.

-In the last series, it went under

-the hammer at an auction in Ruthin.

-It was sold to local woman,

-Meinir Wyn.

-By now, Meinir, who is an artist

-in ceramics...

-..is looking forward to the work

-of adapting the old school.

-As you can see,

-this is a very small workshop.

-It will be amazing to have a studio

-that is huge compared to this one.

-It's hard to envisage the day

-when I have to pack everything up...

-..and take everything up there.

-Meinir and her partner intend

-to convert the old school...

-..into a new home for themselves

-and add a workshop at the back too.

-But it's all going to cost more

-than they realized.

-It's a huge project.

-To begin with,

-we bought it for 85,000.

-It would be nice

-to be able to say...

-..that we could do it all

-for about 100,000.

-But, because the workshop is bigger

-than I first thought...

-..it's going to cost quite a lot

-more than that.

-There will be two bedrooms,

-the master bedroom and one other.

-They'll both be upstairs.

-The extension downstairs

-will be an artwork showroom.

-Behind that will be an office.

-Here, in the main building...

-..there will be a kitchen

-and dining room.

-Then there will be

-a mezzanine floor here.

-The stairs to the bedrooms

-will be here.

-There will be a door on the right

-leading to the mezzanine floor.

-This will be the studio.

-I'm hoping to reuse...

-..some of the sinks...

-..either in here or in the workshop.

-Although Meinir seems to be

-very happy with the plans...

-..there have been a few hiccups.

-The building had to be checked

-for bats and rare species.

-We were lucky

-that the bats found here...

-..were the most common species

-of bat - the pipistrelles.

-So we only have

-to construct boxes...

-..and leave a few gaps

-in the building...

-..rather than create

-another building for them.

-It's an exciting time

-for Meinir and her partner...

-..and the start of a new chapter

-in the history of the old school.

-Now that the work is starting...

-..more than anything, I'm looking

-forward to living here...

-..and seeing all the plans...

-..and all the work come to fruition.

-All sorts of old buildings

-are renovated these days.

-A large number of the old churches

-and chapels of Wales...

-..are being converted

-into sumptuous homes.

-One of these is the old church

-on Albert Road in Penarth.

-The building has been divided

-into eight luxury flats.

-This flat is being sold privately...

-..by the owners for 580,000.

-There are three floors,

-three bedrooms...

-..and three bathrooms.

-Plenty of the church's original

-features remain...

-..to provide character.

-It's a unique and sumptuous home.

-It's an excellent example

-of what can be created...

-..in an old building like this.

-Back in Bethel, renovation work

-of a different kind is going on...

-..in Darren and Ceri's new home.

-Their second offer of 126,000

-was accepted a few months ago.

-Now, they're up to their eyes,

-trying to get the house ready...

-..before the baby arrives.

-I'm 37 weeks now.

-There's three weeks to go.

-I'm hoping the baby

-will be a bit late...

-..so that Darren and I have some

-time on our own first to settle.

-But things don't always work out

-like that.

-This is the baby's room.

-We'll start on this

-after we move in.

-We'll finish the other rooms first.

-This will be our next project.

-Since we got the keys a month ago,

-we haven't stopped.

-Every day I've had off,

-I've been here painting.

-I've had plenty of encouragement

-from Ceri to finish the work.

-Things are coming on now. It should

-all be ready in about a week.

-It'll be nice to move in in a week's

-time or the baby will be here.

-There'll be panic stations.

-There'll be panic stations.

-

-Don't worry, Ceri.

-There's no need to worry...

-..because everything

-is falling into place.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

-

-You're welcome.

-Down south, Catrin Tomos has decided

-to follow a different path.

-After failing to find a house

-in Cardiff...

-..she's travelled to Barry to look

-at an estate of brand new houses.

-Her mother is keeping her company.

-Oh, this is nice!

-Thanks to the Help to Buy - Wales

-scheme...

-..Catrin could buy

-a brand new house or flat...

-..with two bedrooms for about

-140,000.

-The estate is still in the process

-of being built...

-..so Catrin has come to see

-the show home.

-Do you prefer this

-to an older house?

-Yes, I think I do.

-You can see already how much more

-I'll get for my money.

-And I can get the Help to Buy

-with this property.

-This is a double bedroom.

-Wow! It's huge!

-It's an en suite. That's nice.

-I think my clothes will fit in here.

-Catrin and her mother are making

-the right noises.

-But it would mean travelling

-to and from Cardiff for work.

-It's worth giving it some thought.

-It's worth giving it some thought.

-

-Yes, I know.

-Do I want to live

-so far from Cardiff?

-I don't know Barry very well.

-You've travelled here today

-from Cardiff. How long did it take?

-About twenty minutes.

-It's the same length journey

-that I do to work every day.

-It takes me twenty minutes.

-You get used to it.

-This is really nice!

-It has a decent sized garden.

-This one has three bedrooms.

-This one has three bedrooms.

-

-This won't be the one I'll buy.

-It's just so you can see

-what you get with the house.

-It's such a lot more than the ones

-I've seen up to now.

-The two bedroom houses

-are priced at 140,000...

-..but with the Help to Buy scheme...

-..which I couldn't access with

-the others, it works out cheaper.

-The mortgage will be cheaper.

-It is really worth thinking about.

-It really is.

-When you've made the decision...

-..you'll know

-it's the right thing to do.

-Give it careful consideration.

-I'm going to sit down

-and look at more new houses.

-OK.

-What do you think?

-Yes. That sounds good.

-I think that's the safest idea.

-Yes, it's safer.

-Especially when you're buying

-for the first time.

-It's nice to move into a new house

-where everything is perfect.

-You won't have to spend much.

-I don't mind moving to Barry.

-It's not a bad place.

-I just don't know it.

-I need to spend more time

-in the area and see what's here.

-I think that's the next step.

-Hopefully, I'll have a house

-in six months.

-Exciting!

-Plenty to chew over then.

-The dream of buying her own place

-is getting closer for Catrin.

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