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Real Estate in London
This is an Opt-In article. Housing is provided as part of the wealth level without you having to worry about the details provided here.
Contents |
Buying Real Estate
It may be that as part of your Wealth Level you can have a town house in your 2nd season in London.
You purchase it via your compendium or through RP for something unique. It may be that real estate increases in value, but its primary return is in renting it out. Alternatively your character can live in it and use it as a role playing tool.
When purchasing any house you may assume control of it from the moment money changes hands. However, you cannot change its history and it may have belonged to another PC or NPC in the past.
Any house or estate that borders on water or parkland should have an additional value of 50% added to the price. Houses are modestly furnished and decorated, from which no advantage can be gained. Any refurbishment, new fashionable decor, additions etc need to be purchased, but may fall within your wealth level.
In London
Real Estate in London is expensive but expected to rise in price as people flock to the capital over the years. In general East London is the least expensive (and most crowded) and West London the most expensive (and most spacious). South of the River & Chelsea still maintain a country side atmosphere and therefore aren't covered under London prices.
Rowhouse
The house is attached to houses on either side (sharing a wall), is narrow and has only a small garden and no carriage house but a small stable. First floor may only have 2 small rooms beside kitchen, hallway. Choose from this list: drawing/reception room, modest dining room study.
- Indication: £500 - £4,000
- Areas where they can be mostly found:
Purchase a basic Rowhouse in East London for £500
or £5 rent p/m
Purchase a Deluxe Rowhouse in Piccadilly for £4,000
or rent for £40 p/m
Townhouse
Detached but small house with modest garden, including carriage house and modest drive way. First floor may have up to 3 small rooms apart from Kitchen and hallway. Choose from these rooms: drawing/reception room, modest dining room, study, conservatory.
- Indication: £4,000 to £10,000
- Areas where they can be mostly found:
The highest priced townhouses (£8,000 and up) can occasionally be found in higher class neighborhoods.
Purchase a basic Townhouse in London Centre for £4,000
or £40 rent p/m
Purchase a deluxe Townhouse in Piccadilly for £10,000
or £100 rent p/m
Mansion
Free standing large house with considerable garden, including carriage house, gazebo and ornamental parts, large impressive drive way. First floor has several large rooms such as drawingroom, study, library, garden room, dining room. Most houses have 3 stores plus attic, including some guest rooms.
- Indication: £10,000 to £20,000
- Areas where they can be mostly found:
Purchase a Basic Mansion in St James for £10,000
or rent for £100 p/m
Purchase a Deluxe Mansion in West End for £20,000
or rent for £200 p/m
Palace
Free standing large mansion with entire wings to its building. Includes separate carriage house and stables, gazebo, ornamental gates. Extensive grounds containing several gardens. First floor may contain ballroom in addition to large versions of the usual set of living quarters. Upper floors contain separate guest quarters in addition to family rooms, nursery and walk in closets.
In the Countryside
Real Estate outside of London is cheaper, it is away from London's vapours that are bad for one's health and as long as it is close enough to London considered very fashionable by the elite. On top of that London is increasingly unsafe with rising crime rates, whereas apart from the occasional highway man you have little to fear outside the capital. What is not to like about living in the countryside?
While we recommend South of the River & Chelsea (both are within an hours distance of Whitehall), you can elect to have a country house at half a day's ride and you'd still be able to use it frequently in season with some planning. Naturally these houses too can be rented out.
Cottage
Typically comes with a thatched roof and some ground the size of a garden around it, with shed and vegetable patch. Often made out of wood only, stones come in the higher price range. No more than 2 stories.
- Indication £250 - £2500
Buy a deluxe cottage for £2500
or rent for £25 p/m
Country House
A stone house with normal roof, ranging from a normal sized one to that of a mansion.
- Indication £2,000 - £6,000
Estate
An untitled estate is not just a mansion of considerable proportion, but also has extensive grounds, including in most cases tenants with small cottages. It thus uniquely has a settled income even if the main mansion is not rented out. It is also an excellent place to ride or hunt. Because the estate is not entailed it can be sold or settled upon a wife, sister or daughter.
- poor (the size of a town house, no tenants/land)- 6,000 pounds - income pm: £25
- average - 8,000 pounds (manor house with 20 tenants) - income pm: £50
- wealthy (manor house with two additional wings, 40 tenants)- 20,000 pounds - income pm: £200
- very wealthy( manor house and collection of other buildings, 80 tenants) - 40,000 pounds - income pm: £400
- extremely wealthy (palace/castle with 100 tenants and/or surrounding forest with hunting rights) - 100,000 pounds - income pm: £800
Additions for tenants and extra land: 1,000 pound per 10 tenants plus land. Note that these are basic prices within England. Advantages can be sought by shopping outside of England or finding favour with the King or some high office lord who is willing to sell.
Buy an untitled estate with your choice of land area and wealth, and receive a monthly income
Decorations
See Also Building Cost
Modest decorations (statues etc) that do not give an advantage maybe assumed but fashionable decorations as well as additions to the house not present at the start like garden rooms, ball rooms, teahouses in the back of the garden etc. should be assessed by the mods for extra cost. You can try and expand an existing property if you have negotiated enough grounds to built it upon. Within these guidelines give you are free to determine the precise lay out of the property.
Furnishings
Modest furnishings that give no advantage will come with the house, but you must purchase any conversation pieces or musical instruments.
Servants
Each house will usually have 2-4 servants (cook, maid, butler/doorman/coachman, and gardener) Basic servants' pay will be assumed in the cost of the house. If you want exotic or better servants, or more servants, you may be assessed additional fees.
To Let (Rent)
- 1% of the cost of purchasing a like property (see above) per month rental fee
Likewise, you can rent out a property for 12% per year of the purchase price, aka 1% per month income. There is a maintenance cost on the property of 1% per year plus agency fees. Your return will thus be either 11% per year (if your char manages the property personally) or 8% per year (if your pc employs an agency to do the hard work). Remember that while income is monthly these costs come annually so calculate them in.
