Two-bed £20,000 house for sale in area that inspired Tolkien when writing The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings
A TWO-BEDROOM house in the area that inspired JRR Tolkien when writing The Hobbit and Lord of The Rings will soon go up for sale, and it might only cost you £20,000.
Even better, the property is located in the posh area of Edgbaston in Birmingham.
This is where the late author grew up before he moved to Oxford to study classics at Exeter College in 1911 - and where he'd reportedly reminisce back to when he wrote his books.
For example, if you're a Tolkien fan, you'll be familiar with the Two Towers of Gondor.
These are said to have been inspired by the 96ft Perott's Folly Tower and the chimney of Edgbaston Pumping Station in the area, according to the Birmingham Museum Trust.
Other places around the city are also rumoured to have inspired Tolkien, so if you're a super fan, now's your chance to live and breath his early surroundings.
Downstairs it hosts a hall, a reception room, a smoke damaged kitchen as well as a garage at the rear of the house.
Upstairs, there is a landing, two bedrooms and a bathroom.
The Pershore Road property, which will be auctioned off in July, is located a walk away from landmark Cannon Hill Park and along a major commuter route.
Just keep in mind that the property needs serious renovations while the ad says the house has "development potential", so you need to be prepared to fork out more than just £20,000.
And as it's sold at auction, the selling price could of course also go even higher.
But with such a low guide price compared to what other properties nearby have sold for, it could be the perfect renovation project.
A two-bedroom flat on the same road sold for £195,000 in October 2017, while a three-bedroom end of terrace house cost £215,000 a few months earlier.
In 2015, a three-bedroom house on the road sold for £140,000.
Seller Bond Wolfe Auctions told The Sun it couldn't predict how much the property will end up selling for, but added that renovations would cost between £20,000 and £50,000 depending on the standard of them.
Meanwhile, independent property expert Henry Pryor said he wouldn't be surprised if the house sells for a six-figure sum, meaning at least a whopping £100,000.
Still interested? The house will be auctioned off on July 3 at the Aston Villa Football Club.
How to buy a property at auction
THE main attraction of buying a house at auction is speed. The process of bidding is usually over within three minutes - but there are some catches to watch out for.
- Arrange a viewing beforehand, if possible
- Research the property thoroughly before the auction and ask local estate agents and neighbours for their opinions.
- Carry out usual property/land searches
- Read the terms and conditions of the sale carefully. Always get legal or professional advice, and in some cases a chartered surveyor
- Make sure you have enough money to pay 10 per cent deposit on the way
- Get your mortgage in place before you bid. You could lose your deposit if you fail to complete within 20 working days
- Remember that the auction is a legally binding contract. If you win, it's yours...there's no going back on it
A few years ago, Tolkien's four-bedroom house in Warwickshire went on the market for the first time in 54 years.
And earlier this year, a four-bed Doncaster house went on sale for £15,000 - but it looked like a "war zone" inside.
We've also revealed the best locations for single people to buy a house.
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