Published: Thursday, 31st July, 2008 11:55am

Dunfermline couple fear housing crash could cost them their American dream

by Dolores Aughy

Comments (0) | Print | Email

Steve and Alana with two-year-old daughter Chloe outside the house they're struggling to sell.
Pic by: Dunfermline Press

A PITCORTHIE couple who are struggling to sell their two-bedroomed home fear that they could miss out on their American dream.

Steven Pagdin (26) and his wife Alana (27) put their semi-detached house on the market over a month ago but have not had any viewers for the property, which is available for offers over £115,000.

Steven has even thrown his car into the deal – a three-year-old Mazda6 – in an attempt to sell the house by September, when he is due to start his new job in Panama City, Florida.

A designer in the oil and gas industry who currently works for Oceaneering Multiflex in Rosyth, Steven has secured a job with a sister company in America.

'But,' he said, 'unless I sell my house, we can"t go.'

'We have already agreed to go over to Florida to live. We have got our visas and everything else.

'It"s just a case of hoping the move isn"t going to be scuppered because we can"t sell the house.'

He continued, 'It"s always been my ambition to live abroad. It will be a great opportunity for my family as the lifestyle is great for kids. It is a popular beach resort with plenty of things to see and do.'

Last week, the Press reported on the major impact that the credit crunch and housing market slump are now having on home construction and sales in West Fife, with job losses in the building trade already reported.

And the couple, who have a two-year-old daughter Chloe, appear to be one of many West Fife families feeling the credit crunch pinch.

Steven, of Birrell Drive, wondered, 'Is the credit crunch affecting the way people are thinking? Are they thinking that the housing prices are going to crash? I don"t know.

'It"s usually quite a popular estate but for some reason the houses round here just aren"t selling.

'I suppose you would have to eventually lower the price but there"s got to be a cut-off. If you"re having to knock off too much it might not be worth going over (to America) in the first place.'

The couple, who were due their second child on Tuesday, bought the house five years ago when the market was more buoyant and houses were snapped up within a matter of days.

Steven explained, 'We went to view the house on the Friday night, put an offer in on the Monday and the house was sold on the Tuesday.

'Now it seems to be that people are wary of buying a house in case the value comes down the next month and they lose £10,000 on the house they"ve just bought.'

Alana added, 'We"re a bit stressed out about it. They want us over in America as soon as possible.'

lcummings@dunfermlinepress.co.uk