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AIBU?

To buy a house I know a colleague wants?

108 replies

Height · 19/02/2016 08:50

I live in a village, this means that the number of properties that come on the market are few and far between, it also means the ones in our price range are even rarer. We have been looking to buy since selling our home 7 years ago.

Before Christmas my colleague put their house on the market and put an offer on a property, in January their buyer pulled out so both properties are on the market. I know my colleague still wants to buy the other property.

Because the other property have somewhere they want to buy, they have substantially reduced the price on theirs. We can afford it now, and would love to buy it, but I feel I am doing the dirty on my colleague. We are not friends but do have to work together.

AIBU to go for this property? Or should I leave it and wait another 7 years for something else to come on the market?

OP posts:

Report

MuttonCadet · 19/02/2016 08:51

Buy it, life's too short to worry about a colleague being unreasonable, she has the opportunity to put in an offer herself.

cosmicglittergirl · 19/02/2016 08:53

Definitely buy it.

FullMoonDiva · 19/02/2016 08:53

Buy it

MissBattleaxe · 19/02/2016 08:54

If you can buy and she can't and you want it, then buy it. You don't owe her a favour. People buy houses I want but can't buy all the time. That's just how it goes. Anyway, if you don't somebody else will!

Gileswithachainsaw · 19/02/2016 08:54

buy it. who's to say they would even be able to get it anyway. unless they find a buyer every minute that goes past is time that someone else will get in there and buy it.

do you honestly think your colleague would pass up a house she loves because she knows someone else who wants it?

no

potap123 · 19/02/2016 08:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MilkTwoSugarsThanks · 19/02/2016 08:54

Buy it. Does she need to know your address?

NoMoreGrimble · 19/02/2016 08:54

Buy it, if they wanted it they would have already put in an offer. Good luck.

petalsandstars · 19/02/2016 08:55

Buy it and don't ever invite them round

Crazycatladynumber2 · 19/02/2016 08:56

Yep I would buy it too.

Trills · 19/02/2016 08:56

Buy it.

Otherwise someone else might.

AlpacaLypse · 19/02/2016 08:57

Place an offer, see what happens. Unfortunately all is fair in love war and the property market...

Crazycatladynumber2 · 19/02/2016 08:57

& quickly before someone else did.

StitchesInTime · 19/02/2016 08:57

YANBU to buy it.

Your colleague wants it but isn't in a position to buy it now, which is undoubtedly tough luck for them. But you can't reserve houses.

And if you don't buy it, there's nothing to stop someone else stepping in and buying it, and then neither you or your colleague would have it. It's not like your colleague has an offer on the house now and you've swooped in with a lower offer.

Height · 19/02/2016 08:57

Oh I do love a unanimous AIBU (especially in my favour)

OP posts:

AlpacaLypse · 19/02/2016 08:58

Also life changes - yes, you do work together now, but will you still work together in a few months or years?

springscoming · 19/02/2016 08:58

Buy it. If she can't and you don't, someone else will so you'll both have lost out ad what's the point in that?

StitchesInTime · 19/02/2016 08:59

Swooped in with a higher offer even....

MatildaTheCat · 19/02/2016 09:01

Put in an offer today or neither of you will be living there.

She will be cross and upset but she isn't in a position to proceed, end of. Sad but there it is.

Please update when you have your offer accepted.

HoneyDragon · 19/02/2016 09:01

Buy it. That show the housing market works.

When I bought this house, there was another local couple interested. Ironically it was the couple whose house we had considered purchasing but they were such a pita over viewings that we figured purchasing would be a nightmare.

This house was way out our ange but we negotiated a good deal straight away by being honest, and having the means to buy.

They on the other hand were apparently faffy, cagey, making daft offers with silly conditions and so forth.

They were not happy when they finally swanned in to the agents with the intent to buy it to discover it was sold.

You don't know your colleague well, for all you know the house sale calling through may not have been just bad luck etc etc ....buy the house. Don't feel guilty.

Cornettoninja · 19/02/2016 09:01

Sucks for them but tough. The owners seem pretty desperate so they're obviously determined to off load it asap, why not to you?

Depends on the person but I would probably let them know once I'd made an offer so I couldn't be guilted out of it.

blindsider · 19/02/2016 09:02

All is fair in Love , war and houses....

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Finola1step · 19/02/2016 09:05

Go for it.

KondosSecretJunkRoom · 19/02/2016 09:06

I was going to say that you should talk to your colleague so it doesn't seem underhand and you can give the appearance of being polite but:

Buy it. Does she need to know your address?

^^
This is a great point

(And now I need to re-assess if I am actually nice or if being nice is just a means to an end)

hellsbellsmelons · 19/02/2016 09:12

Go for it.
She's not your friend and you have nothing to lose but the house you love.
Put that offer in today and get it accepted and taken off the market and get in there as quick as you can.
Sorry but as many PPs have said, all's fair and love and war and the property market!

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