How to suggest a private sale of a house without being cheeky or presumptuous?

[Maybee]

I recently viewed a house with great potential in the area i like, which was snapped up really quickly. I then heard that the house next door owned by a lady had also been on the market as she wanted to down size. In any case it was taken off the market in the end. There are other properties in the area for sale but i really liked the outlook and position of the house i viewed. i'm not sure how to approach the owners to suggest a private sale. Any suggestions?
I need to move quickly as another house nearby but without the view has been reduced and i am tempted to put in an offer. It is a desirable location so houses still sell.

[onepieceofcremeegg]

Could you put a note through the door with your phone number? Then if the owners aren't interested they will just ignore it.
We live in an area that is in catchment for a "good school" and estate agents occasionally put notes through doors just asking if you might be interested in selling.

[Hassled]

Stick a letter through her door, saying you love her house and want to buy it. I've heard tell (only on MN) of this working successfully. She can choose to ignore, or be delighted and want to go for it, but the ball will be in her court, IYSWIM.

[Gonzo33]

When I moved from Reading to Southampton my Mum spotted a house for sale that she thought I would like. Put a note through the door and they called her straight away. However this house was actively being marketed. Personally I would either put a note through the door or knock on it and just tell them what you have told us. That you know they had the house on the market and were they still insterested in selling as this is the location you would really love to live in blah blah.

[Maybee]

Thanks I think i'll do that.

[JillyWillyPops]

I've just been in this situation. The house we were buying fell through at the last minute, we continued with the sale of our house and moved into rented. We heard about a lovely house that might be going on the market as elderly relative moved into a nursing home. So we posted a note through with our telephone number and the lady rang us up to view it. We were expecting the house to be valued at around 80k - 90k. We viewed and the asking price was 70k, we are now waiting on a moving date as everything is going through!! Be cheeky, it might work in your favour :)

[Maybee]

Lucky you thats encouraging