We currently private rent, have been for the last several years. During the last few years we've really tightened our belts & saved really hard. We're now in a position where we could get a mortgage. There had a been an ideal property for sale for a long time in the village where we live, however at the time, we just didn't have enough for a deposit. When we enquired about the house, the estate agents said the vendors were extremely keen to sell (as they would say) & open to offers. Anyway, since then we saved a bit more but then the property was taken off the market. It turns out the vendor just took it off.
If it was on the market now at the asking price it would be absolutely ideal for us & the kids! Sod's law! I feel like slipping a letter through the letterbox! But of course, I wouldn't, (although i wish i had the balls) there could be any reason the vendor took the property off the market. If I remember correctly, my OH reckons its currently or was being rented anyway.
The houses in this area are expensive & having two children of both sexes we need separate bedrooms for them. We're just hanging on for some kind of little gem to turn up, nothing fancy, something we can call our home for the first time.