Am I complicating the house selling/moving process

[layl89]

I currently live in a 3 bed terrace with my husband and toddler (2) and currently have a baby on the way (due in August) the house is completely paid off (gifted to us by my in laws) although it’s perfect in size, it’s absolutely impossible to find parking outside and we have double yellows right outside the house. We have constant bashing on our door from neighbours who don’t like us parking outside their house, and to top it off drug dealers living next door who are always fighting constantly outside.

We’ve made the decision we’d like to move into a nicer area and get a house with a drive and a garden for our children to play in. Our plan is to sell this house and use the money for a deposit for a new house. Our only worry is being in a chain so I came up with the idea of putting this house up for sale in about a year after saving some extra money and if it does happen to get sold quickly or eventually then we move into my father in laws house which is only a few minute drive away. Father in law lives in london (5 hours away from us) and bought a house near us last year for him to eventually move into when he retires. It’s not got as much space as ours and needs redecorating but other than that its in perfect condition. Our thought was if we sold our house now and had our deposit ready then we could move into my father in laws house for a bit and slowly look for houses whilst there and be able to take our time and not be in a chain. Is this a bad idea in terms of big changes for my toddler and future baby? Or would they adapt or is it a better idea to just do what most people do and sell but look for a new house at the same time? Sorry if this is a stupid pogen

I would keep the FIL house option in your back pocket as a back up and just look at moving n a "normal" way. You have flexibility which most people selling/buying don't have so don't worry. Just put yours up and house hunt, see what happens and do what works.

You're over thinking.

I don’t think it’s over complicating matters. Alot of people rent after selling, especially if they’re moving to a new area, as they like to suss out where they’d like to
move to, before committing to a purchase.

Unless you buy a new build, you'll still be in a chain.

We rented for a year in between selling and buying, and my adult ds is currently doing the same thing.

If you can sell yours and move in to your FiL’s you’ll put yourself in a very strong position in what is already a buyer’s market. I would absolutely do this in your situation. Having to match buying with selling a huge part of the pressure and cash lead to people panic buying the wrong house. Separate the two transactions and you’ll be able to make clearer decisions on your own timescale and with the fact you’re a chain free presale buyer on your side when you’re ready to offer.

I wouldn’t overthink it. Get your house sold. If you find something, get in the chain and move. If you don’t, move to FIL’s temporarily.

Children are very resilient. We needed sudden emergency building works and are currently sleeping on mattresses on the floor in my home office (all 4 of us, Dh and I, a teen and a primary school age one) for the next few months.

You will manage. Moving and getting the right property are important, so just get on with it. I wouldn’t wait til next year though, I’d get going now. The market is not what it was 5 years ago. You will be slow to sell, but likewise there will not be such a scrum that being chain free will make you more attractive buyers. Sellers will literally take anyone with a decent offer, so I’d just get the ball rolling.

Moving without a chain is so much less stressful. I’ve moved several times without and once with.
As you have a property you could move to whilst you look around for a permanent home I’d do that

As long as your FIL is ok with you doing this, and you agree a latest date to be out by, I think it’s a good idea. Will you be paying him any rent or are you assuming you can live there for free to save up more? I would certainly offer to pay market rate rent as it’s your idea, not his. Given how generous your IL’s have been gifting you a house, you definitely don’t want to come across as a pisstaker!