WWYD - house chain

[Lookingforadvice123]

Sorry this is a WWYD rather than AIBU but you were all so helpful with my last house related AIBU!

So - dh and I are first time buyers, private renting. Had an offer accepted on a house over 7 weeks ago. Have done the survey (£500) and paid solicitors deposit (£200). We were told upon making the offer that there was no chain - sellers had an offer accepted on a vacant house, in another area to where they currently live.

Had a call from the agent today to tell me that their purchase is not going ahead, as they are no longer moving to this area, and staying put in the area they're in now (work-related). They still want to move, so the agent says, but they will be looking for houses in this area.

Our tenancy ends in 2 months when we will have to move in with my parents temporarily. This wasn't a problem when we thought there was no chain, as things were progressing smoothly so it probably would've only been a few weeks we'd be with them. Now it's indefinite, if we stick with this house. We love the house, but realistically I don't know what to do. It could take the sellers months to even find anywhere, there could be a huge chain when they do find somewhere, or they could decide the hassle's not worth it and stay out - after all they were previously moving to another area for work.

WWYD? Cut your losses (£700)? Or stick it out?

I would say you will keep your offer on as long as they agree to pay your costs if they pull out.

House buying can be so frustrating... a lot of sales do fall through. There's really nothing you can do, they are not going to agree to a completion date if they haven't found anywhere to buy - I wouldn't either if I was the seller. Keep your offer open but keep looking for other houses as well. You won't manage to move in within 2 months either way, unfortunately.

Thanks all. Yes I don't want to pull out but need to stop having my heart set on the house so much! I've booked a viewing for another house next week, it's smaller and more expensive but it's in a nicer part of the city and it's much newer so will need less work and maintenance, so it's swings and roundabouts I guess.

Must admit I'm now a bit curious about why they're moving, the EA says they're "desperate to move" - they've only been there 2 years and the reason I was given was because their job was moving. I suppose it could be because they have a baby - it's a 2 double bedroom house.

But there's crime reported from the street behind literally every month, sometimes several reports, of ASB etc. Maybe I should scope out the area a bit more, but it always seems so quiet when we've gone in the past!