Is she a CF?!

[netflixandsleep1]

Changed some details just incase the house owner is on here!!

I was buying a house from an elderly lady before the lockdown but due to everything that's going on she's decided to pull out which is no problem, I still have my mortgage and everything agreed and ready to go. Found a house, advertised with no upward chain and says offers over £160.

I put an offer in for £160k and was refused as the vendor (CF in my eyes) isn't interested at anything under £168k. I said surely the house should be advertised at £170k if she wants closer to that as I wouldn't have even shown interest as I don't have the extra money. We went back and forth and I offered to go up to £163k which was refused again, no counter offer just refused. I left it over the weekend and went back yesterday with £165k. Said that's my best and final offer as couldn't find another quid if I wanted to!! Vendor has accepted my offer only if she can live there until the work is finished on her other house!!!!

I said well no not really it's sold with no upward chain so surely as soon as the searches are finished it's mine? The CF has came back and said well I either wait for her work to be finished or she isn't accepting my offer!

I want to say go and fuck yourself quite frankly but the bigger picture is I want the house.

WWYD?

I agree with most on here: walk away.

She wants it all so best case scenario is you get the house eventually but she pisses you around lots. Worst case is she pisses you around then sells it to someone else.

I would walk away.

I would walk away. She has already been a right pain and probably will continue to be a pain.
She shouldn't have put her house up for sale if she wasn't ready to move out.
Hopefully after all this is over you will find another house in your price range. As pp have said, prices are expected to drop.

She is not a CF.

It is a business transaction.

If you don’t like the terms, don’t accept them. I’d walk away.

You can add an extended completion date, but that's to your cost so why would you. I'd be tempted to ask what date she wants and then if it's more than 12 weeks, remove £1k per month ( or more) off my bid.

Do remember though that as a FTB you are extremely valuable. This will be the only time you don't bring a chain and all the complications that that entails with you. Leverage that!

No one in their right mind would buy a house just now, we are entering times of uncertainty and house prices are likely to crash!

I’d keep looking OP as I don’t have a good feeling from your description.
Why on earth England has allowed the law to develop this way I have no idea. The original common law of offer and acceptance etc was clear and was well litigated. Australia and NZ have very clear law when it comes to the buying and selling of houses and that law is based on English law. If I pulled out after a valid contract was made and all conditions met I would expect to have to pay damages to the other party. The system here is insane.

You’re crazy not waiting a few months to buy. You could lose 50 thousand pounds or more. You could gain a house currently way above your price range now. Prices are about to take a huge dive.

Yes we did exactly this .. we were buying a new busked and sold on it the proviso we stay in it until it was built . It took 10 months and they got a bit arsey half way through but I stood strong and told them to take it or leave it .. she waited .. I didn't lie , I was honest from the start so yes take it or leave it .

I wouldn't buy it.
Wait until the lockdown situation is sorted and then you'll have even more properties to choose from.

You've been dicked about from the beginning with this house OP, first the money and after getting more money out of you she pulls this!
She could have just been upfront and straight about her plans.

I have a feeling she will demand more money right at the end, what with having 'done it up'.
You've showed that you're so keen to buy the house that you will tolerate her antics...and she's going to keep playing you if you go ahead.

I would walk away if I were you: if you can hang on, I think you’ll find that you will be in a much better position in a few months, and prices will be lower. DH was watching something on TV this morning about the housing market, and was saying that he doesn’t understand why anyone would be rushing to buy a house at this time (he works in finance and deals with mortgages too). Right now most sellers are desperate to get their house sale through, because they know the market is about to tumble. Your vendor will be lucky to get even £160,000 in a couple of months. She seems like she is willing to tell you to stick it unless you agree to her every demand: this could go on for a while and if you start spending money on surveys, etc, she knows that she will probably be able to get away with it.